London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Net Zero Carbon

Council

District

Net Zero Carbon Planby 2025

by 2050

March 2020| Rev A| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

1

Net Zero Carbon Tower Hamlets | Executive summary

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The science is clear
Climate change is happening and needs to be urgently slowed down
to avoid terrible consequences. Business as usual is not an option tosolve this crisis.

A Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025
In March 2019, Tower Hamlets Council declared a climate emergency.
The Council is now aiming to be Net Zero Carbon by 2025. This reportshows that it is possible but that it will require decisive action starting
now to reduce direct emissions by 75%. The residual emissions will
have to be offset.

A Net Zero Carbon Borough by 2050
This report also recommends that Tower Hamlets Council uses its
powers, influence and leadership to put the Borough on the right trackto achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050 (or earlier if possible).

Net Zero Carbon is possible
This report demonstrates that it is technically possible to achieve Net
Zero Carbon. This would require decisive strategic decisions fromTower Hamlets Council in 8 key areas shown on the adjacent diagram.
This would also require significant investments, although there is a huge
potential to combined them with regular maintenance and replacement
cycles.
The Council should also develop an approach to offset the residual
emissions. Some solutions (e.g. social housing retrofit, investment inadditional renewable energy capacity) are possible in 2025 but not
acceptable in the long term. By 2050, residual emissions in the UK will
have to be less than 10% of what they are now, leaving only amarginal role for offsetting by increasing plant cover, for example
tree planting.

Our approach for real emission reductions
To allow the council to see how to effect emissions this reportcategorises emissions by use type. This means emissions are assigned
based on the ability to affect change.
All calculations show total greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) and all
reductions refer to this, however for accessibility and simplification werefer to ‘carbon’ throughout the report. By this we mean carbon
dioxide which contributes by far the majority of greenhouse gas
emissions in the borough.

Breakdown of borough carbon emissions by use type, showing thecategorisation and proportion of emissions from each source, and thecontrol the Council has over each sector.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

2

Zero Carbon Tower Hamlets | Executive summary
12

There is considerable potential to reduce emissions very significantly
by 2025: a target of 75% carbon reduction should be set, bringing
the estimated annual emissions to 2.5 ktCO2e/year.
The residual emissions will need to be offset, and suitable offset
mechanisms are discussed in the report.

10
Annual greenhouse gas emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

The current total carbon emissions under the Council’s direct control are
10 ktCO2e/year and are dominated by buildings. External energyuse (e.g. street lighting) and transport also represent significant
sources of emissions.

Required offset

8

Transport
Street lighting and other small
external uses

6

Buildings & Landlord areas

4

The current carbon emissions from the whole borough are 1,600
ktCO2e/year.
The ‘Net Zero’ report by the Committee on Climate Change articulates
what the UK will need to do to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The
London Borough of Tower Hamlets would need to implement thesesolutions. We estimate that a minimum 90% reduction in carbon
emissions should be achieved (ideally lower). The total residual
emissions would need to be lower than 150 ktCO2e/year.

20
Current2025

Total annual carbon emissions from Tower Hamlets Council for the last reported
year (2018) -4
and the required emissions in 2025

Offset1400

F-gases*Aviation*

1200

Industry

1000

Forestry and land use

800

Waste*

Transport
Other metered energy

600

Buildings and towns

400
200
0
Current

Key actions include:-400
Total annual
greenhouse gas emissions from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
as a whole LBTH for the last reported year (2018) and the required emissions for
Net Zero Carbon in 2050

Power

Power

Install 20,000 sqm PVs on the Council’s non-domestic buildings
Start with the largest roof areas. The targeted installed capacity should be at least 4.2MW.

Achieve a total PVs capacity across the whole of the borough of 430 MW (equivalent to 1,500,000-1,900,000 sqm)

Renewable power
Ensure that electricity supply to all the Council’s assets is on a 100% renewable tariff or Power Purchase Agreement

Buildings

Buildings
Start retrofitting existing buildings owned and operated by the Council (e.g. Council’s offices)
Retrofit heat pumps, use energy management to reduce energy use, improve building energy efficiency: insulation, improved
airtightness and better windows, install Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) wherever possible, install PVs. An 80%
carbon reduction on-site should be achieved for full retrofit projects, or a plan put in place to achieve this.

Transport
Replace the Council’s diesel and petrol cars with electric cars and vans
Accelerate the replacement cycle so that 95% of the Council’s cars and vans are electric by 2025

Phase out gas boilers and gas-fired CHP
Stop the installation of any new gas boilers from 2020. Stop the installation of new gas-fired CHP immediately. Switch to low
carbon heat (e.g. heat pumps). Gradually phase out gas for heating and cooking in the borough.
Net Zero Carbon new buildings from 2025
Mandate ultra-low levels of energy use in new buildings. This is through setting a kWh/m2 total energy target, and a space heating
demand target in line with Passivhaus (15 kWh/m2). Buildings should also use low carbon heat and have on-site renewable energy(e.g. PVs).
Major retrofit programme with ambitious energy objectives
90% of existing homes and buildings should have benefited from low energy retrofit by 2050 (by 2030 for Tower Hamlets homes,
schools leisure centres). An average heating energy demand of 40kWh/m2/yr should be achieved for retrofit homes. Low carbon
heat should replace gas boilers.

Replace the Council’s lorries with cleaner options when they become available
The aim is to have 30% of the Council’s lorries as low emissions by 2025.

Transport

Install electric charging points for the Council’s fleet

99% carbon reduction from cars and vans
All domestic and light goods mileage should be completed by electric vehicles or equivalent by 2050.

Waste

80% carbon reduction from lorries
HGV emissions reduced by 50% through reduced journeys, switch to rail, and developing hydrogen or electric drivetraintechnologies.

Target a 70% recycling rate for waste from all Council buildings by 2021

Forestry, land use and agriculture
Change diets
Reduce the meat content and increase vegetarian choices of food served on Council owned premises.

2050

-200

-2
Key actions include:

1600

Net Zero Carbon Borough by 2050
Total annual greenhouse gas emissions from LBTH (ktCO2e)

Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Reduce air travel
To meet zero carbon ambition the number of flights from the UK should reduce by more than 80% unless alternative technologies canbe found.

Waste
Waste reduction and circular economy
64% reduction in emissions from waste in line with ‘further ambition’ recommendations by the CCC.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

3

Listening to the voices of experts

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The Committee on Climate Change
The Committee on Climate Change is an independent, statutory bodyestablished under the Climate Change Act 2008. Its purpose is toadvise the UK Government and devolved administrations on emissions
targets and report to Parliament on progress made in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change.
The Committee on Climate Change published its report “Net Zero: The
UK’s contribution to stopping global warming” in May 2019. Someof the key recommendations of the report include:•••“Delivery of greenhouse gas emission
reductions must progress with far
greater urgency”
Committee on Climate Change“Net Zero” Report, 2019

“Reaching net zero carbon emissions
by 2050 is achievable. However,this requires immediate action
across all key technologies andpolicy areas.”
National Grid
Future Energy Scenarios, 2019

A Net Zero greenhouse gas emission target is not credible unlesspolicy is ramped up significantly.
Delivery must progress with much greater urgency.
Clear leadership is needed, right across Government, with delivery
in partnership with businesses and communities.

The National Grid
Each year the National Grid issues its Future Energy Scenarios. Its
analysis aligns with the Committee on Climate Change. It concludes
that strong policy actions [to wholly decarbonise electricity supply andimprove energy efficiency of new and existing homes] must be taken
and there is no room for delay.

World Health Organisation
The World Health Organisation published “COP24 special report:
health and climate change” in 2018. It states that the severity of the
impact of climate change on health is becoming increasingly clear andthat the drivers of climate change – principally fossil fuel combustion –pose a heavy burden of disease. The costs of this ill health anddisease represent in turn a heavy economic burden. The report statesthat “the most recent evidence indicates that the health gains from energy
scenarios to meet the Paris climate goals would more than meet thefinancial cost of mitigation at global level”.

Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion is a movement that uses non-violent civil
disobedience to highlight the urgency of the climate change crisis.
Their key demands are:
1.
2.
3.

“Economic valuation of health gains
would tip the balance decisively infavour of more aggressive climate
mitigation.”

World Health Organisation,“COP24 special report: health andclimate change”, 2018

“If we don't take action, thecollapse of our civilisations andthe extinction of much of thenatural world is on the horizon”
David Attenboroughat the UN Climate Summit,
Poland, 2018

Tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency
Act Now
Hold a citizen’s assembly on climate and ecological justice| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

4

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Where are we now?

• The climate emergency• Energy and the electricity revolution• Understanding the Council’s emissions• Understanding the Borough’s emissions• What will happen if no action is taken• The case for acting now| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

5

The climate emergency and Zero Carbon

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The science is clear
Climate change is happening and needs to be urgently slowed down
to avoid terrible consequences.
The most recent international negotiations on Climate Change
concluded with the Paris Agreement in December 2015. This
Agreement reaffirms global ambition to limit temperature rises tobelow 2°C and binds every country to produce national plans to
reduce emissions. The agreement also contains a further collective
aspirational goal to reduce emissions in line with keeping thetemperature increase to 1.5°C.
The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15) was
published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in
October 2018. It highlighted the urgency of the situation and the needfor decisive action in the next 10 years.

National commitment
In May 2019, the Committee on Climate Change published its ‘Net
Zero report’ and set out the ambitious aim of phasing out carbon
emissions in the UK by 2050. The Government adopted therecommendation of this report and the Climate Change Act wasamended in June 2019 to reflect this ambition: achieving net zero
emissions by 2050.

We have to do everything we can to reduce global warming to less than 1.5ºC

The UK Government has committed in June 2019 to
Net Zero emissions by 2050

In addition, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (BEIS) has set the Buildings Energy Mission, with the objectiveof halving the energy use of new buildings by 2030.

Tower Hamlets declaration of climate emergency
In March 2019, Tower Hamlets became one of the first councils in the
country to declare a climate emergency. One of the associatedcommitments is for Tower Hamlets to aim to become a zero carbon orcarbon neutral Council by 2025.

Public calls for action
Since October 2018, there has been a surge in civil society’s interest
and action on climate change. The Schools strike movement started by
Greta Thunberg and civil disobedience from Extinction Rebellion arerequesting action and truth from those in a position to act.

Greta Thunberg, the Schools strike movement and Extinction Rebellion

In March 2019, Tower Hamlets became one of the first councils in theare calling for action now

country to declare a climate emergency| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

6

Energy and the electricity revolution

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The decarbonisation of the grid

The National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios
The National Grid produces a set of future energy scenarios every
year. These are used to facilitate the understanding of how the UK’selectricity generation mix could develop.
We focused on the two scenarios which can meet (or be close tomeeting) the UK climate change targets: the ‘Two Degrees’ and the‘Community Renewables’ scenarios.
As the ‘Two Degrees’ scenario relies on a large proportion of new
nuclear energy plants and as there is a significant degree of
uncertainty for new nuclear plant financing, our recommendation is toconsider the ‘Community Renewables’ scenario as the most likely.

MTP (2010)
UK CCC (2013)
Drax Electric Insights (2019)
National Grid (2019) 'Community Renewables'
National Grid (2019) 'Two Degrees'
National Grid (2019) 'Steady Progression'
National Grid (2019) 'Consumer Evolution'
Natural Gas

1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

The carbon content of electricity has fallen in the last few years and will continue to decrease.

500‘Consumer Evolution’

BEIS and HM Treasury projections‘Steady Progression’

Discounted
Not compliant with avoiding 1.5˚C warming‘Two Degrees’

Discounted
Relies on nuclear capacity increasing from 9GW in
2018 to 17GW in 2050. Not considered realistic as
three of six proposed new nuclear projects have beencancelled, nuclear has consistently failed to attract
private investment and electricity prices are higher thanthose for onshore wind, offshore wind and solar
photovoltaics.

We have used these sources to predict the future carbon content ofelectricity over the next 30 years, e.g.

Our calculations have taken into account the changing carbon content
of electricity, while gas was assumed constant at 216 gCO2e/kWh.

Discounted
Not compliant with avoiding 1.5˚C warming

450
400

What it means in practice136 gCO2e/kWh in 2020
108 gCO2e/kWh in 2025
27 gCO2e/kWh in 2050.

The four National Grid Future Energy Scenarios (© National Grid)

Unfortunately, the carbon content used in Part L 2013 of the Building Regulations has not been updated.

This scenario assumes that around 70% of annual electricity demand in
2050 will be met by wind and solar power.

BEIS and HM Treasury have also published their projections for the
future carbon content of electricity, which show good agreement withthe ‘Community Renewables’ scenario.

2050‘Community Renewables’

Considered
Etude assume this scenario offers the most plausible
1.5˚C compliant UK electricity generation mix pathway.
This scenario was developed to achieve the UK’s now
outdated Climate Change Act target of an 80%
reduction in emissions by 2050.

High level assessment of the four National Grid scenarios

Electricity Generation (TWh)This has now changed completely: the de-commissioning of coal-fired
power stations and the rise of renewable energy (particularly windand solar) have meant the annual average carbon content ofelectricity is now around 150-200 gCO2e/kWh and predicted toreduce more in the next decade (see adjacent graph).

1100

Grid Emission Factor (gCO2e/kWh)Electricity used to have a very high carbon content: more than 1,000
gCO2e/kWh in the early 1970’s. It has become steadily ‘greener’since, although it reached a plateau of approximately 500
gCO2e/kWh during the 2000’s. At that time, heating systems using
gas such as boilers and especially CHP were seen as environmentallyfriendly options.

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2020
Interconnectors
Gas
Offshore Wind

2025

2030
Waste
NuclearOnshore Wind

2035
Biomass
Hydro
Solar

2040

2045

2050

Coal
MarineOther Renewables

Community Renewables: what it means in terms of power generation in the UK over the period
2020-2050: the rise of renewable energy| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

7

Council and borough emissions: the Council’s power and influence

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Direct Council emissions
Tower Hamlets Council’s direct control emissions only cover thefollowing sources:
1.

The buildings the Council occupies (owned or rented)

2.

Landlord areas in rented buildings e.g. Tower Hamlets Homes
communal lighting, building-based pumping for communal heating

3.

The Council’s fleet and business travel

4.

Street lighting and other external public uses e.g. CCTV, markets,parks.

The Council’s ability to influence
The Council has however significant power and influence to be able toaffect greenhouse has (GHG) emissions beyond its own operations tothe borough as a whole.
Responsibility
These include schools and leisure centres in Tower Hamlets (alsoincluding a small number of nurseries) and all dwellings managed byTower Hamlets Homes (excluding landlord areas).
PolicyWell crafted policy is a key change driver. It has significant ability to
reduce carbon emissions from new developments, limit the destructionof natural habitats and increase nature and biodiversity within theborough.
Leadership
Tower Hamlets Council is in a position of leadership. It holds great
power to drive change through the procurement processes it isinvolved in, through activities it will and will not allow to take place
within its jurisdiction, and through partnerships with other key players
in the borough, such as Canary Wharf, Queen Mary University, TfL
and the NHS.
Facilitation
The public and local businesses look to Tower Hamlets for leadershipand guidance. The Council could become a trusted advisor and leader
in the climate crisis through the provision of support to the public andbusinesses in reducing their carbon footprint and engendering moresustainable and ethical behaviour.

A breakdown of the influence the Council has over sources of emissions in the borough. Note: diagram not to scale| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

8

Understanding the Council’s direct emissions, and those under its responsibility
50

Emissions under the Council’s responsibility are
significant and need to be addressed
Emissions from Tower Hamlet Homes are more than three times higher
than the total of those directly controlled by the Council from buildings
and transport. There are approximately 11,500 THH dwellings. They
are mainly EPC D-rated (42%) and E-rated (32%). No THH energy
consumption data is available, therefore it was estimated using the
Ofgem national average. It should be noted that EPCs are a poor
indicator of actual energy consumption.
Schools and leisure centres also represent a significant source ofemissions. Schools are spread over 73 sites, with 11 responsible forover 50% of emissions.

Transport - Unknown vehicle and/or fuel45
Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

After buildings, the Council’s vehicle fleet is the largest source of directemissions; the majority from lorries.

50

Transport - Fleet - Lorries

40

Transport - Fleet - Vans

35

Transport - Fleet - Cars
30

Transport - Business Travel - Cars

25

Street lighting and other small external uses

20

Landlord electricity for communal heating

15

Landlord uses e.g. staircase lighting
Non-domestic Buildings

1045Transport - Unknown

40

Transport - Business travel
Transport - Fleet

35

Responsibility - Leisure centres

30

Responsibility - Schools
25

Responsibility - THH

20

Street lighting and other small external uses

15

Landlord electricity for communal heating

10

Landlord uses e.g. staircase lighting
Non-domestic Buildings

5

5

-

-

Total estimated Council GHG emissions in
2018: direct control + responsibility

Total estimated Council GHG
emissions in 2018
The Council’s ‘direct control’ carbon emissions are dominated by buildings; emissions fromEmissions under the Council’s ‘direct control’ and ‘responsibility’ (including those from Tower Hamlets

landlord areas represent a non-negligible partHomes, schools and leisure centres) are much more significant than those under its direct control only.
They need to be addressed as well.

Emissions are reported by user, inline with the CCC
The Green House Gas reporting protocol defines a methodology fororganisations to report emissions arising from their activity. It defines aconvention to ensure that emissions are not double counted bydifferent organisations, and identifies responsibility based on the root
source of emissions.

Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

Direct emissions are dominated by buildings
Buildings owned and/or occupied by the Council represent the
majority of its direct control emissions, followed by emissions fromexternal areas and from landlord areas (e.g. staircase lighting,presumably mostly in housing blocks).

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Current LBTH Council‘direct control’ carbon
emissions10
ktCO2e/yr

Here we have taken a different approach, reporting the carbon
emissions that the Council is responsible for based on use. This gives amore robust strategy to target reducing emissions, and is in line with
the Committee on Climate Change approach to national emissions
reporting.

The Council can influence further savings in theborough

Current carbon
emissions for thewhole borough

The Council’s direct greenhouse gas emissions account for only 1% of
the Borough’s emissions, and 3% when also accounting for those under
its responsibility e.g. emissions from THH, schools and leisure centres.
However, the Council also has some influence over a proportion of
Borough-wide emissions for example through planning and transport
policy, waste collection policy, and stakeholder engagement.

Current carbon emissions
under the Council’s
responsibility (e.g. Tower
Hamlets Homes, Schools,
Leisure Centres)

Zero
Current

2025

2050

The target is for the Council’s ‘direct control’ emissions to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2025

The Council’s own emissions and those under its responsibility represent approximately 3% of thetotal Borough emissions| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

9

Council’s direct emissions | Closing the Carbon Gap
12Required offset

Carbon gap analysis

•

•

•

Management of assets e.g. disposal / moving out of inefficientbuildings, in particular Mulberry Place and the associated movetowards a lower carbon new Town Hall. The Council may dispose /move out of other buildings but we have currently only accounted
for Mulberry Place.
Carbon policy measures from the Council (e.g. retrofitting,energy management, and tree planting) and from Government, as
well as market-driven changes (e.g. uptake of electric vehicles).
This is estimated to lead to a 10% reduction in building’s carbon
emissions by 2025, and a 30% reduction in emissions from cars
and 10% from vans (by switching to EVs and hybrid vehicles).
Decarbonisation of the electricity grid: as the carbon content of
every unit of electricity used continues to decrease, emissions
associated with electricity will reduce without any action from theCouncil.

The Council can and must do more, and faster
Overall, under the current “business as usual” trajectory, it isestimated that by 2025 the Council’s direct control emissions would beapproximately 40% lower than currently.

Transport

10
Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

The Council’s emissions are already expected to reduce between now
and 2025 due to a combination of factors

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Street lighting and other small external uses
8

Buildings & Landlord areas
Business as usual

62025 Carbon Gap
4
Net Zero Carbon target
2

0

-2

-4
Total estimated Council `Forecast 'business as usual' Total required Council GHG
GHG emissions in 2018 Council's emissions in 2025 emissions in 2025 for net
zero carbon

The carbon gap by 2025: estimated direct control emissions accounting for current carbon policy, stock
management, and electricity grid decarbonisation will be lower than current emissions… but not low
enough.

Unfortunately, this is more than twice higher than what they need tobe if the Council is to achieve a 75% carbon reduction and offset theresidual emissions in order for the Council to be zero carbon by 2025.
Actions required to deliver this objective are provided in this report.

This analysis focuses on the Council’s direct control emissions. When also
accounting for emissions under the Council’s responsibility (e.g. Tower
Hamlets Homes, leisure centres and and schools), the gap would
significantly increase.

Switching Town Hall from Mulberry Place to the new Town Hall is a large part of the expected reduction by 2025(based on planning stage carbon predictions for the new Town Hall) (© AHMM)| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

10

Understanding greenhouse gas emissions from the borough as a whole

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Whole borough greenhouse gas emissions

The categories used are the same as those used by the Committee on
Climate Change for national reporting. The building sector has been
split between known building emissions, and unknown additional
metered energy, mainly electricity.

Emissions are dominated by buildings and commercial
electricity use
Current emissions are dominated by heating in buildings, andelectricity use. As the carbon content of electricity reduces theimportance of reducing heating demand, switching to low carbon
heat (for example heat pumps) and electrifying transport become
increasingly important.
The contribution from road transport has been calculated on a percapita basis from the total London emissions.
The contribution from aviation has been calculated on a per capita
basis from the total national emissions.

There is a big gap between business as usual and what
is required for Net Zero Carbon by 2050
With the introduction by LBTH of required improvements over Part L atplanning, the London Plan for larger developments (minimum 35%
reduction over Part L + offset payments), the Ultra Low Emission Zone
(ULEZ), and changes to the electricity grid there are already drivers
for reducing emissions. However including an estimate of the effect ofthese changes in forecasting shows a considerable shortfall whencompared to a zero carbon target. A step change in ambition andaction is required.

1400
Business as usual

1200
1000
800

OffsetF-gases*Aviation*
Industry
Forestry and land use
Transport
Waste*
Other metered energy
Buildings and towns

600
400
Net Zero Carbon target

Potential policy gap
Historic emissions

Green house gas emissions (ktCO2e)

Emissions are categorised by sector in a similar way tonational reporting by the CCC

3,000

1600
Total annual carbon emissions from LBTH (ktCO2e)

The emissions for the borough as a whole are estimated to represent
approximately 1,600 ktCO2e/yr. The size of the challenge to reducegreenhouse gas emissions is clearly shown. Although emissions are
already forecast to reduce (see ‘business as usual’ bar), this drop is
almost entirely due to decarbonisation of electricity. As the rate ofnational grid decarbonisation slows in the late 2020’s the boroughemissions are shown to level unless more actions are taken.

Baseline emissions including growth

2,500

Target trajectory
Business as usual

2,000

1,500

1,000

200
500
0
0
2005

-200

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

2040

2045

2050

-400
Total borough GHG
emissions in 2016

Forecast total borough GHG Total required boroughemissions in 2050
GHG emissions in 2050 fornet zero carbon

Latest reported emissions (2016) and forecast 2050 emissions based on a business as usual scenario

Historic and forecast business as usual greenhouse gas emissions from the London Borough of Tower
Hamlets between 2005 and 2050 showing a target trajectory for Zero Carbon in line with a 1.5C
warming scenario. There is a large gap between the reduction likely due to the current rate ofchange and trajectory, and what is required to achieve Net Zero.

with no major changes in policy. Emissions are currently set to reduce by 30% over the next 30 years,
but are significantly higher than could be offset and so higher than what is required for net zerocarbon. A net zero carbon scenario is shown for comparison.
Photo of housing stock, Canary wharf, server room?

Etude carbon emissions forecast
Etude have developed a tool to forecast local emissions based on bottom up analysis forbuildings and transport to show what effect current policy and potential policy changes foreach building or vehicle type could have on the total emissions.
The bottom up analysis has been calibrated using building stock information from MHCLG
housing stock, EPCs, DECs, and VOA information1. Reduction from other categories is
estimated using the national CCC ‘core’ reduction estimates and local considerations2.
The estimates for buildings can be compared to the total electricity use from BEIS
subnational metered data. Etude estimates that over three quarters of electrical consumption
in Tower Hamlets is likely to be from uses not related to buildings. This is significantly larger
than other London boroughs and therefore may be linked to intensive commercial office use
such as server rooms. The estimated split has been shown as ‘Other metered energy’.

The large additional electrical consumption metered in Tower Hamlets is likely to be from serverrooms and trading floors in Canary Wharf. These are not reported on building Display Energy
Certificates (DECs). Image courtesy Green Cooling

1. MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government; EPCs, Energy Performance Certificate database gives
building attributes such as floor area and a modelled energy consumption; DECs, Display Energy Certificates give actual
metered energy consumption for a sample of non-domestic buildings; VOA, Valuation Office Agency issue a periodic
database of non-domestic buildings and energy consumption.
2. Net Zero: The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming (2019) Committee on Climate Change| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

11

The case for acting (now)

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The rate of change
Poor air quality from the combustion of fossil fuels has a big impact on human health.
The climate is warming. Sea level rises, the reduction of ice sheets andwarming of oceans are happening at a rate faster than IPCC
predictions, and projections have consistently underestimated the rateof climate change in each of their major reports since 1990. Urgent
action must be taken now.

CO2

2050

2025

2019

The Royal College of Physicians estimates that 40,000 premature deaths are causedby air pollution in the UK.

Carbon offsetting canbe used to accelerate
carbon reductions
beyond the Council’s
control (e.g. social
housing)

Public Health England estimates that between 2017 and 2035 there will be 2.5
million air pollution related diseases costing the NHS £18 billion to treat.

Co-benefits
Many of the solutions proposed for reducing carbon emissions in Tower
Hamlets have a positive effect on other important issues. For example:•

Improved air quality – phasing out of petrol and diesel powered
vehicles on our roads and gas boilers in our buildings will reduce
local air pollution. This will result in improved health of the
population, a reduction in avoidable premature deaths andsavings for the NHS.

•

Fuel poverty / housing health / equality – improving the energy
efficiency of homes also reduces fuel poverty, reduces inequality
and improves health.

•Job creation – commitment to climate change mitigation andadaptation will create new and sustainable jobs.

•

Green infrastructure / biodiversity – Preserving green space andcreating more woodlands and wetlands not only acts as asignificant carbon sink, it also creates habitat for animals, birds
and insects, and valuable leisure amenity for people.

The solution is not to offset carbon
To achieve the global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions required
to limit global temperature rises to 1.5˚C, it is not enough to simply
offset emissions of one area by reducing them somewhere else.
Where it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions locally or
nationally this must be done.
Carbon offsetting, done well, can play an important short term roleby funding land restoration, tree planting, energy efficiency measuresand additional renewable energy capacity. However the focus
should be on eliminating reliance on fossil fuels and reducing
emissions in the first place.
Carbon Capture and Storage may also have a place for mopping up
unavoidable emissions from very hard to treat sectors such as certain
industry niches. However the technology is unproven, expensive andmust not be relied upon to justify business as usual.

Electrification of vehicles
and heat

Better urban planning

More walking and cycling

Reduced emissions
PM 2.5Less
respiratory
diseasePM 10
NO2

Better healthand quality oflife

Health benefits of improving local air quality by reducing emissions

Residual emissions from hardto treat sectors offset bycarbon sinks
The role of offset changes over time. Initially it can be used to fund projects for carbon reductionthat might otherwise not have taken place. By 2040 to 2050 the only offsetting possible will be
actual additional carbon reduction.

Fuel poverty affects 1 in 10 households in the UK. Solutions to fuel poverty, can also
be solutions to climate change.

“I am firmly of the view that the next 18 months will decide ourInsulating homes – improving the insulation and airtightness of existing homes
reduces the amount of energy required to keep them warm, thereby reducing fuelcosts and CO2 emissions at the same time.

ability to keep climate change to survivable levels and to restore

Renewable energy – Renewable energy has decreased in cost year on year and ispredicted to continue to decrease.

HRH Prince Charles

nature to the equilibrium we need for our survival. “Renewable energy

Insulating homes“Confidence is very high that the window of opportunity – the period when
Reduction in
damp andmould

ReducedenergydemandCheaper energy

significant change can be made, for limiting climate change within tolerable
boundaries – is rapidly narrowing.”
IPCC’s Special Report on Climate Change and Land

Improved
healthCheaper energy bills

Fuel poverty benefits of reducing emissions| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

12

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Becoming a Zero Carbon
Council by 2025

• Decarbonising non-domestic Council buildings• The electrification of the fleet

Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)• A closer look at the Council’s direct emissions

12

10

Required offset

8

Transport-75%

6Street lighting and other small
external uses
Buildings & Landlord areas

420
Offset should not represent more than 25% of
current emissions-2• Action plan-4

Total estimated‘direct control’Council greenhousegas emissions in2018

Required emissions
and offsets for a
Net Zero Carbon
Council in 2025

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

13

A closer look at the Council’s direct emissions

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

A detailed understanding is required
A detailed assessment is important in order to identify priority actions
and opportunities. We have used granular data as much as possible(e.g. metered energy use reported by CRC reports, mileage).

Non-domestic buildings

Landlord - electricity
for communal heating
Landlord uses (excl
heating)

Town hall and Council
offices

The largest emitters are the Council’s Town Halls and offices. Emissions
from landlord areas are also significant, but spread over a large
number of sites. While there are over 500 sites, 13 buildings are
responsible for over 50% of these emissions.

Nurseries, Children’s centres, Surestarts, etc.

Of the known floor area, just over 75% is heated by gas.

Energy benchmarking indicates the potential forsignificant energy and carbon savings
Where possible, average energy consumption was estimated for themain Council building types. For the majority, this indicates highenergy consumption compared to CIBSE benchmarks, i.e. the potential
for significant energy consumption savings. This is taken into account in
the recommended actions.

Libraries,
IDEA stores

Unknown
Others

1 = Mulberry Place Town Hall – expected to reduce once it is replaced by the new Town Hall (the resulting expected
reduction is shown as hashed area on the graph); 2 = John Onslow House; 3 = Albert Jacobs House; 4 = Jack Dash House

Current breakdown of the Council’s non-domestic building-based emissions.

Proportional representation of carbon emissions from non-domestic buildings (each block is one

Transport: Council’s fleet and business travel

The total in 2018 is estimated at 7.3 ktCO2e/year.
(please note that Tower Hamlets Homes, schools and leisure centres are not ‘direct control’

site, except the lighter, bottom left block which groups several hundreds of the smaller ones); 13
buildings cover over 50% of building emissions; they include the Town Hall and many Idea storesTransport emissions are from the Council’s fleet, in particular its lorries
which are mostly on diesel. There is only one hybrid and no electriccars. A large proportion have unknown vehicle type and fuel.

emissions. They are covered in the following section.

/ libraries

Current renewable energy generation
Public WCs
There is currently no known renewable energy generation (e.g. solar
photovoltaics) on the Council’s buildings.

Parks - excl buildings i.e.
lighting, pumping, toilets
etc

CCTV

Markets (incl supply tostallholders)Business travel - Cars

Unknown / misc utilities

Other external lighting NOT streets, NOT parks sport pitches, car parksetc

Unknown vehicle
and/or fuelFleet - lorries

Street lighting
Fleet - vans
Current breakdown of the Council’s emissions from external uses.

Current breakdown of transport emissions per vehicle type.

The total in 2018 is estimated at 1.2 ktCO2e/year.
They are dominated by street lighting.

The total in 2018 is estimated at 1.4 ktCO2e/year.
They are dominated by those from lorries, both due to miles travelled and type of fuel used

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

14

Decarbonisation of non-domestic buildings and other stationary uses
10

Target: 80% on-site carbon reduction by 2025

Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings
Benchmarking indicates a significant saving potential through energy
management and efficiency. We recommend a target of 50%
reduction in energy consumption, in line with the BEIS energy mission,
to be achieved by 2025 for Council buildings, street lighting and mostother stationery sources.

9
Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

At this initial estimate stage, we recommend targeting a 80% on-site
carbon reduction from buildings and external energy uses by 2025.
This is considered the maximum realistic on-site saving. With further
grid decarbonisation, this would be equivalent to 90% on-site
reduction by 2050.

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

8
Street lighting and other small
external uses

7
6

-80%

5

Buildings & Landlord areas

4
32This should be achieved by improving the building fabric (insulation,
airtightness), its services (ventilation, lighting, energy management)
and, crucially, switching away from gas heating towards low carbon
heat (e.g. heat pumps).

Phasing out gas use
The majority of buildings should switch to a low carbon supply.
Crucially, we have assumed that 95% of gas-heated buildings willswitch to a heat pump system by 2025.

1
0
Total
estimated
CouncilGHG
Total
estimated‘direct
emissions in 2018
control’ Council GHG
emissions in 2018

TotalTotal
projected
CouncilGHG
targeted‘direct
emissions in 2025
control’ Council GHG
Emissions in 2025

Estimated strategy to 2025 decarbonisation of Council buildings and other stationery uses (direct control emissions)

Buildings currently served by district heating schemes (assumed to be
on gas) should change to a low-carbon heat supply, whether Councilled or in partnership with energy suppliers, e.g. with TfL to utilise
waste heat from the tube, with Canary Wharf occupiers to utilise heatfrom servers.
Gas boilers

Heat pumps

Installing PVs
High-efficiency PVs should be installed on the Council’s buildings. As an
indication, installing PVs on 25% of the roof areas would represent
20,000 sqm or PVs, or 4.2MW. All roofs should be investigated, but
the large ones first. In addition, approx. 20,000sqm PVs (or 4.2MW)
should be installed over external areas (e.g. car parks or markets.

Standards for new buildings
All new buildings should be Net Zero Carbon buildings.

Different approaches for different building types
For smaller and simpler buildings such as community centres, landlord
areas etc, the Council could develop standard carbon reduction
packages of measures to be deployed.

Low carbon heat – We have assumed that 95% of the Council buildings will switching to heatPVs on all large Council buildings’ roofs – for example, the transport / depot sites havepumps by 2025

significant roof areas, and potentially car park areas, which lend themselves well to large PV
installations: Vehicle Testing Station, Blackwall (left); Car Pound (middle); Toby Lane depot(right).

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

15

Case study | IDEA Stores

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Two representative buildings

Cubitt Town Library - 650m2

The Idea Stores selected as case studies are located in different typesof building of different ages; for example, Cubitt Town Library is in a
Grade II Listed Building, whereas Bow Idea Store is located in the
ground floor of John Onslow House, a 4-storey office building ofrelatively modern brick construction (1990s). Both were selected as, inprinciple, all existing buildings will need significant refurbishment toachieve a zero carbon borough. This may include recently completedbuildings.

Each building counts
Establishing a whole building retrofit plan for each Idea Store that
identifies the key changes required is recommended. This would
include improvements to the building fabric for all buildings, as
reducing heating energy use is a primary aim. The greatest
improvement in carbon emissions will come from changing theheating system to low carbon heat sources (heat pumps). For these to
be cost effective in operation, it is also important that the building
fabric performs well, and air leakage is low.
In some cases, some flexibility and innovation may be needed toensure that Heritage buildings can be preserved as functioning spaces
in a Net Zero Carbon Borough.

Triple glazing where Heritage concerns allow –secondary glazing otherwise£130-250/m2 GIFA

Thermal imaging survey and airtightness test to checkinsulation and air leakage and carry out
repairs/remedial works where needed.

Imaging survey – low cost
Remedial works - cost dependent on scope

Add insulation to all walls and insulation overlay on floor.
External wall insulation where possible and internallyelsewhere.

Walls – £70-100/m2 GIFA depending on
specifications and finish level

Insulate the roof internally

Approx. £10/m2 GIFA

Upgrade the lighting throughout to LED£20-£120/m2 GIFA depending on whether relamping
only or new light systems

Replace the existing boiler with a low carbon heat pump£80-£150/m2 GIFA depending on heat demand andon need for wider system upgrades (e.g. radiators).

Total£330 to £630/m2 GIFA (indicative)

Cubitt Town Library
Cubitt Town Library - list of suggested changes to improve carbon performance

Three initial surveys – an Infrared Thermography (IRT or thermal
image) survey to identify the main deficits in insulation, an Airtightness
test and a structural survey to establish whether the roof can be used
for Photovoltaics – will form the foundation of the plan for eachbuilding.

Bow Idea Store – 1000m2
Review the existing cooling system in the entire building
and upgrade to a heat recovery based system withcentralised time and temperature control. Install/improveheat recovery in mechanical ventilation systems£25-30/m2 GIFA for new AHU and controls£40-50/m2 GIFA for new high efficiency chiller£150-200/m2 GIFA for new fan coils and ventilation
ducting

These refurbishments can be carried out over an extended period oftime, but will be a challenging requirement for an already financiallyconstrained service. Additional funding for upgrading buildings isrequired.

Replace the existing boiler with a low carbon heat pumpor – preferably - integrate with the mechanical system£100-120/m2 GIFA – savings available byavoiding new chiller costs (see above)

Triple glazing to the single glazed curtain wall

£200-500/m2 GIFA (depending on extent of curtain
walling)

To give an idea of the scale of investment required,

Upgrade the lighting throughout to LED£20-£120/m2 GIFA depending on whether
relamping only or new light systems

Carry out a thermal image survey to check insulation andair leakage and carry out repairs/remedial works where
neededImaging survey – low cost
Remedial works - cost dependent on scope

Totals£200 to +£1000/m2 GIFA
(indicative) depending on scope

Investment in Council buildings is required••

Cubbit Town Library would require an investment of £200k-£410k
Bow Idea Store would require an investment of £200k-£1M

Bow IDEA Store

Bow IDEA Store – list of suggested changes to improve carbon performance(Total building area is 5500m2)| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

16

Case study | IDEA Stores

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

300

Scope for improvement

60

Energy use

The ‘best practice’ benchmark energy performance for library buildingsin the UK is around 30% better than Cubitt Town Library and 60% better
than the Bow Idea Store. This shows that there is significant room for
improvement in terms of energy use reduction. As a guideline, the target
should be to approximately halve the energy consumption in eachbuilding in order to achieve the overall target of an 80% on site carbon
reduction.

250

50

40
kgCO2e/m2/year

kWh / m2

200

Cubitt Town Library

150

From a brief initial visual survey, key building features include:• Solid wall construction with single glazing• Gas fired boiler – fairly recently changed from oil• Natural ventilation• Old fluorescent lighting throughout

100

50

The priorities for carbon reduction therefore include:• Focus on fabric – improve insulation, airtightness and ventilation
strategy• Replace the lighting as part of routine maintenance work
• Change the existing boiler to a heat pump within 10 years

Carbon emissions

30

20

80% reduction

10

0
Bow Idea Store

Cubitt Town Library

Best PracticeCurrent energy consumption of Bow IDEA stores and Cubitt Town Library vs best UK practice0
Cubitt Current

Cubitt Proposed

Current CO2 emissions vs what the proposed actions can achieve at Cubitt Town Library

Bow Idea StoreThe priorities for carbon reduction therefore include:• Replacement windows with triple glazing and a draft lobby• Review mechanical services to ensure air handling units formechanical ventilation have heat recovery and review
heating/cooling controls• Complete lighting overhaul to include LED fittings• Review building insulation – is there any cavity wall insulation?
Retrofit full fill cavity wall injection and improve airtightness.

60

Carbon emissions

50

40
kgCO2e/m2/year

From a brief initial visual survey, key building features include:• Substantial single glazed curtain walling• Mechanical ventilation• Mechanical cooling. From the air conditioning inspection report(dated 2017), there are/have been some issues with the system
controls• The current electrical consumption at Bow is high. Other Idea Stores
do not have a similar profile, so it is probable that the air
conditioning system and direct electric heating are the principal
reasons

30

20

80% reduction
100
Jon Onslow House is one of the highest carbon emission buildings in the
Tower Hamlets portfolio. Therefore, although some issues could be
addressed for the Idea Store in isolation, a comprehensive review of thewhole building may give a much better overall emissions reduction.

Bow Current

Bow Proposed

Current CO2 emissions vs what the proposed actions can achieve at the Bow IDEA store

Diagram showing the cost involved and the energy savings possible (© Investment Property Forum, 2017.
Costing Energy Efficiency Improvements in Existing Buildings, Currie & Brown)| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

17

Electrification of the Council’s fleet

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Target: a 50% carbon reduction by 2025
a 85% carbon reduction by 2030

Electric vehicles
Electric vehicles use 80-90% less energy than those powered by fossil
fuels, due to the efficiency of electric motors and their ability to brakeregeneratively. A typical electric vehicle charged in the UK currently
produces around 32-43g CO₂ per km; for a typical electric car thiswould reduce to just 13-17g CO₂ per km by 2030 and 4-5g CO₂ per
km by 2050, thanks for further decarbonisation of electricity. This
compares to an EU average of 121g CO₂ per km for petrol anddiesel cars sold in 2018.
It is recommended that the Council procures pure electric vehicles
rather than hybrid vehicles. Where pure electric vehicles are not yet
available it may be better to wait rather than to purchase hybrid
vehicles, which are mechanically more complex and expected to bemade obsolete by advances in battery technology in the next few
years.

Transport - Unknown
vehicle and/or fuel1.20
Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

These are recommended targets for the Council’s fleet and businesstravel vehicles, at this initial estimate stage. Electrification of transport
will not only bring significant carbon savings, but also important cobenefits including air quality, noise, and reduced contribution to theurban heat island.

1.40

Transport - Fleet Lorries

1.00

0.80

Transport - Fleet Vans

0.60
Transport - Fleet Cars

0.40

0.20

Transport - BusinessTravel - Cars

0.00
2018

2025

2030

Carbon pathway for 2018-2025-2030 showing decarbonisation of the Council’s fleet andImage of current latest commercially available electric car © Nissanbusiness vehicles

Accelerating the natural replacement cycle
Cars and vans. All cars and van trips should be made by electricvehicles by 2025, leading to 90% reduction in emissions. We haveassumed that the normal replacement cycle is 7 years. To limit
wastage it is important that the Council immediately stop purchasing
petrol and diesel vehicles where viable electric alternatives areavailable
Lorries. We recommend engaging with manufacturers early; this could
be done in partnership with other councils to send strong signals to themarket and stimulate product development. A 30% reduction incarbon emissions by 2025, and a 70% reduction by 2030 are therecommended target.
Fleet management should prioritise the of electric vehicles use over theothers.

Charging infrastructure
The Council should develop a strategy with UKPN and otherstakeholders to identify the most appropriate locations and types ofcharger. It is recommended that a combination of slow (3kW) and fast
(7-22kW) chargers be installed.

An electric vehicle charging point integrated with a lamp post on a UK street. Chargers that do

Efficiency of battery electric vehicles vs combustion engine and hydrogen vehicles

not offer debit/credit card payment should be avoided if possible, as these may be phased out bylegislation.

© Committee on Climate Change| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

18

Residual emissions

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Quantifying the residual emissions

12

We have estimated that the Council will have to reduce its directcontrol emissions by 75% by 2025, down to approximately
2.5ktCO2e/year. These residual emissions will have to be offset for
Tower Hamlets Council to be ‘Net Zero Carbon’.

10

The Committee on Climate Change indicates that in a net zero
scenario, residual emissions in 2050 should be no more than 3% of
current emissions across the UK. Over 80% of residual emissions in
2050 are forecast to occur in the aviation, agriculture, industry andwaste sectors.
This means that acceptable residual emissions in other sectors such asbuildings and transport within Tower Hamlets are almost zero.

Strategies to address residual emissions
Forestation offers the only practical strategy to remove atmosphericcarbon. Total potential is very limited, therefore emissions must be
reduced as much as possible first. In Tower hamlets the total potential
tree planting will only make up a very minor fraction of the offset
requirement, therefore trading with other local authorities will be
required.

Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

Residual emission allowance

Required offset

8

-75%

6

Transport

4

Street lighting and other small
external uses

2

Buildings & Landlord areas
0
Offset should not represent more than 25% of
current emissions in 2025

-2
-4

Total estimated Council
Required emissions and
GHG emissions in 2018 offets for Net Zero Carbon
council in 2025

LBTH Council’s residual ‘direct control’ emissions and required offsets in 2025

DRAX Power Station is operating a Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage pilot project,capturing just 1 tonne of CO2 per day.

Housing Retrofit in Tower Hamlets to fit heat pumps and improvebuilding fabric efficiency can reduce emissions and fuel poverty, while
improving air quality. It cannot reduce atmospheric carbon however.
Recommended Strategy
Solar Panels fitted to buildings in Tower Hamlets use sites that havealready been developed to provide cheap and clean electricity that isessential to power heat pumps and electric cars. It also cannot reduce
atmospheric carbon.
Renewable Energy funded by LBTH but installed on greenfield sites
outside of the borough contributes toward decarbonisation of theelectricity grid. It also cannot reduce atmospheric carbon.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Drax power station is amongst ahandful of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage pilot projects
worldwide, which the CCC view as an essential technology. It iscurrently capturing just 1 tonne of CO2 per day however, so is not a
viable option at present.

2020 - 2030

2030 - 2040

2040 - 2050

Reforestation orafforestation







Housing retrofit inTower Hamlets







Solar photovoltaic
panels in Tower
Hamlets

Renewable energy
outside of LBTH







Potential strategies to offset residual emissions in LBTH and whether they should be used in the short

Reforestation and afforestation are currently the only commercially available options for

term, medium term and/or long term

removing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

19

Becoming a Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025 | Action plan (1/2)

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Acting now
This page summarises the actions recommended in the following areas.
The Committee and Climate Change categories have been used toensure consistency with the national ‘Net Zero Carbon’ plan.

Power
Buildings
Transport| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

20

Becoming a Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025 | Action plan (2/2)
Acting now

Waste

This page summarises the actions recommended in the following areas.
The Committee and Climate Change categories have been used toensure consistency with the national ‘Net Zero Carbon’ plan.

Conduct a waste inventory to understand better where Council waste comes from, so that a recycling target for waste from all Council buildings
by 2021 can be set

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Waste team to tender for external expertise to undertake waste
inventory by October 2020.

Once this is understood, explore ways to minimise the waste generated, look for alternatives for any non-recyclable waste.
Introduce food waste bins in all office areas

Waste

Achieving a target of zero organic waste to landfill by 2025 will require a behavioural shift in the way we do things. Food waste bins should becollected daily and placed in a centralised location ready for collection.

Forestry, land use and agriculture

Target exemplary levels of recycling of waste materials from Council construction projects
A minimum target of 95% should be set and the proportion of energy recovery should be minimized over time.

Facilities management & Waste team to review feasibility by April
2020.

Housing and regeneration team to set new waste requirements byMarch 2020.

Other sectors
Grow waste and circular economy awareness

Organisational readiness and commitment

Take responsibility for knowing where the waste from the borough is going, and what happens to it.

The Council’s waste strategy covers the circular economy andshould be used.

Forestry, land use and agriculture
Tree planting schemes
Increase tree planting on Council owned land and parks; carry out surveys to establish where trees can be planted. It is not possible to plant enough trees
to meaningfully offset total emissions, so as many trees as possible should be planted.

Programme to plant 1,000 new street trees (by 2021) is underway. Community tree planting projects to commence in 2020.

Other sectors
Procurement of goods and services
Procurement and Sustainable Development Team to review councils procurement policies and tender documentation by May 2020 to ensure carbon
emission requirements are incorporated as part of all relevant new contracts.

Base refrigerant selection in cooling systems used by the Council on a principle of ‘lowest available Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant’.

Procurement and Sustainable Development Team to review councils
procurement policies and tender documentation by May 2020 toensure carbon emission requirements are incorporated as part of
all relevant new contracts.

Technical Services have information available to review .

Organisational readiness and commitment
Create and resource a Zero Carbon team
The team, part of the Sustainable Development Team, will have responsibility for implementing the Zero Carbon Roadmap, collect and monitor CO2
emissions data.

Sustainable Development Team to make proposal for overallownership, leadership and delivery of Zero Carbon target by
February 2020. Where necessary and internal climate change
taskforce will be set up with the responsibility to acceleratechange.

Collect data on energy and CO2 from Council operations, reporting annually

Zero Carbon Team to undertake assessment in October 2020.

Develop the Carbon Reduction Action Matrix

Zero Carbon Team to update Carbon Reduction Action Matrix byMarch 2020.

Implicate and involve all services for maximum impact and reach. Adjust the Matrix of actions developed by Etude.
Create internal policies on waste, procurement and travel that are aligned with overall 2050 objectives
Internal policies guide Council staff on targets for waste, procurement and travel and give weight to initiatives developed.

Each team (Waste, Procurement, Transport) to update theirpolicies to refer to Zero Carbon| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

21

Decarbonisation of buildings: the importance of energy management

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The important role of energy management
In order to achieve this ambitious Net Zero Carbon target it is crucial
to understand current energy use consistently and track its evolution
over time.
This is essential to provide a real estimate of the savings, the impact ofchanges and budget required. Our estimate of current emissions isbased on energy consumption from the CRC1 reports which is twicethat in the NI 1852 and GHG reports.
The Council should put in place a robust energy management system
as the foundation of its journey to zero carbon. Based on our analysis
of current energy data and reporting procedures, this should include:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Reviewing the list of buildings / sites and their annual
consumption, and update it if required e.g. redundant sites, misallocated uses, missing floor areas, etc.
Floor areas must be included to allow benchmarking
Attributing a unique ID to each site, alongside its address andpostcode, to avoid ambiguity and mis-allocation.
Reviewing metering provision and frequency of meter readings:
except on the very small sites, this should be monthly, and withhalf-hourly meters on the large sites.

The energy management system should be linked with asset
management, so that carbon decisions are informed by the future lifeof the asset, and take into account the impact of changes in buildinguse.

Illustration of possible system for energy and carbon reporting and management: ideally the system would be online and as automated as possible in order to avoid errors from manual entries; it should allow the Council’s
carbon lead to track overall progress and to look into individual sites, with links to the responsible parties for each site and with the asset management team; it should cover all sites, both under the Council’s direct control
and under its responsibility. The level of information illustrated here is higher than in the current reporting systems: essentially, it combines the information provided in the NI-185 sheets and CRC reports. The experience of
creating this zero carbon roadmap suggests this level of information is required for effective carbon management.

Once current energy use and emissions are known with morecertainty, we recommend the carbon action plan should be
expressed in absolute terms as a carbon budget (e.g. tonnes of CO2
until 2025, tonnes of CO2 per year) rather than the current approach
using relative (%) targets.

Dedicated resources
This will require additional resources (staff, training andsoft/hardware).
Depending on the type of sites, this would best be carried out by siteteams or centrally, but there should in any case be some analysis andsupport by the central team.
1 Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
2 Under National Indicator NI 185, local authorities are required to calculate thecarbon emissions of their buildings and services on a yearly basis and report theresults to DEFRA.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

22

Becoming a Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025 | Optimising cost

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

A clear trajectory
To minimise the capital cost of achieving net zero carbon it is importantthat a strategic approach is adopted which builds on the opportunities
presented by estate and asset management events. These might
include:••Renew - investment in new estate and disposal / redevelopmentof poor quality estate. These events present a major opportunity toachieve net zero carbon standards. It should be noted that
improved performance is not a given though and will depend on
the quality of design, construction and commissioning. Also, theembodied carbon impact of the development should be considered
and minimised.

Maintenance for Zero Carbon 2025

Improve - investment to improve the quality of existing assets (e.g.
replacing aged cladding or heating system) presents a verysignificant opportunity to make significant performance gains forlittle additional cost.
Enhance – significant savings can be achieved by addressing
backlog maintenance and through enhanced management regimes
with improved monitoring of performance and building setup

A costed plan is required that covers each Council asset, prioritisingthose with the greatest impact and where there is a significant
improvement opportunity, for example large buildings with poor
performance and those with forthcoming investment. Research has
shown that, where refurbishment is already planned, additional
investment of just £50/m2 can achieve very carbon savings of over
400 kgCO2/m2 over 15 years together with significant savings inrunning costs compared to ‘like-for-like’ renewals.

Planned work

Improvement opportunity

Monitoring

Limited / none other than visualinspection

IRT survey to identify improvement
opportunities
Install energy monitoring and targetingsystem to larger buildings

Externalenvelope

None / cosmetic redecorations

Sealing eaves and install draught
stripping to doors
Increase loft insulation
Additional insulation to cavity walls

Windows

Replace end of life single
glazing with new double glazed
units

Replace single with high performance
glazing (triple)

Mechanical
Ventilation

Replace end of life AHU fanswith similar system

Install best in class AHU fans and add runaround coil
Clean and repair ductwork

Lighting

Replace T5 bulbs like for like

Use LED lamps for all replacements andadd daylight and presence controls in all
rooms

Air conditioning

Inspection and servicing ofterminal units and replacementof any that are faulty

Install new EC drives in terminal units
Replace refrigerant to one with GWP
Add new controls to check performanceand calibration

Heating

Inspection / balancing ofradiators and service to boiler
Replace boiler with new more
efficient plant

Install ASHP rather than new gas boiler
Review radiators sizes, increase only wereneeded (or use FCU’s for heating also)
and add TRVs where absent
Change circulating pumps

Renewable
EnergyNone

Install PV array

Cumulative operating costs – 15 years

Plant replacement brought
forward to meet the 2025
Deadline results in a sharp
reduction in energy costs

For large poorly performing assets that are to be retained,
consideration should be given to bringing forward planned investment
cycles to energy and carbon secure savings and improved building
performance. Programmes such as London RE:FIT can help to enable
such investments by guaranteeing the associated energy savings that
underpin the investment case.

Improving the ambition of the planned works represents a fantastic opportunity to minimise costs

Baseline Annual Energy
Energy for Zero Carbon 2025

2025

A costed investment plan should detail the timetable for improving thestandard and management of existing assets, together with clear
specifications and standards for new assets including buildings,
vehicles or IT systems. This approach will leverage existing council
expenditure to help deliver a substantial part of the necessary
investment.

Item

Baseline Maintenance

2025

•

Reduce - reduction in estate size through agile working
implementation delivering estate, energy and carbon savings
together with improved productivity.

In the medium term, thelower annual cost of themore robust low carbon
technologies recoups theearly capital outlay
required to meet the2025 deadline

COST

•

Plant replacement
brought forward tomeet the 2025 Deadline

Cumulative energy costs – 15 years| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

23

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Phasing out carbon
emissions in Tower Hamlets
by 2050

3,000

Decarbonisation of electricity
Energy efficiency of buildings
Decarbonisation of heat in buildings

Green house gas emissions (ktCO2e)Electrify transport

2,500

Push industry and waste further, reduce flights and car use
Offset required
Target trajectory
Forecast emissions reduction

2,000

1,500

1,000

• A comprehensive set of actions• Timeline: a long and ambitious journey• LBTH Zero Carbon pathway

500

0
2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

2040

2045

2050

• Decarbonisation of domestic buildings• Case study: a typical existing block of flats• Focus on policy• Focus on procurement| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

24

A comprehensive set of actions

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Wide-ranging actions
This diagram illustrates the key areas of actions for reducing carbon
emissions in Tower Hamlets towards:
1.

A Net Zero Carbon Council by 2025

2.

A Net Zero Carbon Borough by 2050

Actions are required in all key sectors:•

Buildings

•

Power

•

Waste

•

Transport•

Forestry and land use•

Industry•

Aviation•

F-gases

Actions can be split up between in different categories, depending on
the scale of control Council has over the emissions:•

Direct Council control (e.g. Council’s offices)•

Responsibility (e.g. Tower Hamlets Homes, Schools), Policy (e.g.
local plan) and Leadership (e.g. engagement with local businesses
and organisations)•

Facilitation (e.g. engagement with the public).

Breakdown of borough carbon emissions by use type,showing the categorisation and proportion of emissions
from each source, and the control the Council has over eachsector.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

25

Timeline | A long and ambitious journey

2020

2025

Buildings

2020: All new homes tobe Passivhaus standard

2025: All newbuildings to be net
zero carbon

2030

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

2035

2030: 100% of all Council
homes have had a low energy
retrofit and achieve an
average heating energy
demand of 40kWh/m2/yr.

2050: Gas
boilers arephased out

Power2030: 25% of existing buildings to
be heated by low carbon sources

2021: All new domestic and nondomestic buildings to incorporate
PV

Waste

2040: 50% of existing buildings to
be heated by low carbon sources

2025: 20,000m2 on
Council buildings(approx. 4.2MW)

2050: 100% of existing buildings to beheated by low carbon sources

2050: 430MW PVs in
total across the whole ofTower Hamlets

2050: Carbon content of grid 27 gCO2e

2030: Carbon content of grid 85 gCO2e

2020: Carbon content of grid 136 gCO2e
2023: 100% of
homes andbusinesses to beserved with foodwaste collection

2050: 80% of all existing homes have
had a low energy retrofit and achieve an
average heating energy demand of
40kWh/m2/yr.

2035: All existinghomes to be EPC C
or better

2030: All Council buildings
are assumed to be off-gas
by 2030

2021: No gas boilers in
new buildings

2050

2040

2025: zero biodegradable
waste to landfill (incl. food,paper, card, etc)

2050: 20% reduction in non-CO2
emissions from wastewater (throughengagement with Thames Water).

2025: 70% recycling rate

Forestry &Land-Use

Transport

2025: 20% reduction in foodwaste

2021: All new car
parking spaces,
including homes) tohave electric car
charging points

2025: all Council cars/vans
electric

2030: All refuse
lorries are electric

2050: 99% ofcars and lightvans are electric2025: All public car parks
to have electric car
charging points

2025: Averageurban greening
factor of 0.3

2035: Averageurban greening
factor of 0.4

2050: Averageurban greening
factor of 0.5| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

26

Zero Carbon Pathway for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
1600

Achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050

Total annual carbon emissions from LBTH (ktCO2e)

1200

The cumulative emission reductions demonstrate that near zero carbon
emissions are possible, and these can be feasibly offset by carbon
reduction projects. However, it is likely that these projects will not be
possible within the borough, and will have to be achieved elsewhere.
Other local authorities are likely to have the same issue, and this issomething that it makes sense to assume may be dealt with at anational level.

Key features of a zero carbon future
A summary of the assumptions used in the forecast is given. The key
features of this scenario are:

•
•

800

Category

Major assumptions for change used for net zero carbon forecast

Decarbonisation ofelectricity

Carbon content of electricity falls rapidly in line with Government projections.
Carbon content of electricity is 0.085 kgCO2e/kWh in 2030 and 0.030 kgCO2e/kWh in
2050.

Residential building
energy efficiency

All new homes built after 2020 achieve Passivhaus or an equivalent standard.
15kWh/m2/yr heating energy demand achieved on average.
90% of existing homes have a complete low energy retrofit by 2050 (by 2030 for
Council homes). Homes achieve an average heating energy demand of 40kWh/m2/yr.

600

2% of existing buildings are demolished and replaced with new build by 2050. This isapproximately 2,000 homes over the whole period.

400

Electrical efficiency of appliances continues to improve but is offset by increased use. A
net 20% improvement is achieved between 2020 and 2050.

200
Non-residentialbuilding energy
efficiency

0-200Commercial gas consumption reduces by 90% through replacing gas heating with heatpumps or equivalent, and energy efficiency measures.
Electrical consumption increases by 10% net as a consequence, however the majority of
the increase from electrification is offset by improved efficiency and use of commercial
heat pumps.

-400
Total required boroughGHG emissions in 2050 fornet zero carbon

Full retrofit of Council buildings to achieve a heating demand of 40kWh/m2/yr and net
zero carbon through the switch to low carbon heating (heat pump) and solar PV
installation.

Latest reported emissions (2016) and forecast 2050 emissions based on a scenario where carbon
emissions reduction is prioritised in policy, by businesses and by national government. The breakdown
matches the categories used by the CCC. Emissions would need to reduce by 90% over the next 30
years.

The first two changes mean major investment in the electric
infrastructure in the borough is necessary,

3,000

All Council owned non-domestic properties are refurbished on change of lease. Achieve
50% carbon emission reductions.
Building heating

Gas boilers are phased out by 2035. Residual 1% of buildings use gas. (All Councilbuildings are assumed to be off gas by 2030).
All building heating is provided by a heat pump, or an equivalent low carbon technology(for example hydrogen fuel cell, or waste industrial heat). No buildings are heated by onsite combustion.

Decarbonisation of electricity
Energy efficiency of buildings

Electrification oftransport

Decarbonisation of heat in buildings
Electrify transport

Green house gas emissions (ktCO2e)

It is possible to achieve Net Zero Carbon earlier than 2050 but it isvery challenging. We would recommend identifying credible solutions
to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050 with a minimal amount of offset
first and also accelerate any actions which can be accelerated, while
taking the time required to deliver others.

1000

Total borough GHG
emissions in 2016

All new buildings, from now, are built to be highly energy efficientand use a heat pump as the primary heat source.
Road transport rapidly converts to electric. Road journeys are
reduced.
Incentives and regulation result in a significant reduction incommercial, industry and aviation emissions.

Acting quickly and achieving Net Zero Carbon earlier
than 2050?

OffsetF-gases*Aviation*
Industry
Forestry and land use
Transport
Waste*
Other metered energy
Buildings and towns

1400

We have used the Etude tool for estimating future Borough emissions
and to estimate what changes are required to move towards a net
Zero Carbon borough. The tool shows that radical changes to all
sectors are required. In the borough this includes Net Zero Carbon newbuildings, existing building stock energy efficiency, switch from gas
heating to low carbon heat and the electrification of transport.

•

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

2,500

Department for Transport emissions forecast for London is used and modified to adopt the
CCC further ambition. Equivalent to 99% of domestic and light goods mileage completed
by electric vehicles or equivalent by 2050. (All Council vehicles are electric by 2030).
Electric vehicles achieve an average efficiency of 30kWh/100miles.

Push industry and waste further, reduce flights and car use
Offset required
Target trajectory
Forecast emissions reduction

2,000

HGV emissions reduce by 80% through reduced journeys, change in manufacturing
patterns, switch to rail, and developing hydrogen or electric drivetrain technologies.

1,500

Reducing waste

62% reduction in emissions from waste in line with ‘further ambition’ recommendations by
CCC1.

Industrial efficiency

80% reduction in industrial emissions through efficiency or changes in the sector. This iscomparable to the ‘Further ambition’ recommendations by CCC1.

Aviation

88% reduction in emissions. Personal air travel is reduced, particularly long haul andregular flight, efficiency improves. This deviates from national aviation growth projections
which show a 1% increase in emissions. Aviation emissions are calculated from LBTH’s
population as a proportion of total UK emissions.

Forestry & land use

Significant tree planting in the borough has a very small but important impact. LBTH would
need further reductions in emissions from forestry in other local authorities, potentiallythrough a future national trading scheme.

F-gases

EU targets for F-gas reductions are kept as UK law and CCC further ambition scenario is
met.

1,000

500

0
2005

10% reduction in in car use through switch to walking and cycling.

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

2040

2045

2050

Historic and forecast emissions for LBTH from 2005 to 2050. Showing contribution of main sectors to
overall reduction.
Key assumptions used for zero carbon forecast.
1. Net Zero: The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming (2019) Committee on Climate Change| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

27

Decarbonisation of domestic emissions : Tower Hamlets Homes
50

Target: achieving an 85% carbon reduction by 2030 for
Tower Hamlets Homes

Standards for new homes
All new homes should be zero carbon (regulated and unregulated),
following Passivhaus or equivalent standards, and supplied from a
low-carbon heat source e.g. heat pump.

Retrofit of existing homes
The principles are similar to those recommended for non-domestic
buildings i.e. a combination of low carbon heat, fabric and systems
efficiency, and PVs.
Because of residential demand profile a low-carbon heat supply iseven more important than in non-domestic buildings, and will requireliaising with utilities and a careful selection of systems and contract
arrangements to ensure sufficient capacity and acceptable heat costs
for residents. Direct electric heating is generally not recommended
except in the most efficient dwellings with minimal thermal demand.

2020

Setting the overall programme

2020

Phase 1: priority & pilot dwellings e.g. 250 units/yr

2021

Phase 2: delivery lessons from Phase 1 e.g. 500 units/yr

45
Transport
Annual carbon emissions (ktCO2e/yr)

Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) dwellings represent the majority ofemissions under the Council’s responsibility, and are therefore a crucialpart of achieving significant carbon reductions. There areapproximately 11,500 dwellings managed by Tower Hamlets Homes.
The majority of them have an EPC energy rating of D (42%) and E(32%) – although EPC ratings are not a reliable indicator of actualenergy use.

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

40
Responsibility - Leisure centres
35
Responsibility - Schools
30
Responsibility - THH
25

Dora?

20

Street lighting and other small
external uses
Buildings & Landlord areas

2023

Phase 3: performance lessons from Phase 1 and delivery lessons from Phase 2,
feeding into increased programme e.g. 1000 units/yr

15
2025

10

Phase 4: performance lessons from Phase 2 and delivery lessons from Phase 3,
feeding into peak programme e.g. 2000 units/yr

5
0

2028

Total estimated Council GHG Total projected Council GHG Total projected Council GHG
emissions in 2018
emissions in 2025
emissions in 2030
Carbon emissions in 2018 (actual), 2025 (target) and 2030 (target) showing rapid decarbonisation of
Schools, Leisure Centres and THH Homes, alongside Council’s direct control emissions. As transport
emissions from larger vehicles will take longer to decarbonise, these have also been assumed to reduce

2030

Phase 5: ramping down, starting to allocate resources and expertise to domestic
retrofit wider in the Borough e.g. 1000 units/yr

Phase 6: minimal number , allowing completion and evaluation before end 2030
e.g. 500 units/yr

post-2025.
 Retrofit & evaluation of 11,500 homes
 Expertise and supply chain ready to benefit the wider Borough

Retrofit: building up quality and capacity
Delivery lessons

Supply chain capacity and skills will be crucial to reduce emissions andavoid unintended consequences. The Council should use the lessons ofexisting schemes (e.g. ECO, RE:FIT) and review recent initiatives such as
the Retrofit Academy and TrustMark, potentially with the view todevelop its own system of trusted suppliers. We would recommend
partnering with other London Boroughs engaged on a zero carbon
pathway e.g. Haringey Council.
This will also help the Council to develop expertise and a supply chain
which will benefit later housing associations, landlords and residents.

Engaging with residents
Deep retrofit offers significant opportunities for co-benefits, such as
improved health and comfort for residents, which could help engage
them with the Council’s Zero carbon efforts.

Performancelessons

Programming and scaling up: a total of 11,500 homes will need to be retrofitted. The
programme should be phased in order to allow the gathering of lessons and the developmentof a trusted supply chain, while responding to the challenging timescale of deep retrofit byAddressing the issue of energy data from homes

2030.

The Council should work with THH and seek ways to improve its understanding of energy
consumption in homes, without giving rise to privacy concerns. For example, at the veryminimum, a service could be put in place for residents to voluntarily give access to theirenergy consumption. This could be incentivised (e.g. vouchers for energy saving measures,
access to energy saving advice), and potentially reported by postcode / block without
identifying individual homes.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

28

Case study | A typical existing block of flats

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

A representative building
The block of flats shown opposite is typical of residential
accommodation in Tower Hamlets. A typical building is four storeys
high, with a pitched roof. Floors are expected to be concrete, orsuspended timber for smaller properties. Walls are typically masonrywith a cavity. Buildings are generally heated with gas boilers orelectric heating.

Retrofit required
Four core strategies must be pursued to achieve net zero carbon within
this type of building:1.

Fabric retrofit, usually achieved through external wall and roof
insulation, floor insulation, airtightness works, high performancewindows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
Estimated cost per flat: £11,000 - £19,500

2.

Low carbon heating, the most suitable technology is likely to beeither individual water source heat pumps in each apartment,with an ambient temperature ground water loop supplying them,or an air source heat pump. Where inefficient communal heat
distribution systems exist, they should be replaced.
Estimated cost per flat: £1,500-£7,000

3.

Baseline block of flats: Gas boilers or electric heating, little insulation, single or poor double

Retrofitted to achieve net zero carbon: Heat pumps, 150+mm of continuous insulation to

glazing, poor airtightness and uncontrolled ventilation through gaps in the building fabric. Space
heat demand of around 160kWh/m²/year.

floors, walls and roof, very good double or triple glazing, excellent levels of airtightness
and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Full-size photovoltaic array fitted with highefficiency modules and microinverters. Space heat demand of around 40kWh/m²/year. Net
producer of clean energy.

Energy efficient services, appliances and lighting have quickly
become more energy efficient due to energy efficiency
regulations.

£600

Estimated cost per flat: Generally low
Solar photovoltaics (PVs), installed to best practices they canprovide more than enough electricity to achieve net zero energy
consumption for low and mid rise buildings with good levels of
fabric efficiency that are heated by heat pumps. Financial
benefits for tenants can be maximised by the landlord
submetering tenants and connecting the PV system to the landlord
supply, so it can be used by all tenants within the building.
Estimated cost per flat: £2,500 + submetering cost

Reduced energy bills
These changes would not only dramatically reduce carbon emissions
but also significantly reduce energy bills.

Retrofit 2040

£500

£400
Cost per Dwelling (£/yr)

4.

Baseline

£300

£200

£100

£0

-£100
Standing
Charges

Landlord
electricity

Tenant space
heat

Tenant hot
water

Tenantelectricity

Solar export

Bar chart showing estimated energy costs for a dwelling in this apartment building now and in

Housing blocks in Tower Hamlets already include significant PV installations

2040, assuming a best practice retrofit takes place.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

29

The domestic housing stock in Tower Hamlets

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Parity Projects CROHM tool
As part of this study Parity Projects have been commissioned to carryout a stock assessment of the homes in Tower Hamlets using their
CROHM Area tool. This analyses SAP, EPC and LBTH data to give a
breakdown of housing stock and to help with costing and planning
retrofit measures at scale.

Currently low data quality
The database is in its infancy, and it appears that only the available
EPC information has been used to give information about the stock.
This means the confidence in the data is currently low and someassumptions and cloning have been used to populate data for all theproperties.
However, the tool provides a central database that LBTH can now look
to improve to give them clear oversight of the energy and carbon
profile of their portfolio. The assumptions can be revised as surveys
and other intelligence-gathering improve the accuracy of data, andtracked using CROHM’s in-built data quality management tool.

Improving the stock assessment
Improving the stock assessment requires providing more data on
housing to Parity Projects for integrating with the tool. This could befrom work carried out by LBTH, the GLA, or by private landlords
based on incentives provided by LBTH. Examples include:•••

Current combined data confidence for all homes in the CROHM Area tool for Tower Hamlets. 1 is

Estimated breakdown of housing by heating type for Tower Hamlets from CROHM Area

the lowest confidence in data, 10 is highest. Almost 2/3 or homes are at the lowest data quality
level. To improve this requires the quality of surveys of existing homes typically carried out fortool. This data should be used with caution due to the confidence in the data at this time, butdemonstrates the capability of the tool. This graph shows that 19.2% of gas boilers are

EPCs to be improved, or for LBTH to pass any data they may hold on properties to Parity. Image© Parity Projects CROHM Area.

older than an EPC C rating and so could be due upgrading.

Importing any data held by Tower Hamlets Homes for theirproperties.
Requesting data from Registered Social Landlords in the borough.
Carrying out home energy surveys for parts of the borough due toenergy bill aggregation schemes, or fabric improvements throughECO for example.

Estimated distribution of housing by EPC band for Tower Hamlets from CROHM Area tool.

Estimated distribution of housing by annual fuel bills for Tower Hamlets from CROHM Area

This data should be used with caution due to the confidence in the data at this time, butdemonstrates the capability of the tool.

tool. This data should be used with caution due to the confidence in the data at this time, butdemonstrates the capability of the tool.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

30

Focus on policy

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The power of policy

Power

Policy is critical to deliver Net Zero Carbon. The potential for policy tocause significant change within the borough cannot be understated .
New policies should be bold and reflect the urgency of the changes
that we need to see to avert catastrophic climate change.

Set a formal target for solar capacity in Tower Hamlets to at least 430 MW by 2050

Net Zero carbon new buildings

Introduce planning requirements for all future housing in line with Zero Carbon target
This should be consistent with the recommendations of the CCC report on the future of housing(i.e space heating demand < 15-20 kWh/m2.yr). Passivhaus or equivalent should be considered
and an assessment against Net Zero Carbon should be required.

Buildings

LBTH would have to go further than the draft London Plan if Net Zero
carbon new buildings are to be required by the Tower Hamlets Local
Plan. These buildings must have ultra-low levels of total energy use
and space heating demand, have low carbon heating system andmaximised on-site renewable energy.
Viability assessments are undertaken on any new planning policies. It
is important that the Council’s consultants who undertake these viability
assessments use the latest and most up to date costs, and account for
projected cost reductions associated with more energy efficientbuildings and low or zero carbon technologies as economies of scaletake effect. The cost of not taking action should also be considered
Existing buildings
Every major retrofit which does not significantly reduce a building’s
carbon emissions should be seen as missed opportunity. Planning policy
should prevent this.
Low carbon heat
Phasing out all uses of gas between now and 2050 is critical if LBTH isto achieve Net Zero Carbon. This change must start as soon as possible
and planning policy should prevent the installation of any new gas
heating system: gas boilers and gas CHP.
Electrification of transport
Planning policy should include a vision for electrical infrastructure andtransport in the borough.
Waste
New developments must be designed to meet increasing collection andrecycling requirements.
Nature and Biodiversity
The Greater London Authority’s urban greening factor could be used
to ensure that individual sites contribute to the overall ‘greening’ of theborough.

Introduce planning requirements for all new non-domestic buildings in line with Zero Carbon
target.
This should be consistent with BEIS energy mission to halve energy use in new buildings.
Passivhaus or equivalent should be considered and an assessment against Net Zero Carbon
should be required.
Use policy intervention to prevent the installation of any new fossil fuel heating system (e.g.
gas boilers) from 2020
The Towel Hamlets Draft local plan
Use policy intervention to prevent the installation of any gas-fired CHP system from 2019

Comment on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs)
All major developments that require an Environmental Impact Assessment must include anassessment of greenhouse gas emissions and the implications of climate change. The
guidance from the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) ‘Assessing
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Evaluating Their Significance’ (2017), states the following:‘All GHG emissions will contribute to climate change and thus might be considered significant,irrespective of whether this is an increase or decrease in emissions.’

Transport
Include electrical charging infrastructure in strategic plan

Waste
Target a 70% recycling rate for waste from all buildings by 2025.
The CCC has advised central government that to meet our targets of achieving zero carbon by
2050, a recycling rate of 70% of all solid municipal waste must be achieved by 2025.

Mitigation measures should therefore go beyond normal practice, and will need to be
secured within any given planning consent. Particular attention should be made to ensuring
emission reduction measures are integrated and delivered through the construction andoperation phases.

Target zero biodegradable waste to landfill by 2025
As recommended by the CCC to the UK Government in May 2019.

•

For construction impacts it is noted that there will be monitoring and measuring, but LBTH
will require reductions.

Introduce new planning requirements for domestic waste storage and collection

For operational impacts, the EIA should set out how the scheme will be net zero carbon
on-site in 2050 as required by the Climate Change Act 2008 (as amended).

Introduce a food waste collection scheme for businesses•

All assessments of GHG emissions should be done quantitatively and any use of professional
judgement to assess significance should be fully justified. Reference in the ES should bemade to whether the national, regional and local policy requirements in relation to energy
and GHG are satisfied by the Proposed Development. The latest UK Climate Projections(Currently UKCP18) should be used to inform any such assessment..

Introduce planning requirements for construction waste on new-build projects

Forestry, land use and agriculture
Set minimum standards for green spaces in new developments.
Increase tree planting

Others
Implement Planning policies restricting use of F-gases by discouraging air conditioning andprioritizing lower GWP refrigerants.
List of recommended changes to Policy| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

31

Focus on procurement

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

The power of procurement
Perhaps the biggest opportunity Tower Hamlets has to influencegreenhouse gas emissions and sustainability performance in theprivate sector is through the products it buys and the services it
procures.

£340 million
spent in2018-19

According to the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2016-2019, theCouncil spends £340 million a year, across 3,500 different suppliers.
20% of these suppliers are locally based.
A focus on procurement therefore not only potentially supports a
reduction in emissions from the Council’s activities, but also a reductionin emissions from the borough as a whole.

3,500
suppliers

1

Buildings, works& repairs

Adult social
care

19%

3

Environmental
services9%9%5 management

7%

Professional

7%

6 services

Sustainable procurement is a powerful driver for delivering improved
economic, environmental and social outcomes.
In doing so, some of the co-benefits that can be achieved are:•Create markets for new services and products•

Reduce waste and improve resource efficiency•

Enhance image and reputation in the community

Key spending facts for Tower Hamlets

The existing Procurement Strategy (2016-2019) sets out the vision,
strategic objectives and a working implantation and delivery plan. Alarge part of the delivery plan is the implementation of the
Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
Sustainability is given a brief mention in the document. Life cycle,
whole life costing and carbon emissions are not mentioned.
As this plan comes to the end of its life and is being replaced, werecommend that sustainability, carbon emissions and whole life
costing are discussed more in depth in the new procurement
strategy. Further recommendations are discussed on the right.

1. Strengthen sustainable procurement policies
Create specific policies that are targeted at embodied carbon, whole life
costing, recyclability and repairability

2. Benchmark, monitor and improve*

Set targets.
Carry out regular sustainability audits.

3. Supplier engagement
Engage with key suppliers to help them improve their sustainability
performance. Suppliers will recognise they must continually improve theirsustainability performance to keep the business.
Include senior management involvement, map supply chains , run supply chain
improvement programmes and offer incentives.

4. Trial and innovation

Targets to work with suppliers towards

 Key suppliers demonstrate continual
improvement in sustainability

 Food procured by the Council ishigh welfare, local and sourced
from environmentally responsible
farms.

 All suppliers use low emission transportfor LBTH business and report emissions
to LBTH Work with all suppliers to reduced
packaging and improve its
recyclability.

 Buildings that host services run bysuppliers (e.g. adult social care
centres) to have low carbon retrofits.
Emissions reported to LBTH.

 Create policies that materials must
be assessed based on whole life
carbon, be responsibly sourced(BES 6001, ISO 14001, FSC etc)

 100% zero carbon energy purchased

Tower Hamlet’s Procurement Strategy 2016-2019

Actions to support sustainable procurement

Identify high sustainability impact suppliers.
Health care

Facilities

20% ofsuppliers
are local

32%

2

4

Co-benefits of sustainable procurement
It is the Council’s responsibility as a consumer and community leader toprocure its goods and services responsibly, and work with suppliers to
improve the sustainability of their operations and supply chains.

Top areas of spend, % of total

Encourage trial and innovation in order to find ways of doing things
differently.

*Tools for supporting Sustainable Procurement
GHG Protocols - The GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain helps companies
identify GHG reduction opportunities, track performance and engage suppliers at
a corporate level. The GHG Protocol Product Standard helps a company meet thesame objectives at a product level.
Government Buying Standards (GBS) – contain a set of mandatory and bestpractice criteria across a variety of key sustainability issues.
The Flexible Framework Tool - self-assessment package which allows
organisations to measure, monitor and improve how they procure.
ISO 20400: Sustainable Procurement (2017) – An international standard forsustainable procurement, designed for all types and sizes of organisation.

Sustainability targets in procurement

List of recommended criteria for procurement| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

32

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

Stepping up actions & Next
steps

Leadership
Employeeengagement

ValuesEmbed• Organisational changes
Review

MonitorAction• Key stakeholders
Feedback• A Zero Carbon plan blueprint

Act fast
learn fast

Taskforce
Learn

Citizens’
assembly| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

33

Organisational change

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

A new regenerative culture
The goals of a Net Zero Council by 2025, and a Net Zero Carbon
borough by 2050 are ambitious. The achievement of any ambitious
goal requires strong commitment.
We believe there are three essential cornerstones to achieving thesustainability targets at Tower Hamlets.
Embed – Goals and targets should be embedded within theorganisation’s ethos and culture. Strong leadership buy-in and a highlevel of employee engagement are crucial.
Action – Action towards the achievements of goals should becommitted and sustained.

Embed
•

Align Tower Hamlets mission and vision with climate andsustainability goals.

•

How much status and importance is sustainability given within theCouncil? What proportion of the budget it allocated? How many
people are actively working on it? Does this reflect the importanceof the issue?

•

Define clear, descriptive goals - What? How? Why?

•

Help foster a shift in values of each employee through enhanced
training on sustainability and environmental issues. This willautomatically lead to higher employee engagement.

•

Assign responsibility for goals.

•

Align role descriptions with goals.

Monitor – Monitoring of progress should be undertaken throughout.
The figure opposite illustrates how each of these elements are
required in order to achieve results that are meaningful, informed andimpactful.

Agility and flexibility
We are responding to a global challenge as yet unprecedented. We
are learning as local, national and global communities. The journey
towards our goal of climate stability and the restoration of balance tothe natural world is unchartered. We can outline a path ahead but
we will need to be flexible and adaptable in order to be able tochange direction if it becomes apparent that is the best thing to do.
Tower Hamlets will need to create organisational agility in order to beable to respond to the obstacles, challenges and failures encounteredon the way to success.

Sharing and learning
We are all in this together. Seeking to learn from others and sharing
lessons learned in this process of change will be necessary andextremely useful.
Setting up carbon reduction communities, bringing together other local
authorities in London, nationally and internationally for inspiration andlearning are all significant opportunities.

Action•Create a taskforce•

Assign budgets•

Identify steps towards goals and take early action.

•

Implement early test-beds and trials.

•

Be open to failure, learn quickly and try again.

•

Organise a citizen’s assembly

Embed : Action : Monitor
Each element is key to Tower Hamlet’s success in its climate change goals.
Actions are targeted and aligned with Tower Hamlets goals and values, achieving emission reduction andother targets. Actions are informed by a monitoring and feedback process, learning from past successes
and failures.

Leadership
Employeeengagement

The will is there andthe intentions areright. But little
progress is made.

•Monitoring – data helps inform decisions, actions and design.
Prioritise early data collection on energy use and CO2 emissions ofexisting building stock and transport fleet.

•

Encourage setting up feedback loop. Learn from own lessons.

Meaningful actions aretaken, but the lack offeedback makes it
difficult to assess
effectiveness andimpact.

Embed

Review

MonitorValuesMonitorActionFeedback

Act fast
learn fast

Taskforce
Learn

Citizens’
assembly

Actions and results may be off
the mark, or may contribute toother issues elsewhere.

| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

34

Engaging with key stakeholders

LBTH Net Zero Carbon PlanEngagement is key

 Be open about the possible
visual effects of low-carbon
retrofit (e.g. air source heat

Engaging with stakeholders will be crucial to build acceptance of theZero Carbon plan, and therefore help deliver it effectively. Solutions
and lessons learned can be shared with others and opportunities forjoint initiatives identified, with significant cost and time efficiencies.
Finally, key stakeholders should be encouraged to develop their own
plan, towards a Net Zero Carbon borough.

pump, PV panels, external
insulation, new / secondary
glazing) Develop context-specificsolutions Maximise co-benefits e.g.

Mapping the stakeholders towards Net Zero Carbon

better maintenance; fabricrepairs; future-proofing

A stakeholder mapping exercise should be carried out. The adjacentfigure is just starting point of key parties, listed here due to their
expected share in the borough’s total emissions, their potential
influence, their existing commitments to tackle climate change, their
public visibility, how much they will be affected by the plan, and theirinterest in co-benefits such as air quality and reducing fuel poverty.

against the effects of climatechange (e.g. strong winds andrains)
 The benefits of minimising new
embodied carbon expenditure
by retaining and prolonging

In particular, the Council should start engaging on Net Zero Carbon
with:
•
•
•

The public
Large energy users e.g. Housing associations; Queen Mary
University; NHS; Canary Wharf
Other London Boroughs targeting zero carbon

the useful life of our existing
stock should be acknowledged

Illustration of key internal and external stakeholders: the net zero carbon target should be at the

Heritage assets in the Borough (2016 map): Engaging early with the heritage community is reallycentre of policy and decision making across the Council’s department, as it cuts across all areas.
The various Council departments will also provide useful links with external stakeholders

important to build their buy-in, benefit from their expertise and resources, minimise thedetrimental effects and maximise the benefits of carbon reduction measures,

It is crucial to engage with the public

The Council should engage with stakeholders such as Canary Wharf, who have significant

Engagement should include, at the very least, the Council’s usual
channels of consultation and communication.
In addition, we recommend creating a citizens’ assembly as a way to
examine solutions, build consensus and visibly demonstrate theCouncil’s commitment to engage the whole Borough on the zero carbon
transformation.

Internal stakeholder engagement – putting carbon at
the core of Council decisions
The net zero carbon objective cuts across all areas of the Council’s
activities and objectives including air quality, asset management,
highways, planning, green spaces etc. Sharing information andtaking carbon impacts into account in all decisions, policies andactivities is therefore essential. We recommend mapping areas ofoverlap and impacts, and a review of internal resources and decisionmaking processes.

resources, buildings and land assets, are responsible for high carbon emissions, have the capacity
to reach and influence numerous other parties, and already have set themselves ambitious carbon
targets| LBTH Net Zero Carbon | March 20 | Rev A

35

Zero carbon plan | A blueprint
Changing together

LBTH Net Zero Carbon Plan

A common language

The world will only meet this challenge if everyone acts. For the Tower
Hamlets to meet its part of the global ambition, local people andbusinesses need to establish what they can do themselves and takeaction, beginning immediately, to implement change.
The 4 key pillars of every strategy should be to quantify current
emissions, to set headline objectives in line with regional and national
objectives, to translate the targets into clear, deliverable actions andto consider how to influence others to act.

Developing a common language
The specific actions required will be widely varied depending on thenature of the business or organisation. However there are somecommon elements that everyone and every organisation should use asa framework in order for priorities to be clear and ultimately so that
progress is measurable. Separating current emissions into the sectors
set out by the Committee for Climate Change makes it easier to fit the
specific plan for one organisation into the National action framework.
Understanding precisely for each sector the difference between directcontrol emissions and influence is also very useful.

Power

Buildings

2. Set headline objectives

3. Define concrete actions

Start with an assessment of the current
baseline emissions

Headline objectives should articulate the Actions should be clearly defined and2050 destination
include a timescale or schedule

Procurement and engagement cangreatly increase the effect of the plan

Example:Example:Example:Establish current renewable energy
generation capacity

Set renewable energy generation capacity Install Xm2 of PVs on the roof of building
target for 2050
A by the end of 2022

Favour suppliers with a commitment torenewable energy

Examples:Examples:Example:Example:Record current gas, electricity and otherfuel usage

Set carbon reduction (on-site) for allbuildings or a typical building

Switch gas boiler to heat pump in building Liaise with landlord regarding energy
B by 2024
efficiency of rented properties

Categorise existing heating systems byfuel type, location and energy use

Set year for phasing out of gas heating

Example:4. Consider influence

Analyse building stock

Transport

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions
The first concern is to establish, with as much clarity and detail as
possible, what the starting point is. Priorities for action, where thegreatest improvement may be achieved most expeditiously, quickly
become clear by having a thorough audit of the current emissions.

1. Quantify emissions

Waste

Example:Example:Example:Example:Prepare schedule of current fleet withfuel/mileage per year and expected
replacement/lease termination dates

No more petrol or diesel cars by 2030

Accelerate the replacement cycle andreplace 12 vans per year by electricvehicles from 2020

Change private car allowance to incentive
use of electric cars by staff

Example:Example:Example:Example:Quantify current waste production by
waste stream and recycling rates

No more food waste by 2025

Start food waste collection in all offices in Explain to staff why food waste is being
2020
collected separately

Example:Example:Example:Estimate current emissions by fuel and byprocess

Achieve a 80% reduction in industrial
emissions

Review energy supply to process Z with aview of changing its energy source by
2025

Example:Example:Example:Example:Audit of current 'air miles' for staff (andgoods if possible)

X% reduction in air miles travelled bystaff and goods

Invest in good quality video conferencing
equipment for main meeting rooms in
2022

Favour airlines with a commitment to
reduce their carbon emissions

Example:Example:Example:Example:Audit current land uses by category

Y number of trees to be planted

Run a staff tree planting initiative in 2023 Liaise with Woodland Trust

Example:Example:Example:Audit of current refrigeration equipment

No refrigerant with a Global Warming
Potential of more than X by 2025

Set design standards for new buildings
and equipment.

Setting headline objectives and concrete actions
Breaking the overall objective (Net Zero) down, both in time as a setof milestones and within any organisation as a set of headline
objectives and deliverable actions is a vital exercise if ambitions areto be turned into real progress. The strategy should also recognise thatchange will happen over time but that steady progress is necessary.

Industry

Aviation

Influencing
Most organisations have influence over emissions that are outside theirdirect control, as Landlords to individuals or smaller businesses, as
exemplars to peer businesses and staff members and as networkers,
interacting with partner organisations and especially with suppliers.

Forestry & land use

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