The built environment is one of the biggest contributors of carbon emissions, which means it offers a significant opportunity for change and improvement. As the UK approaches challenging net-zero targets, decarbonising buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, and homes has become essential. But what is building decarbonisation?
In this article, we explore what this term means, why it is vital, and how Willmott Dixon Interiors assists customers in advancing their journey towards a net-zero carbon future through our Decarbonise Today service.
What Is Building Decarbonisation?
Building decarbonisation is the process of reducing and, ultimately, eradicating the carbon emissions associated with the construction, operations, and maintenance of buildings. This is primarily achieved through measures such as enhancing energy efficiency and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
Why Is Building Decarbonisation Important?
According to the World Green Building Council, buildings are responsible for 39% of the global energy-related carbon emissions; 28% stem from operational emissions, and 11% from construction and materials.
Climate change is real, and every year, our planet is suffering from its effects more and more. With the pressing need for action to be taken, over 2,000 organisations have committed to net-zero targets by the year 2030. To help achieve these targets, the built environment must start decarbonising, and buildings across both the public and private sectors need to be improved and upgraded.
What Are the Benefits of Decarbonising Buildings?
There are numerous advantages to building decarbonisation, including:
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- Reduce reliance on fossil fuels: By replacing gas or oil heating with alternatives, such as heat pumps and solar power, buildings become less dependent on traditional and more harmful energy sources.
- Conserve energy: Making upgrades like better insulation, efficient LED lighting, and smart Building Management Systems (BMS) reduces the amount of energy a building requires to run.
- Reduce energy costs: Utilising less energy and generating more from renewable sources helps to lower energy bills and protects against fossil fuel price fluctuations and increases.
- Future-proofed buildings: Decarbonising buildings makes them more adaptable to future regulations and environmental challenges.
- Combat climate change: Reducing carbon emissions helps tackle climate change and has a positive environmental impact.
Decarbonise Today: Our End-to-End Process
Willmott Dixon Interiors recognises the urgency and importance of combating climate change, which is why we have developed our “Decarbonise Today” service offering. We partner with customers in both the public and private sectors, assisting them with their decarbonisation journey by improving and upgrading buildings.
Working with our expert team allows you to implement decarbonisation measures at scale, make rapid progress towards your carbon reduction goals, and accelerate progress towards a net-zero carbon future.
Decarbonise Today helps you work through the decarbonisation process from beginning to end, and we can support you at any point of the journey.
1. Setting Your Objective
The first step involves defining your ambitions for the project. Establishing clear objectives ensures that both the brief and ensuing business case align with your long-term goals.
2. Estate Review
Next, an analysis of your existing stock is undertaken, generally through surveys, site visits, and sharing building information. This allows insight into your current building performance and identifies where the biggest issues lie and where support is most needed.
3. Decarbonisation Planning
Once all the insights have been collated, a plan can be formulated for how you can attain your goals. Included in this plan will be a process that features design, timelines, and approximate costs.
4. Business Case
Decarbonising your stock is a substantial investment, and so it is crucial that the process is understood around your business, including how it will be carried out, the associated costs, and the numerous benefits. For this reason, Willmott Dixon Interiors helps develop a strong business case for approval.
5. Design Development
Engagement begins with specialist consultant partners to design a customised solution that meets your building’s requirements while also optimising energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. We understand that every one of our customers has different needs, and so we tailor our approach in order to meet them.
6. Funding Investment
Once the design and approach have been agreed, our Decarbonise Today service can assist with investment opportunities and funding applications, so that as much financial support as possible is secured for the project.
7. Solution Delivery
We work closely with you to ensure that your existing buildings stay fully operational throughout the works. We understand how imperative it is for your business to continue to run without disruption, so we reduce the need for temporary closures or decanting wherever possible.
8. Monitoring and Support
As part of our decarbonisation service, we offer a package that provides performance data, alongside additional learning, training, and adjustments where needed. This ensures that our customers fully benefit from their upgraded buildings and can effectively measure the impact of the process.
Did You Know? Willmott Dixon Interiors runs CPD sessions to support NHS decision-makers on their net-zero journey. Watch our June 2025 session on Delivering a Net Zero NHS – Practical Steps to Decarbonisation, and register for our next event on 30th September: Delivering Low-Carbon Upgrades in Live NHS Environments.
Case Study: Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council reached out and commissioned us to deliver quantifiable carbon and energy savings through a programme of decarbonisation works.
- At Somerset County Hall, an estate-wide programme of improvements was carried out, including the installation of new windows, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and an Air Source Heat Pump, as well as enhanced roof insulation and upgraded cladding.
- At Somerset County Library, we installed new LED lighting and upgraded the air handling units by utilising the existing distribution system. Our approach was carefully planned to minimise disruption as much as possible, allowing the library to remain fully operational throughout the works.
As a result, these improvements are estimated to deliver annual energy savings of around 105,000 kWh, successfully delivering significant carbon and energy savings.
To explore our process in more detail, and to see how we have effectively helped other organisations, explore our Decarbonise Today brochure.
If you’re interested in learning how our Decarbonise Today service can help your organisation in achieving net-zero objectives, we invite you to get in touch. Willmott Dixon Interiors is ready to discuss tailored solutions that align with your specific business needs to progress toward a carbon-neutral future.