What net zero school design actually demands of an architect

The industry is working towards achieving net zero emissions across the education sector. Guidance from the UK Green Building Council, the publication of Version 1 of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, policy direction from the UK government and the Department for Education is driving higher expectations for new school buildings, and upgrades to existing school environments.

True net zero buildings require:

• A significant reduction in energy demand
• Minimising embodied carbon
• Integration of renewable energy
• Alignment with ‘science based’ targets
• A focus on whole life carbon

For architects, this means going beyond checklists and designing holistically, balancing performance, cost, and usability to deliver buildings that genuinely work.

Delivering net zero school design involves navigating competing priorities, which include:

• Tight capital funding
• Operational pressures within secondary schools, primary school settings and higher education
• Evolving building regulations and education building standards
• Long-term operating costs and energy bills

At HLM Architects, our role is to bring clarity to this complexity, working closely with local authorities, trusts, and stakeholders to translate ambition into practical, deliverable solutions.

That means understanding how educational buildings really function, from the day-to-day operation of secondary schools to the needs of early years settings, sixth forms and universities and designing accordingly.

Delivering net zero school design involves navigating competing priorities, which include:

• Tight capital funding
• Operational pressures within secondary schools, primary school settings and higher education
• Evolving building regulations and education building standards
• Long-term operating costs and energy bills

At HLM Architects, our role is to bring clarity to this complexity, working closely with local authorities, trusts, and stakeholders to translate ambition into practical, deliverable solutions.

That means understanding how educational buildings really function, from the day-to-day operation of secondary schools to the needs of early years settings, sixth forms and universities and designing accordingly.

A net zero carbon building cannot be achieved by focusing on operational performance alone. The carbon footprint of a school building is shaped from the earliest design decisions.

This includes:

• Structural strategies
• Material selection
• Construction methodologies

Reducing reliance on carbon intensive materials and considering whole life impact are essential to lowering carbon emissions.

For new build schools, this creates an opportunity to embed low-carbon principles from the outset. For existing schools, it means developing intelligent retrofit strategies that improve performance without compromising usability.

In both cases, whole life carbon thinking ensures that school buildings delivered today remain relevant, efficient and valuable for future generations.

Effective net zero school design begins by reducing energy demand, before introducing systems or technologies.

This is achieved through a considered, fabric-first approach, including:

• High-performance building fabric
• Airtightness and insulation
• Optimised orientation and massing
• Passive design strategies

Approaches focused on ultra-low energy design, such as Passivhaus, demonstrate how highly energy efficient buildings can significantly reduce energy consumption while improving comfort and performance.

Only once demand has been minimised, should systems such as air source heat pumps and solar panels be introduced to meet remaining needs.

Putting ultra-low energy design into practice

At HLM Architects, we take this approach on every project. Trent View College, one of the first SEND Passivhaus-certified schools in the world shows how sustainable design can support inclusive, high-quality learning environments, enabling students to thrive and prepare for the transition into adult life.

Alongside this, the National Centre for Community Health & Technology (NCCHT) project demonstrates how low-carbon design principles can be applied across sectors, delivering environments that combine innovation, performance and high-quality care for children and young people.

The transition away from fossil fuels is central to achieving net zero emissions.

In education and care buildings, this typically involves:

• Electrification of heating systems using heat pumps
• Integration of on-site renewable energy
• Smart energy management systems
• Careful coordination between architecture and engineering

For architects, this means designing buildings that can accommodate these systems effectively, not as add-ons, but as integrated components of the built environment.

This includes coordinating plant space, designing roof layouts and façades to accommodate solar panels, ensuring efficient distribution of heating and ventilation, and integrating renewable energy strategies into the overall building design.

A net zero school building is not successful if it compromises the experience of the people using it.

Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, daylight and acoustic performance are fundamental to both learning outcomes and wellbeing. A growing body of evidence shows that environmental quality directly influences educational performance, shaping concentration, health and engagement, particularly for young people in primary, secondary and sixth form settings.

Key considerations include:

• Natural ventilation strategies where appropriate
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Low-emission materials to support air quality
• Access to daylight and views

This is where net zero educational buildings move beyond engineering, and become a question of human-centred design.

Achieving net zero is only part of the challenge. Buildings must also be resilient to future climate conditions.

This includes:

• Overheating risk mitigation
• Flood resilience
• Adaptability to changing use
• Long-term durability

For the education sector, resilience is particularly important. Schools are long-term assets, expected to serve communities for decades. Designing for climate resilience ensures that new and existing schools can continue to perform effectively as conditions change.

A truly sustainable school design extends beyond the building.

Integrating landscape and outdoor learning spaces supports:

• Biodiversity and ecological value
• Physical and mental wellbeing
• Flexible teaching environments
• Reduced reliance on internal space
• Enhanced connection to nature

Research shows that for early years settings and primary school environments in particular, access to high-quality external spaces is extremely valuable.

A net zero school design should therefore consider the entire site, not just the building footprint.

While new projects offer opportunities to embed net zero carbon principles from the outset, the greatest challenge and opportunity, lies in upgrading existing school buildings.

The UK’s education sector is vast, and much of it was not designed with energy efficiency or net zero carbon in mind.

Key challenges include:

• Ageing building fabric
• Limited space for new systems
• Budget constraints
• Disruption to ongoing education

Support from programmes such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is helping accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions across existing school buildings.

However, retrofit requires careful, collaborative thinking, including:

• Phased interventions to minimise disruption
• Upgrades to building fabric and systems
• Balancing cost with performance gains

Delivering this successfully means working closely with stakeholders – including local authorities, trusts and the Department for Education, to develop practical, phased solutions.

It requires creativity, technical expertise, and a clear understanding of how schools operate in practice.

A common misconception is that net zero buildings are prohibitively expensive.

While upfront costs can be higher, the long-term value is significant, including:

• Reduced energy bills
• Lower operating costs
• Improved building performance
• Future-proofed assets

When considered over the whole life of a building, energy savings and reduced maintenance can help offset the initial investment.

Architects play a key role in helping clients understand this balance ensuring that decisions made today support both financial sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The design of school buildings is shaped by a range of standards and guidance, including:

• Building regulations
• Education building standards
• Guidance from the Department for Education
• Industry frameworks from organisations such as the UK Green Building Council

Alongside existing guidance, the emerging UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is helping to bring greater consistency and clarity to what net zero means in practice. By setting clear performance targets for both operational and embodied carbon, it provides a robust framework for delivering buildings that achieve net zero in operation – and demonstrate it transparently.

Establishing robust net zero standards

At HLM Architects, we are proud to be contributing to the development of the Standard as a Pilot Programme participant, helping to test and shape its methodology through real projects.

However, meeting minimum standards is not enough.

True net zero schools require going beyond compliance, setting higher benchmarks and holding projects accountable for real-world performance.

This includes post-occupancy evaluation and ongoing monitoring of electricity use, energy consumption, and building performance.

Delivering net zero schools is not the responsibility of a single discipline.

It requires collaboration across:

• Architecture
• Interior design
• Landscape architecture
• Sustainability consultancy
• Engineering and construction

We work closely with clients, users, contractors and communities to understand shared goals and co-create environments that are resilient, healthy and future-ready.

We call this thoughtful design, it’s in our nature.

Shared responsibility, collective impact

Being shortlisted for Net Zero Architect of the Year is not just a milestone for our practice, but a reminder of the responsibility we all share. Delivering sustainable environments that meet today’s needs while protecting tomorrow’s future requires the right mindset, the right partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

We know that by working closely as integrated teams and in partnership with clients and communities, it becomes possible to create buildings that are both high-performing and deeply responsive to user needs.

At its core, net zero school design is about people.

It is about creating environments where young people can thrive, spaces that support the national curriculum, foster wellbeing, and inspire learning.

It is about designing educational buildings that:

• Perform efficiently
• Adapt over time
• Respond to climate change
• Support young people
• Contribute positively to communities
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Deliver long-term value across their whole life

Above all, it is about doing this with clarity, confidence and a commitment to thoughtful design, a principle that sits at the heart of our approach.

So what does net zero school design actually demands of an architect?

It demands:

• A deep understanding of whole life carbon
• The ability to balance performance, cost, and user experience
• Collaboration across disciplines and stakeholders
• A commitment to innovation and continuous improvement
• A focus on people as much as performance

Above all, it demands responsibility.

The decisions made today will shape the built environment for decades to come influencing not only carbon emissions, but the lives of those who use these spaces every day.

The transition to net zero schools is an ongoing process.

As technologies evolve, policies tighten, and expectations grow, architects must continue to adapt, refining approaches, challenging assumptions, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

At HLM Architects, we see this not as a constraint, but as an opportunity.

An opportunity to design better education buildings, to support communities, and to create spaces that genuinely make life better for people, and for the planet.

Connect with us today

If you’re shaping the future of education, we’d love to work with you.

Get in touch with us to explore how your next project can achieve net zero in operation, while creating better places to learn, work and thrive.