Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Contents |
[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
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BSRIA Whitepaper on Embodied Carbon NZG 4/2023.
- CIOB announces sustainability champion Saul Humphrey as vice president for 2024 2025.
- CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical Information sheet.
- CIOB Podcast: 21st Century Construction. September 2024
- CIOB signs up to Green Skills At Cop campaign. October 2024.
- Dr. Natasha Watson; UK lead for embodied carbon at Buro Happold.
- Embodied carbon.
- Is the desire to reduce the embodied carbon of new buildings damaging the UK steel industry?.
- Legislative Change Raises the Embodied Carbon Issue.
- LETI Embodied Carbon overlay.
- Net zero embodied carbon.
- New playbook on AI in construction published by CIOB. June 2024
- PHribbon tool calculates embodied carbon of designs.
- Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication. July 2024
- Sustainability in building design and construction.
- The sustainability of construction works
- Upfront embodied carbon.
- Where does embodied carbon analysis stop?
- Wood, embodied carbon and operational carbon.
Featured articles and news
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.
Digital technology, transformation and cybersecurity
Supporting SMEs through Digitalisation in Construction.
Villa Wolf in Gubin, history and reconstruction. Book review.
Construction contract awards down one billion pounds
Decline over the past two months compared to the same period last year, follows the positive start to the year.
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
The pace of heating change; BSRIA market intelligence
Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.