The Carbon Equation

THE MARIS METHODOLOGY:

THE “CRADLE-TO-GRAVE” AUDIT

At Maris Interiors we treat carbon as a fixed budget. We execute our assessments in strict compliance with the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment 2nd Edition.

Automatic Decarbonisation Modelling:
We no longer rely on static historical data. We utilise advanced software like One Click LCA to forecast exactly how the decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid will positively impact the future emissions of replacement materials over a 60-year reference period.

Structural Lean Design:
Our primary strategy for reducing upfront carbon is material retention. By refurbishing existing buildings, we retain the carbon-heavy concrete and steel superstructure. When new structural elements are required, we substitute traditional materials for fully timber structures utilising Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) which actively sequesters carbon.

Granular Scope 3 Tracking:
We accurately split carbon emissions between the landlord base building and the tenant fit-out ensuring our clients can effortlessly report their exact Scope 3 emissions to stakeholders.

The Mandatory Carbon Contingency:
The RICS V2 standard now legally requires assessors to apply a strict carbon uncertainty factor (typically 15% at the concept design stage) to your figures. If your initial carbon budget does not account for this mandatory 15% contingency buffer, your project will instantly breach the strict UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard limits upon formal assessment.

THE CFO’S CORNER:

For the Chief Financial Officer authorising a net zero carbon project requires balancing immediate capital expenditure against long term asset value. Research conducted by the UK Green Building Council confirms that designing a new office building to meet the intermediate 2025 net zero targets incurs a cost uplift of approximately 6.2%. Pushing the design to meet the highly ambitious 2030 stretch targets increases the capital cost by between 8% – 17%.

However, the CFO must view this capital uplift as vital future-proofing that directly protects the balance sheet. Designing for net zero drastically reduces long-term operational energy costs due to high efficiency systems. It also significantly lowers the financial burden of carbon offsetting. Higher performing buildings naturally require fewer offsets to achieve a net zero carbon balance at practical completion. By investing in a low carbon fit-out today the finance team avoids the severe financial penalties and emergency capital expenditure that will be legally enforced when older fossil fuel systems are inevitably banned.

MARIS TOOLS:

THE CARBON CONTROL TECH STACK

To manage the carbon equation effectively, you cannot rely on guesswork. Our design and engineering teams operate a strict digital tech stack to track, measure and minimise your emissions.

• The Procurement Engine: The EPD Database
  We bypass generic industry averages by utilising a curated library of trusted suppliers. We only procure materials backed by third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
• The Ledger: The RICS WLC V2 Tracker
  A comprehensive digital ledger aligned with the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors standards, calculating precise carbon equivalents across all building lifecycle modules from A1 (extraction) to C4 (disposal).
• The Optioneering Tool: The Retention Calendar
  A rapid-assessment modelling tool that compares the total upfront carbon emissions of a full demolition and rebuild against a targeted deep retrofit strategy.