Embodied carbon: helping build greener buildings
Embodied carbon consists of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials installed on site. It takes into account the supply chain carbon that includes the extraction, transporting, manufacturing and installation of a material, giving us a life span carbon number for a structural building element such as concrete or steel.
Structure accounts for about 65% of the upfront embodied carbon in a building, and the building and construction sector is responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world. Reducing the embodied carbon throughout a building’s elements and lifecycle is critical to achieving net zero by 2050. For some years we have focused on operational energy consumption and the ways to make a building more energy efficient through energy use reduction, overlooking the fact that embodied carbon is almost equal to that of operational energy consumption. Manufactures and suppliers have been able to make reductions by using more recycled materials in their products. As consultants we aim to bring our design expertise to the early stages of the design process to offer an efficient and low embodied carbon building, helping shape the decision process to realise these savings. Our aim is to investigate different options for the structure to make sure we get the best outcome for the project team.
To calculate embodied carbon we use data, and the most powerful data driven tool we have at our disposal is building information modelling (BIM). By being able to add a carbon data value to a model element, we are able to track and reduce that number through different design solutions by using a material-data strategy. ?We are able to compare different design options for the most efficient carbon outcome. By using BIM we can reduce embodied carbon through data driven insights found within our unified models.
On a recent project for Storage King in Sunshine North we worked closely with the early appointed builder (Kennett) to provide various options for structural efficiency within the scheme. The chosen scheme was a lightweight particleboard flooring over lightweight steel joists and primary steel beams. A short span grid provided the most economical solution in terms of material quantities. We have compared the upfront embodied carbon in this solution to a hypothetical reference concrete structure.
*Based on A1-A5, no sequestration. No recycled materials were considered in this design assessment
Saving initiatives:
By assessing the embodied carbon of a project at concept design we are much more able to influence reduced carbon outcomes by project completion. Our ability to influence the whole lifecycle of carbon decreases during the life span of the project. Using data, BIM and emerging platforms to test, compare and create better structural outcomes will help us and help our clients build a more sustainable future.