The built environment in the UK and around the world is increasingly committed to achieve Net Zero buildings. To deliver real progress, we need to agree on what this means, in practice and in the detail.

As a step towards this, and building on the work by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), in summer 2021 The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) and the Whole Life Carbon Network (WLCN), supported by the Royal Insitute of British Architects (RIBA), produced a set of definitions.

The Chartered Intitution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and LETI are now working together to produce a set of FAQs on the definitions, and are running a survey about it, to make sure the definitions are applied consistently in as many real-life situations are possible, and that they deliver the right outcomes. 

In parallel, CIBSE are considering whether to adopt the definitions and are keen to hear views on this. A presentation with more information on the current definitions, draft definitions and background on these issues is available online, which LETI recommend reading before completing the survey. 

The survey asks for your opinion on the following:
• Do you agree with the definitions and their interpretation in the FAQs?
• Are the FAQs clear?
• Do you have other questions that you think should be addressed in the FAQs?
• Do you think CIBSE should adopt the definitions?

Following the survey, LETI and WLCN will consider the feedback on the definitions. LETI and CIBSE will liaise with other organisations before finalising the FAQs and CIBSE will decide whether to adopt the definitions.

The survey is available online and open until 1 December.