Carbon Policy 2025

This is about much more than just our business being carbon neutral (which we already partially offset through Green Fleet.)

We’re working hard to achieve monthly net-zero operational carbon across all our projects with just 6kW of solar (this is the easy bit for us) while also challenging ourselves on significantly reducing ‘embodied’ or ‘lifecycle’ carbon.

Net-Zero Operation

Our goal is for every Cooee project to have the potential to generate all of its power with just a 6kW PV system and small battery - even during the winter months. The smaller size and high-efficiency of our projects usually make this very doable, and we demonstrate this to clients graphically using the Powerhaus App.

‘Whole Life Carbon Assessment’

We use Cerclos Rapid LCA to estimate the the ‘lifecycle’ carbon footprint of our homes; this means not just the carbon from energy use or offsets, but also the upfront embodied carbon, replacement over time, and end of life impacts.

The first projects we modelled in this software showed that our grid-connected 6kW homes were achieving full LCA carbon neutrality, but this was because the grid at the time was carbon intensive, so offsets were telling a glamerous story. We’re glad to see that this data is now changing as the grid greens, we we’re instead focusing more on percentage reduction of embodied carbon compared to typical reference homes.

Our current aim is 30% embodied carbon reduction

We also aim to publish most of our projects through this platform so that others can learn with us. See this example.

What else?

  • Rapid LCA is no longer an optional service; we’re doing them in-house, as standard, for all projects that reach construction.

  • In 2024 Sarah was a volunteer panel member for the judging of the Design Matters True Zero Carbon Competition. In 2025/26 we are entering, in partnership with Powerhaus Engineering. We are so excited to share our results!

  • This process will also teach us how to use the Epic Database through the Sustainable Builder’s Alliance which provides a more detailed embodied carbon breakdown.

We welcome any suggestions or comments you may like to offer!

2024 - achieved

  • Rapid LCA calculations shared publicly on projects moving forward

  • Projects generally reached a standard of being LCA ‘carbon neutral’ where a 6kW grid-connected solar PV system was installed. Where this system can’t, or isn’t, installed, we offer the clients the calculations so they can offset another way. We note our criticism of how this ‘neutrality’ calculation was done, above and have since changed our approach on this.

  • Sarah is a volunteer judge for the Zero Carbon Challenge

  • Begin specifying Holcim zero-carbon concrete where available (and push for availability where it isn’t)

  • (Continuing other standard Cooee measures related to energy-efficiency)

  • Travel and office use offset through Green Fleet

2023 - achieved

  • Familiarise ourselves with the Cerclos Rapid LCA tool and assess our goal of carbon neutrality with 6kW solar systems across most projects in 2023

  • Purchase Green Fleet offsets for Sarah’s car use

  • All air travel for the Dulux Study Tour Prize was offset