Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment

[edit] Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment

The built environment is one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide globally therefore reducing both operational and embodied emissions is critical to improving the overall footprint of the industry. This is a practical guide suitable for a wide audience of built environment professionals who need to deepen their knowledge of this crucial topic.

This guide outlines what embodied carbon is and why is it important, detailing the regulatory context along with relevant models and standards. It explains approaches to calculating embodied carbon including what information you need and where to get it and highlights the importance of engaging the supply chain, including the role of clients and the use of clauses, to propel requirements down the value chain. It explores how to use the outputs including benchmarking, target setting and practical strategies for reducing embodied carbon, as well as looking at the role of emerging technologies - such as advanced materials and construction methodologies, and artificial intelligence - and provides case studies from the UK and internationally.

[edit] Contents

• Overview of Embodied Carbon in Construction
• Understanding Embodied Carbon
• Approaches to Calculating Embodied Carbon
• Relevant Models and Standards
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Detail
• Regulating Embodied Carbon
• Engaging the Supply Chain
• Using the Outputs
• Practical Methods of Reducing Embodied Carbon
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Case Studies
• Future Trends and Research
• Conclusion

[edit] About the author

Dr Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari is a Lecturer in Construction Engineering and Management at Loughborough University, with research experience in energy efficiency and sustainability in residential and commercial buildings, building energy and performance assessment, Life Cycle Analysis, supervised machine learning and building structure reuse.

[edit] Availability

Published 11 Nov 2024, available electronically https://www.ciobacademy.org/product/embodied-carbon-in-the-built-environment

CIOB members can access Technical Information Sheets for FREE and receive a 20% discount on our Codes and Guides. Your discount codes are in the members’ portal: https://portal.ciob.org/Learning12. If you experience difficulties accessing the portal, please contact lis@ciob.org.uk.

This article was issued via press release and appears on the CIOB Academy site as "Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment" dated 11 November 2024.

--CIOB

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