Zero Carbon Neighbourhoods: Creating Non-Complex Information from Complex Data

Scotland's commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2045 has led public authorities to align their guidelines with national targets for reducing CO2e emissions. Anderson Bell & Christie Architects, in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, are developing the Zero Carbon Neighbourhoods (ZCN) Toolkit, a pioneering initiative designed to quantify neighbourhood emissions and offer place-based carbon reduction and sequestration solutions. The ZCN Toolkit aims to support a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, community groups, developers, and housing providers, in their efforts to reach net zero, with a particular focus on engaging non-technical audiences.
The project's methodology integrates data collection, stakeholder engagement, and CAD-based modelling to address carbon reduction and sequestration challenges. Data is gathered on neighborhood elements such as operational energy, transport, green spaces, and demographics, forming the basis for models that simulate carbon reduction scenarios. Stakeholder involvement is central, with workshops, surveys, and consultations ensuring that the solutions are co-created and tailored to local needs.
Numerical modeling tools are used to quantify the impact of interventions on emissions, energy efficiency, and carbon sequestration. Effective communication strategies translate complex data into accessible formats like 3D models, infographics, and interactive dashboards, ensuring that non-technical audiences can easily understand and act on the information.
The modeling outputs empower local authorities with guidance for policy development and infrastructure planning, provide community groups with actionable recommendations, and offer housing providers insights into energy-efficient design and sustainable transportation options. The ZCN project exemplifies a holistic, inclusive approach to tackling carbon reduction at the neighborhood level, aiming to catalyze meaningful change towards achieving community carbon balance in Scotland.