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Embodied carbon emissions in buildings: explanations, interpretations, recommendations Cover

Embodied carbon emissions in buildings: explanations, interpretations, recommendations

Buildings and Cities
Volume 3 (2022): Issue 1
By: Thomas Lützkendorf and  Maria Balouktsi  
Open Access
|Nov 2022

Figures & Tables

bc-3-1-257-g1.png
Figure 1

Examples of developments regarding embodied carbon.

Source: Authors.

bc-3-1-257-g2.png
Figure 2

(a) Global trends in life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (sometimes also called whole-life carbon—WLC) showing an increasing proportion of embodied GHG emissions (called embodied carbon) (dotted line) ranging from 20% to 50% of overall GHG emissions for new standards and advanced standards; and (b) distribution of GHG emissions for residential and office buildings by energy performance class showing that within a class there is considerable scope for optimisation of the embodied part.

Source: Röck et al. (2020).

bc-3-1-257-g3.png
Figure 3

Life-cycle model and names of modules, highlighting the embodied part.

Source: Based on Standard EN 15643 (CEN 2022).

Table 1

Non-exhaustive list of recommended actions for clients.

AVOID CONSTRUCTIONREDUCE CONSTRUCTION

  • Organisational instead of structural solutions (new working practices, home offices, etc.)

  • Densification of organisational processes in existing buildingareas

  • Avoidance of non-essential spaces (e.g.cellars and underground garages)

  • Reuse/refurbish/repurpose existing buildings

  • Extension of existing buildings

  • Use of already developed land

Table 2

Non-exhaustive list of recommended actions for designers.

DESIGN DECISIONSMATERIAL CHOICES

  • Choice of construction and structural system

  • Choice of storeys andspans

  • Use of form factor or surface-to-volume ratioas a metric

  • Building and component optimisation

  • Optimisation of ancillary/public spaces

  • Design for durability

  • Design for dematerialisation

  • Design forflexibility and adaptability

  • Design for ease of maintenance and repair

  • Design for deconstruction and recyclability

  • Reuse of building components

  • Use of products that demonstrate lower embodied carbon through data from environmental product declarations (EPDs) or other reliable sources

  • Use of local products (reduced transport distances)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.257 | Journal eISSN: 2632-6655
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Language: English
Submitted on: Jun 26, 2022
|
Accepted on: Oct 31, 2022
|
Published on: Nov 21, 2022
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
building,
building design,
embodied carbon,
environmental performance,
greenhouse gas emissions,
life cycle,
net zero

© 2022 Thomas Lützkendorf, Maria Balouktsi, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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