New Carbon Jargon Guide Launched

A FREE guide to help explain and standardise the language used around carbon and energy in the housebuilding industry has been published by the NHBC Foundation.

From ‘absolute zero carbon’ to ‘zero carbon ready’, the guide details common energy terms, explaining what they mean and how they differ.

Carbon Jargon

With growing awareness of environmental issues, NHBC Foundation, which provides research and practical guidance to support the housebuilding industry, recoginsed that carbon and energy terminology can be confusing and inconsistent. This new guide aims to help standardise the language used by house builders to provide much needed clarity.

Following discussion with the housebuilding sector, the NHBC said the need was clear for a straightforward set of explanations and definitions which developers, designers, architects, planners, and other built environment professionals could adopt for sector-wide consistency. This will help consumers as they will be able to make informed decisions about the sustainability credentials of their potential new home.

Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Research & Technical Competency at NHBC

Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Research & Technical Competency at NHBC, said: “We believe there’s a real need for clarity around carbon and energy terminology in house building.

“For years there’s been inconsistency, which is confusing for both developers and consumers – we want to end this and simplify the language used by everyone.

“The importance of a home’s energy efficiency and carbon emissions is only going to grow in the coming years and we feel this important issue should be tackled now. With better knowledge and understanding everyone will benefit, be better informed and able to make the best choices.”

While the NHBC Foundation Carbon Jargon guide doesn’t cover every conflicting energy definition, it does aim to provide a concise, common vocabulary, including applicable official definitions used by Government. It’s intended to be a handy, digestible reference tool for anyone who wants clarity in the confusing world of energy and carbon.

The Carbon Jargon guide is available now – download it for free.

>> Read about zero carbon energy in the news