Decarbonisation Plan Template
This template has been created as part of the Arts Council England and Historic England’s Decarbonisation project, undertaken by the architects Haworth Tompkins. It is aligned to Historic England’s Whole Building Approach which sets out a systematic process for devising and implementing suitable, coordinated, balanced and well-integrated solutions to improve the energy efficiency and climate resilience of a historic building.
The template provides an example of what content should be included in a Decarbonisation Plan and is intended as a practical reference for clients and their consultant teams, helping to ensure that reports are consistent, comprehensive, and aligned with our recommended process.
The scope, purpose and structure of the plan; authorship and consultation.
1.1 Decarbonisation context
Summary of the role of the built environment in climate change.
Adaptation and retrofit in the context of existing and listed buildings.
1.2 Project context
Current circumstances, challenges and opportunities for the building or site
1.3 Decarbonisation Plan aims and objectives
Project-specific aims and objectives for the decarbonisation plan
2.1 The Existing Building & Site
- History
- Heritage designations
- Building significance
- Site conditions and constraints
- Current use, occupancy, and management
- Construction
- Building fabric condition and repair need
- Building services systems
3.1 Building Condition
Summary of the Fabric condition and repair need; Building services condition; results from thermal imaging or other building performance surveys
3.2 Fabric Performance
Summary of assumed fabric performance by area and/or construction typology
3.3 Building services
Observations on the nature, age and condition of existing building services based on site walkarounds and review of record information. Include relevant information on occupancy patterns, thermal comfort, controls and any highly serviced zones in the building.
- Summary of existing services
- Building utilities & meters
- Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
- Domestic hot and cold water supply
- Above ground drainage
- Small power and lighting
- Other services
4.1 Overview
Confirmation of scope of energy assessment, particularly in buildings with multiple tenants
4.2 Data collection
Methods and limitations of data collection and analysis, including notes and assumptions such as carbon conversion factors.
4.3 Heat energy usage estimate
- Design temperature assumptions
- Ventilation assumptions
- Infiltration (air tightness) assumptions
- Heat loss baseline results
- Operational energy baseline
4.4 Metered Data
- Metered annual energy use
- Metered monthly energy use
- Tabulated comparison against Heating Degree Days
4.5 Building Benchmarking
Comparison of building energy use and carbon emissions against buildings of a similar type in terms of use profile. Include commentary on limitations of benchmarking.
4.6 Summary of energy and carbon evaluation
Find further guidance on this section in Phase 3: Survey & Assess
5.1 Objectives
Summary of the key aims and objectives for improvement measures, informed by site surveys and investigations. These might include:
- Improve energy efficiency / reduce energy consumption
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions / carbon intensity
- Maintain or improve occupant comfort
- Reduce utilities bills
- Improve resilience to climate change
- Define pathway to Net Zero
5.2 Energy Use Intensity Targets
Include relevant published targets
5.3 Opportunities to reduce energy consumption
- Improvements to building fabric performance
- Improved efficiency of services including heating, ventilation, lighting
- Metering
- Controls
5.4 Opportunities for Low/zero carbon technologies
- Photovoltaics
- Air Source Heat pumps
- Decentralised Air Source Heat Pumps
- Solar Thermal
- Biofuels
- Ground-source Heat pump: Closed Loop
- Ground-source Heat pump: Open Loop
- Surface Water-Source Heat Pump
- Air Source Heat Pumps – Exhaust Air
- Air Source Heat Pumps – Domestic Hot Water Heating
- Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)
5.5 Option Evaluation
Tabulated evaluation of all opportunities identified, assessed against set criteria e.g. difficulty of implementation, heritage impact, capital cost scale, estimated energy/carbon reduction, payback term, condition priority, and any other other project specific considerations. This table should be used to guide conversations with the client/building owner about their needs and aspirations and to help define the priority of implementation.
Find further guidance on this section in Phase 4: Options Appraisal
6.1 Reducing energy consumption
Development of preferred/prioritised measures for reducing energy consumption based on discussions with client
6.2 Low/zero carbon technologies
Development of preferred / prioritised low and net zero carbon technologies
The selection of measures for reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions should be explained in terms of the following (where applicable):
- Client and occupant priorities
- Legal or planning requirements
- Defined Performance Outcomes, such as:
- Energy consumption targets (e.g. kWh/m²/yr)
- Carbon reduction targets (absolute and %)
- Internal environment performance (temperature, IAQ)
- Operational rating objectives (e.g. DEC)
- Non-Energy Outcomes, such as:
- Improved usability or comfort
- Fire safety strategy updates
- Preservation of heritage elements
- Performance Metrics e.g.
- Key performance standards and monitoring plan
- Post-occupancy evaluation intentions
This section should identify an appropriate phasing strategy for implementation of the improvements needed for significant reduction in energy demand and carbon emissions.
This should be developed in close consultation with the client team, and will be informed by wider strategic considerations such as:
- management and maintenance planning including repair and remediation
- fundraising
- logistical interdependencies
7.1 Pathways
The sequence of measures can be illustrated graphically as a decarbonisation pathway, which shows the individual and cumulative impact of each measure over time.
7.2 Towards Net Zero Carbon
Summary of the strategy for progressive decarbonisation and the feasibility of achieving net zero carbon over time.
Set out the next steps for implementation, including funding, design development and delivery. This may include:
- Developing a fundraising strategy.
- Defining the brief, budget and programme for a capital project.
- Procuring a design team for RIBA Stages 2 - 7.
- Undertaking further Building Performance Evaluation to inform design development.