WLCA Scheme Welcomes First Accredited Whole Life Carbon Assessor

The built environment is standing on the cusp of a major regulatory shift. As the industry prepares for the highly anticipated introduction of Part Z to the Building Regulations, the focus is rapidly shifting from basic carbon awareness to strict carbon accountability. To meet this moment, clients and project teams need certified, competent professionals they can trust to accurately measure full lifecycle emissions.

That is why we are thrilled to celebrate a major milestone for our Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) scheme: the certification of our very first assessor.

We sat down with Samuel Eric Ehiabhi to discuss what motivated him to lead the charge, how this qualification transforms their approach to client projects, and why sustainability professionals shouldn't wait for regulations to catch up before getting certified. Here is what Samuel had to say.

1. What motivated you to join our WLCA scheme, and why do you feel Whole Life Carbon Assessments are so critical for the industry right now?

   I was motivated to join the CIBSE Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) scheme because it provides a recognised platform that enables clients and project teams to identify suitably qualified professionals who can undertake WLCA in accordance with established industry standard. This is important because clients who wish to understand and mitigate the carbon impact of their developments may not know where to find appropriately qualified assessors. The scheme therefore provides a platform for clients to engage competent professionals and gives confidence that assessments will be carried out in a consistent, structured, and standardised manner. In addition, because assessors on the scheme follow a consistent methodology, I hope it will support the development of a CIBSE WLCA benchmark over time.

    

   I feel WLCAs is critical to the industry now as the industry moves towards more stringent carbon reduction requirements, and due to the need of clients to understand, accurately quantify, and mitigate the whole life carbon impact of their developments. Also, we are on the cusp of the introduction of a new regulation with the forthcoming Part Z of the Building Regulations, which is expected to require certain developments to undertake WLCA. This means the industry must be prepared by ensuring a pool of competent, certified assessors exists now ahead of that mandate, where clients can access qualified assessors.

    

   Beyond regulation – and perhaps most importantly - WLCAs would encourage a truly holistic understanding of a development’s carbon impact. Rather than focusing solely on operational or upfront carbon, WLCA considers emissions across the entire lifecycle of a development. This will ensure that no significant source of carbon emissions is overlooked and enable better informed design decisions to reduce carbon across every lifecycle stage.

    

   Ultimately, I believe WLCA is the tool that will move the industry from carbon awareness to carbon accountability, and thus drive innovation throughout the supply chain and support the delivery of genuinely low-carbon developments.

2. How do you foresee this qualification impacting your current projects and your ability to help clients achieve their net-zero goals?

   The WLCA qualification has broadened my understanding of carbon impacts across the entire lifecycle of a building. It has given me a comprehensive view of how different design decisions, different materials, construction methods, operational strategies, maintenance requirements and end-of-life considerations all contribute to a development’s WLC performance - and where meaningful reductions can be achieved.

    

   Because of this, I am now in a strong position to accurately quantify WLC in line with established industry standard, which is important in enabling clients make informed decisions. Beyond quantification, the qualification has also strengthened my ability to collaborate with design teams, by asking the right questions throughout the design process, exploring alternatives, encouraging carbon-aware decision-making and design solutions that reduce WLC without compromising functionality. With this approach, I can help guide design teams toward solutions that reduce WLC while still meeting performance and operational requirements, which will ultimately support clients in achieving lower‑carbon developments and their net‑zero ambitions.

3. What advice would you give to other sustainability professionals or engineers who are considering joining the scheme?

   My advice to sustainability professionals and engineers involved in low‑carbon building design who are considering joining the scheme is to join now rather than wait until Part Z comes into effect. Being part of the scheme provides formal recognition of   competence and increases visibility, while also giving clients confidence in the WLCAs carried out by accredited assessors.

    

   For those who do not yet have the qualification, I would strongly encourage them to pursue it for two reasons. Firstly, as WLCAs become increasingly embedded within planning policy, regulation and client requirements, there will be a growing demand for competent assessors. Secondly, working towards the WLCA qualification will genuinely broadens your perspective. It pushes you to think about carbon in a much more complete and structured way, which improves the quality and depth of the sustainability advice and solutions you offer across projects — and, in doing so, enables you to play a meaningful role in helping the built environment transition towards a more sustainable and net‑zero future.

   Learn more about the WLCA Scheme here.