Maintenance and in-use carbon

Maintenance and in‑use carbon represent a crucial but often underappreciated component of a building’s overall environmental impact. While embodied and operational carbon typically may be properly considered, the emissions associated with the ongoing operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of building elements over its lifespan can be substantial but overlooked. These emissions arise from energy use for cleaning, servicing, and replacement activities, from the production and transport of replacement materials, and from the operation of systems and equipment necessary to maintain the building’s functionality. Understanding and managing maintenance and in‑use carbon is therefore essential for achieving holistic sustainability objectives and meeting UK policy targets.

The assessment of maintenance and in-use carbon begins with defining the system boundaries and lifespan of the building. In the UK, guidance such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Whole Life Carbon Assessment Professional Statement provides a framework for including in-use carbon within the broader life cycle carbon evaluation. The assessment considers the frequency of maintenance activities, the type and quantity of materials required for replacements or repairs, and the energy consumed by equipment and systems during these processes. It also accounts for indirect emissions, such as those generated through the transport of materials and waste management operations, which are often significant in long-term building operation. A comprehensive understanding of in-use carbon requires data from manufacturers, facilities managers, and historical building performance records to accurately quantify emissions over time.

Methodologies for evaluating maintenance and in-use carbon typically involve life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches adapted to the operational phase of buildings. ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 provide international standards for LCA, which can be applied to estimate the carbon footprint of maintenance and in-use activities. In practice, the assessment integrates data on the type and frequency of maintenance tasks, the expected lifespan of building components, energy use for cleaning, heating, cooling, and other operational requirements, and the embodied carbon of replacement materials. Scenario modelling is often employed to explore alternative maintenance strategies, such as selecting more durable materials, optimising system efficiencies, or extending replacement intervals, allowing project teams to identify approaches that minimise carbon over the building’s life.

Several tools are available to support the quantification of maintenance and in-use carbon in the UK construction sector. Life cycle assessment software packages such as One Click LCA, SimaPro, and GaBi include modules for operational and in-use phases, enabling practitioners to incorporate maintenance activities into carbon calculations. These tools provide access to UK-specific emission factors, including electricity grid intensity, material production data, and transport emissions, ensuring that assessments reflect local conditions. Facilities management software can also be integrated to provide ongoing data on building performance, energy use, and maintenance schedules, allowing for dynamic monitoring and updating of carbon impacts over time. Combining these tools with design-stage assessments allows for iterative refinement of maintenance strategies to achieve lower carbon outcomes.

Integrating maintenance and in-use carbon considerations into design and procurement requires early consideration. During the concept and scheme design phases, designers can select durable, low-maintenance materials and systems with lower replacement frequencies and energy requirements. Strategies such as modular or easily replaceable components, robust finishes, and energy-efficient building services can reduce emissions over the building’s life. Procurement processes in the UK can embed carbon performance criteria into tender documents, requiring that suppliers provide information on the lifecycle emissions associated with their products or services. Facilities management planning can be aligned with these procurement specifications to ensure that low-carbon maintenance practices are implemented throughout the life of the building. By incorporating maintenance and in-use carbon into both design and procurement decisions, project teams can achieve buildings that not only meet functional requirements but also contribute meaningfully to the reduction of long-term carbon emissions.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Carbon.
• Carbon dioxide.
• Carbon factor.
• Carbon footprint.
• Climate change act.
• Climate change science.
• Embodied carbon.
• Greenhouse gas.
• Global warming.
• Life cycle assessment.
• Operational carbon.
• Operational energy use.
• Whole life carbon.
• Whole life carbon and life cycle carbon assessment for buildings.