Cradle-to-grave
The term ‘cradle-to-grave’ is an approach to defining the boundaries of an embodied energy assessment which involves measuring or estimating the total energy consumed in through the entire life-cycle of a product (such as a building, or its individual components). This may include gas energy, electricity, oil, and so on, but can also include features that may not be as easy to quantify, such as water use and ecological impact.
The boundaries of the assessment in terms of ‘cradle-to-grave’ extend from the extraction of the resources required to create the product (‘cradle’) through its use phase, to its ultimate disposal (‘grave’) - in other words the total amount of embodied energy that the product ‘consumes’ during its full life cycle.
A cradle-to-grave assessment can help develop a holistic view of a project and its embodied energy, but it can be difficult to estimate accurately.
Embodied energy consumption can be divided into the following categories:
- Initial embodied energy (‘cradle’): Energy needed to produce the product (including extraction, processing, manufacturing, transporting, assembly, and so on).
- Recurring embodied energy: Maintenance and refurbishment during its life-cycle.
- Demolition energy (‘grave’): Demolition and disposal of the product and the energy required.
It is important to note that a cradle-to-grave assessment of embodied energy excludes the energy required to actually operate the product, such as the energy required to heat, cool, light or power a building.
Other boundaries used for the assessment of embodied energy include ‘cradle-to-gate’, and ‘cradle-to-cradle.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Carbon footprint.
- Design life.
- Embodied energy.
- End of life potential.
- Energy certificates.
- Energy related products regulations.
- Fitness for purpose.
- Function.
- Life cycle.
- Life cycle assessment.
- Structures at the end of their design life.
- Sustainable materials.
- Utilising life cycle costing and life cycle assessment.
- Where does embodied carbon analysis stop?
Featured articles and news
A vision for digital highways
Finding stone to conserve historic buildings.
If it is not planned properly even a simple activity can kill.
A disgruntled or ignored stakeholder can easily derail your hard work.
Next generation cementitious materials
Still going strong...one of the great buildings of the 20th century.
Listed buildings and other heritage assets
Review of the bible for heritage assets and their management.
The David Lloyd Lymington Sports Village was 'Commended' in CIAT's 2018 AT Awards.
How do we make the smart city a reality?
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw has been awarded the UK’s highest honour for architecture.
Protecting the construction industry from Brexit.
Building Information Modelling
Conceiving buildings collaboratively, testing them virtually.
Effective collaboration in post-disaster response and recovery