Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings launches

Minoro, a new online platform designed to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings has been launched. Developed by Grimshaw in collaboration with over 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe, Minoro – minoro.org – hosts the latest guidance, methodologies, and policies on carbon management, linking the resources to a series of actions that will decarbonize new and existing buildings.

An international resource Minoro provides links and access to over 500 policies, guidance and methodologies, the first time this information has been collated and centralized. With the ability to filter information – from concept to operation, through specific actions or targets such as embodied carbon or procurement, or responsibility from a client to supplier – the platform enables asset owners, investors, design teams, consultants, contractors and building operators, to set targets and develop clear informed actions across every stage of a building life cycle. Responsibilities, and opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and meet targets and ambitions can be clearly identified and actioned.

Free to use, the platform currently hosts global information and specific guidance supporting key regions including the UK, Europe, US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Information hosted on the platform has been contributed and reviewed by peers and organizations and will continue to be updated and informed with the latest information with more countries and regions planned to be included.  

We know that buildings contribute almost 40% of the global energy related carbon emissions, but equally the route to decarbonizing buildings is complex. The opportunity brought by Minoro is to help navigate this complexity and bring building owners and their project teams closer together in the setting of high ambitions and realizing the incredible responsibility all stakeholders have to take effective action.

- Roland Hunziker Director, Built Environment, World Building Council for Sustainable Development

Developed over two years, Minoro not only brings, for the first time, all the key information to help tackle carbon in our buildings together in one place, but will also, importantly, bring teams together to work more effectively, aligning actions and maximising opportunities to avoid unnecessary carbon emissions in building projects.

- Paul Toyne, Sustainability Lead, Grimshaw

It’s fantastic to see this project take off! Shaped by global expertise and bridging diverse disciplines within the built environment, Minoro is an impressive free resource for professionals across the value chain. It facilitates informed decisions to slash emissions and embodies the collaborative spirit of UKGBC, WorldGBC, and other GBCs. I hope Minoro will help our networks to drive forward climate action like never before!

- Smith Mordak, Chief Executive, UKGBC

Architects play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the built environment. Minoro, developed from the collective experience of stakeholders worldwide, supports both newcomers and seasoned professionals in collaborating through a common design and building process that builds on existing industry practice.

- Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council Australia

Minoro comes a critical time for our industry. The access to guidelines and positive action, and the responsibility it identifies for all stakeholders in the project life cycle will serve to accelerate the change we need. Equally, the input and support of all the organisations behind its development is evidence of how vital collaborative action is.

- Andrew Whalley OBE, Chairman, Grimshaw

About Minoro

Minoro can be accessed via minoro.org. It has been developed over the past two years by Grimshaw and the WBCSD with the support of the WorldGBC. At its heart is the urgent action to address the decarbonization of buildings, but also the responsibility, of all stakeholders in the built environment, to work collaboratively to turn targets into action. It supports the critical path of early-stage design and business case buy-in, the recognition of national and regional targets, and the implementation of innovation, design and financial incentives to surpass decarbonization expectations. A carbon management toolkit is also available on the platform to help users to track actions, identify opportunities and create a plan. Constantly reviewed and updated, feedback and contributions to Minoro platform can be provided through the feedback link on the website. It has been developed for and with the built environment industry and will continue to be managed as the most reliable platform for the latest policy, guidelines and methodologies to decarbonize buildings.