We couldn’t find a carbon tool that worked for small practices. So we built one ourselves.
Architects are under increasing pressure to deliver low-carbon buildings - as well as to evidence those claims with robust data. Yet for small practices, finding a carbon tool that fits real-world workflows has often been an uphill battle.
At Studio Bark, we faced the same challenge. We needed a tool that was affordable, intuitive, and detailed enough to capture our bespoke design approach, while integrating seamlessly into everyday design processes. When we couldn’t find our perfect tool, we decided to build it ourselves.
SmallCarbon is a simple, affordable tool to help architects and designers measure and report whole life carbon on projects. Built out of Studio Bark’s own need, it’s designed for the realities of small and medium practices - integrating carbon counting into live projects without slowing down your workflow.
Why We Developed SmallCarbon
With the built environment contributing around 39% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, whole life carbon assessments must become a core part of how projects are designed, assessed, and delivered.
Despite growing industry commitments (RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, emerging UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard), there remains a gap in practical, accessible tools for small and medium practices - which make up 80% of the UK’s architectural sector.
We developed SmallCarbon to fill this gap. It helps architects integrate carbon assessment into live projects simply, affordably, and accurately, supporting better design decisions without derailing workflows.
How We Did It
SmallCarbon has been shaped by real-world practice and extensive user feedback.
Building on over five years of carbon analysis at Studio Bark, we partnered with software developers Looper to transform in-house spreadsheets into a purpose-built, user-friendly platform. With support from Innovate UK’s Creative Catalyst programme, we gathered input from more than 90 small and medium architecture firms, ensuring the tool reflects the day-to-day realities and constraints of practice.
In early 2025, the beta version of SmallCarbon was trialled by around 20 practices. Feedback was very positive:
- User experience rated 8/10 on average
- Testers highlighted clarity, speed, and usability
- The tool successfully integrates carbon calculations into early design stages, a crucial point for reducing whole life carbon impact
What The Tool Can Do
SmallCarbon was developed using real-world projects, to make sure features fit architects’ actual workflows.
Key features include:
- Intuitive web interface tailored to project workflows
- Easy data entry with instant, actionable outputs
- Extensive materials library, including alternative and natural materials such as hemp and straw, based on ICE data and EPDs
- Create, save, and compare build-ups for easy review of material options
- Reporting formats aligned with emerging industry standards
- Embedded educational explainers to support learning as you go
The benefits of using SmallCarbon:
- Simplify whole life carbon analysis
- Quickly generate easy-to-read outputs
- Improve design development and low-carbon decision-making
- Support planning submissions with carbon data
- Communicate carbon data clearly to clients and stakeholders
- Collate data for marketing or awards submissions (endorsed by RIBA)
- Empower practices of all scales to make lower-carbon decisions earlier, without relying on costly external consultants
- Offer carbon analysis to clients as a project add-on
What's Next For SmallCarbon?
We have spent this year refining SmallCarbon to be usable on real-world projects and preparing for wider launch.
Now, in autumn 2025, we’re opening Round 2 beta testing - and we’d like you to be part of it!
We’re inviting UK architecture practices, individual architects, and educators to test the tool on live projects, generating real-world outputs and giving feedback that will shape the final version ahead of launch.
Sign up for SmallCarbon beta round 2 testing
Your input will be essential in this pre-launch period, helping us ensure the tool genuinely meets architects’ needs.
Get Involved
SmallCarbon is made by architects, for architects, and we want you to help shape it.
Here's how you can get involved:
- Join our second round of testing (20 Oct – 12 Dec 2025) - sign up here
- Speak to our team about partnership or sponsorship opportunities
- Sign up to our SmallCarbon mailing list for updates
Together, we can embed whole life carbon assessment in every project, empowering architects to make low-carbon design the norm.
