BSRIA Whitepaper on Embodied Carbon
A net zero carbon building is one with net zero whole life emissions. This includes both operational and embodied emissions. Operational emissions should be near zero. Embodied emissions from the product and construction phases should be measured, minimised, and offset at practical completion. This guide focuses on what building professionals need to understand about embodied emissions as part of creating a net zero built environment.
Embodied carbon is a rapidly evolving issue and there is a growing number of resources available to demystify the topic. This guide distils and signposts to these resources, with a particular focus on building services. It focuses on what is possible with today’s technology, and which decisions have the greatest impact. It is aimed at built environment professionals, including designers, building owners and manufacturers of building products. It is the fourth in a series of guides published by the Net Zero Building Centre, following on from:
- NZG 1/2022 Net Zero Carbon Buildings
- NZG 2/2023 Indoor Environmental Quality and Net Zero
- NZG 3/2023 The Global Context for Net Zero
The Net Zero Building Centre is a joint venture between BSRIA and LSBU with the aim of accelerating decarbonisation in the built environment. It is an innovation hub and centre of excellence that builds on the shared strengths of BSRIA and LSBU in the field of low carbon buildings.
This guide is published by the Net Zero Building Centre, a joint venture between BSRIA and London South Bank University. It focuses on what building professionals need to understand about embodied emissions as part of creating a net zero built environment.
- Download a sample preview
- Format: digital (NZG4/2023). Price: £0.00. Follow this link to download full copy.
This article appears on the BSRIA knowledge bookshop as "Embodied Carbon (NZG 4/2023)" and on the BSRIA news and blog site as "New Whitepaper: Embodied Carbon (NZG 4/2023)" dated December 2023.
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- An in-depth look at Environmental Product Declarations EPDs.
- BPIE report urges EU to incorporate the carbon footprint of construction into policy.
- BS EN 15978-1.
- BSRIA Whitepaper on Embodied Carbon NZG 4/2023
- Carbon dioxide.
- Carbon footprint.
- Climate change act.
- Climate change science.
- Climate Emergency Design Guide.
- Cradle to grave.
- Dr. Natasha Watson; UK lead for embodied carbon at Buro Happold.
- Embedded carbon emissions.
- Embodied carbon.
- Embodied energy.
- EN 15804+A1 2012.
- Environmental product declaration EPD.
- Greenhouse gas.
- Life Cycle Carbon Emissions.
- Mandatory and optional environmental impact categories.
- Optional environmental impact categories.
- PHribbon tool calculates embodied carbon of designs.
- Product Environmental Footprint PEF.
- Product category rules PCR.
- RICS launches new global edition of its ground-breaking Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard.
- Sustainable procurement.
- Sustainability in building design and construction.
- The sustainability of construction works.
- Upfront emissions.
- Use stage embodied carbon.
- Wood, embodied carbon and operational carbon.
- Whole life carbon.
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.