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Embodied Carbon in Construction
The 2019 "Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront" report by the World Green Building Council (World) was indicative that embodied carbon constitutes the carbon emissions linked with materials and construction processes across the entire lifecycle of buildings or infrastructure. Various stages, including material extraction, transportation to the manufacturer, manufacturing, transportation to the site, construction, use phase (excluding operational carbon), maintenance, repair, replacement, refurbishment, deconstruction, transportation to end-of-life facilities, processing, and disposal, are encompassed. Additionally, the report highlighted that as the global population approaches 10 billion, the demand for buildings and infrastructure is projected to double. Without significant changes in industry practices, this growth could lead to extensive natural resource consumption, potentially doubling global raw material consumption by the middle of the century. Consequently, the sector's emissions and climate impact are expected to increase substantially.
Carbon emissions in the built environment are stemmed from two primary sources: embodied carbon and operational carbon. Embodied carbon encompasses emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the lifecycle of a building or infrastructure, including manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, and disposal. On the other hand, operational carbon refers to emissions generated during the occupancy phase, primarily from energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, and other building operations. Both sources play significant roles in the environmental impact of the built environment, highlighting the importance of addressing both aspects to achieve sustainability goals.
Furthermore, embodied energy tends to be more relevant internationally than embodied carbon. While two products may possess similar embodied energy, variations in national fuel preferences and electricity sources can lead to significantly different embodied carbon footprints.
References:
World Green Building Council. Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront Report 2019. (2019). Retrieved December 18, 2023, from https://worldgbc.s3.eu- west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/22123951/WorldGBC_Bringing_Embodied_Carbon_Upfront.pdf
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