RE02 - Existing buildings and infrastructure – Above Green

(2 credits available)

Aim

To take account of the embodied carbon in existing buildings and infrastructure and to promote their re-use where possible.

Assessment Criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

Mandatory requirements

An assessment of any existing buildings and infrastructure is carried out to determine what can be refurbished, re-used, recycled or maintained and those of significant value. The assessment considers the following:
- heritage and local identity
- the location and condition of buildings and infrastructure
- the embodied carbon in existing materials
- potential uses of buildings and infrastructure
- possible use of materials (on or off site)
- community and local authority knowledge and opinion (see GO 01 – Consultation plan).
- local or regional authority; best practice guidance, policies or strategies (where they exist)
A decision is made and justified with evidence regarding the use and/or demolition of all existing buildings and infrastructure on site.

One credit

Criteria 1 and 2 are achieved.
The developer commits to the reuse or recycling of building and/or infrastructure materials on the development site.

Two credits

Criteria 1 to 4 are achieved.
The developer commits to refurbishing any existing buildings and/or infrastructure that have been identified in the assessment (criterion 1).
The developer commits to refurbishing any existing buildings and/or infrastructure that have been identified in the assessment as being of significant value to the local community or for sustainability reasons.

Compliance Notes

Ref

Terms

Description

CN1

No existing buildings or infrastructure

Where the assessed site does not contain any existing buildings or infrastructure then the credits for this issue are not available by default. The aim of this issue is not to encourage development on previously undeveloped sites.

In order for sites with no existing buildings and infrastructure to achieve the mandatory elements of this assessment issue, site plans must be provided as evidence to demonstrate that there are no existing buildings or infrastructure on site.

CN2

Embodied carbon in existing materials: See Criterion 1

A full life cycle analysis is not required for the purposes of this issue. A high level assessment on the materials used from the existing buildings and infrastructure should be carried out, identifying the types and estimates of the volume of different materials. For example buildings or infrastructure with high volumes of steel or concrete, which have a relatively high embodied carbon should be targeted for reuse and refurbishment where possible.

CN3

Reuse of material: See criterion 4

Where it is not possible to reuse materials on site it is still possible to gain credits through the re-use of materials within a 30km radius of the site.

Evidence

Criteria No.	Interim Assessment	Final Assessment
1	A copy of the assessment.	None.
2	Documentary evidence.	None.
4–7	None.	Written commitment from the developer.

Additional Information

This issue relates to criterion 1 in RE 06 – Resource efficiencywhere a pre-demolition audit of any existing building, structure or hard surfaces is completed to determine if refurbishment/re-use of materials is possible.

Relevant Definition

Embodied carbon: The amount of carbon released from material extraction processing, transport, manufacturing, and related activities; from cradle to grave.1