Sustainability Report

Embodied carbon performance

• Space House has an upfront embodied carbon figure of 333 kgCO₂/m² GIA (LETI scope - Band A) and 348 kgCO₂/m² GIA (GLA scope).
• Whole-life embodied carbon is calculated at 696 kgCO₂/m² GIA (LETI scope - Band A) and 714 kgCO₂/m² GIA (GLA scope). 
• The whole-life cycle carbon figure is 988 kgCO₂/m² GIA, including operational carbon.
• The embodied carbon assessment is based on RIBA Stage 4 information and assumes a building life of 60 years — this is expected to be longer because the building is listed. It follows the RICS v1 methodology and a cradle-to-grave assessment boundary covering lifecycle stages A–C.

Retention and reuse

• The project retains 90 percent of the original structure and 100 percent of the facade units. 
• The retention strategy is reported to save an estimated 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. 
• The project also establishes a model for dismantling, relocating, and reinstalling similar facade elements.
• Space House achieved both LETI Band B and the RIBA 2030 Target in 2024.

Annual operational emissions are calculated at 14 kgCO₂e/m² GIA for the whole building. This figure is based on the NABERS UK Design for Performance modelling result and the Part L 2013 electricity carbon factor of 0.136 kgO₂/kWh.

Predicted energy use

• 107.5 kWh/m²/year GIA for the whole building
• 78.2 kWh/m²/year NIA for base-building energy use
• 17 kWh/m²/year GIA for heating and hot water

The building uses no gas and has no on-site renewable-energy generation. Its primary heating technology comprises four air-to-water heat pumps.

The recorded airtightness is 5.34 m³/h·m² at 50 Pa.

Overall area-weighted U-values

• Glazing and curtain walling: 1.51 W/m²K
• Retained walls: 1.91 W/m²K
• New walls: 0.28 W/m²K
• Basement walls: 0.287 W/m²K
• Roof: 0.18 W/m²K
• Retail-canopy roof: 2.2 W/m²K
• Retained exposed floor: 1.86 W/m²K

Space House is net zero carbon in operation. A NABERS UK 4.5-star target was achieved in 2024, with certification based on operational performance.