Framework for standardising carbon neutrality in building projects: An interactive tool

This research focused on developing a decision-support framework aimed at integrating carbon neutrality into the delivery of building projects. It was guided by the overarching research question: How can decarbonisation decisions be evaluated across the whole project lifecycle to achieve carbon neutrality within building projects? The framework is based on the work published in Too et al. (2022) and is grounded in the principle that involving relevant experts in the development process enhances the optimisation of a building’s environmental, energy, and cost performance (Dauletbek and Zhou, 2022).

The methodology adopted was a multi-stage, mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review (SLR), expert interviews, and focus group validation. In the initial stage, the SLR synthesised current knowledge to identify key decision points, variables, and evaluation criteria that influence decarbonisation in building projects. This was followed by a second stage involving audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews with professionals actively engaged in sustainable building delivery. The interview data were transcribed and thematically analysed, categorised into three areas: key decision points, key decision variables, and the activities necessary across the project lifecycle to achieve carbon targets. The analysis was iterative, moving back and forth between the interview data and SLR findings to develop a coherent and evidence-based understanding.

The third stage involved translating these insights into a structured framework. Experts’ reflections informed the identification of key decision points - those critical milestones where progress toward carbon goals is reviewed and re-aligned. Decision variables emerging from interviews were verified through the literature and then linked to relevant evaluation criteria. The necessary activities to support carbon neutrality were then mapped across the project lifecycle stages creating a comprehensive and phased structure for decision-making. These components formed the foundation of the framework, which was then refined over three iterations based on expert feedback to ensure clarity, completeness, and usability.

To validate the framework, a panel of experts with extensive international experience in delivering construction projects was convened. Participants were purposively selected for their expertise and professional standing. Focus group discussions were organised following the procedures recommended by Krueger and Casey (2015). The moderators, who were also the study's lead researchers, introduced the framework and facilitated structured discussions in which experts were encouraged to offer critiques, raise questions, and propose improvements. Experts were invited to give individual written feedback and engage in open discussion about possible improvements. Feedback was synthesised and incorporated into successive versions of the framework until convergence was achieved.

The final output is a decision-support framework developed into an interactive Excel tool that guides users through structured, stage-based evaluation of decarbonisation decisions. Designed to be accessible to a wide range of project stakeholders, the tool helps reduce reliance on specialist knowledge and supports balanced, informed decision-making without imposing undue complexity or time burdens. Feedback from the validation process and the literature indicates that tools which are too resource-intensive are unlikely to be adopted in practice. In response, the framework avoids prescriptive answers, instead offering a flexible structure that supports deliberation and trade-off analysis across multiple objectives. It is adaptable to different project contexts and provides a practical mechanism for embedding carbon considerations into the everyday realities of building project delivery.

References:

• Dauletbek, A., & Zhou, P. (2022). BIM-based LCA as a comprehensive method for the refurbishment of existing dwellings considering environmental compatibility, energy efficiency, and profitability: A case study in China. Journal of Building Engineering, 46, 103852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103852
• Krueger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2015). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Too, J., Ejohwomu, O. A., Hui, F. K. P., Duffield, C., Bukoye, O. T., & Edwards, D. J. (2022). Framework for standardising carbon neutrality in building projects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 373, 133858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133858