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Why Embodied Carbon Matters In Modern Architecture
Understanding the importance of embodied carbon in modern architecture is crucial for reducing the overall climate...
Embodied carbon reporting is a process that measures and discloses greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials and construction throughout a building's lifecycle. It covers emissions from raw material extraction to construction and eventual deconstruction. The focus is on key structural elements like substructures, superstructures, and facades.
Here are some key aspects of embodied carbon reporting:
It quantifies material volumes and applies emission factors.
Reporting typically occurs during development applications and construction phases.
Tools like the NABERS Embodied Emissions Material Form often guide the process.
Embodied carbon reporting is important because it supports industry benchmarks, informs policy development, and drives sustainable building practices. It can account for up to 80% of a building's lifetime emissions, making it crucial for achieving sustainability goals in construction.
Embodied carbon and embodied emissions are related concepts in the construction industry, but they have distinct focuses. Embodied carbon specifically quantifies carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions, measuring the global warming potential of all greenhouse gases converted to CO₂e. This approach allows for consistent comparisons across projects and materials, often using frameworks like NABERS as the primary indicator for climate impact assessment.
In contrast, embodied emissions reporting may encompass a broader range of environmental impacts beyond just carbon, including other pollutants and environmental effects. Despite these differences, both methodologies aim to assess the environmental impact of construction throughout a building's lifecycle, providing valuable insights for developers and policymakers to promote more sustainable practices.
Here are some key differences:
Embodied carbon focuses on CO₂e emissions.
Embodied emissions consider a broader environmental impact.
Embodied carbon is a critical consideration in modern building design and construction, as it accounts for the greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the lifecycle of building materials-from extraction and manufacturing, through transport and installation, to demolition and disposal. There are several compelling reasons why embodied carbon should be at the forefront of your next project. As operational energy use in buildings continues to decrease thanks to advances in efficiency, the proportion of total emissions represented by embodied carbon is steadily rising. Two buildings with identical designs and materials can have vastly different embodied carbon footprints depending on the sourcing, transportation, and processing of their materials. By understanding and addressing embodied carbon, you are not only reducing the environmental impact of your project but also aligning with evolving industry standards and future-proofing your assets against regulatory changes.
Embodied carbon reporting is assessed through a processed based embodied carbon assessment using EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and or default emissions. This includes:
Key and non-key material: Emissions from construction materials.
Transportation: Emissions from moving materials to the site.
On-site energy consumption during construction: Emissions during assembly or installation.
Emissions arise from a change of land use: Emissions from disposal, recycling, or demolition.
The assessment combines emissions from Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and EPDs as well as industry average emissions to provide a benchmark star rating across a variety of building typologies (offices, warehouses, schools, etc). This approach supports informed decision-making and helps meet building embodied carbon reporting requirements.
An embodied carbon report provides a comprehensive analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions (kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO₂e)) per square metre associated with the materials and construction processes used in a building project. The report utilises quantity from BoQ and calculate the embodied carbon for all key and non-key materials. Typically, the report begins by identifying the potentials of a proposed building to reach the minimum 4-Star rating, this early scoping will indicate where improvement can be made to ensure an accurate and thorough assessment and sets the expectation for the project team to collate the appropriate documentations. The next stage of the assessment involves periodic review of the documentations as well as updates to the Embodied Carbon Rating Input Form at the construction stages. Post Occupation Certificate is issued, a comprehensive calculation will confirm a star rating can be achieved.
Within the report, you will find a breakdown of the embodied carbon emissions by material type, construction stage, and building component. This includes quantifying emissions in terms of kgCO₂e per square metre or for the entire project. The report may also highlight materials that should adopt a product specific emissions factor in-lieu of using a default emissions factor. This will in turn push more demand for manufacturer to either commission an EPD for their product or steer the industry towards specifying building materials that have product specific EPDs. By presenting clear, actionable insights, an embodied carbon report helps project teams make informed decisions that support sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.
An Embodied Carbon report can be commissioned at the time of the Design Development stage of any project, it can be use to gauge if the minimum 4-Star rating can be achieved. However, a BoQ is required at the time of commissioning such report.
To complete an embodied carbon assessment, there are several important pieces of information and documentation you will need to gather at the outset of your project. These requirements help ensure that the assessment is accurate, comprehensive, and tailored to your specific building design. Typically, you will need detailed architectural drawings and specifications, including floor plans, elevations, and sections that outline the dimensions and layout of the building. A full list of construction materials, including quantities, types, and sources, is also essential, as this data forms the basis for calculating the embodied carbon associated with each component.
In addition to material information, you may be asked to provide details on construction methods, transportation distances for materials, and any prefabrication or modular processes being used. If available, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for specific products can further enhance the accuracy of the assessment. Collaboration with your design, engineering, and construction teams is often necessary to collect all relevant data. By preparing this information early in the design process, you can streamline the assessment, identify opportunities for carbon reduction, and ensure your project meets sustainability and compliance requirements.
Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions generated to produce a built asset. This includes the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and assembly of all materials and construction processes. Unlike operational carbon, which is associated with the energy consumption of a building during its use phase (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), embodied carbon is locked into the structure from the moment construction begins.
The distinction between embodied and operational carbon is crucial. While strides have been made in reducing operational carbon through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, embodied carbon has often been overlooked. However, as buildings become more energy-efficient, the proportion of embodied carbon in their total carbon footprint increases, highlighting the need for comprehensive reporting and reduction strategies.
In Australia, whole life carbon assessment is becoming increasingly critical as the construction industry pivots towards achieving net zero targets. New regulatory requirements and the growing demand for transparent climate-related disclosures are driving the adoption of these assessments. By understanding and mitigating the carbon emissions at every stage, stakeholders can make informed decisions that contribute to sustainable development.
Australia is committed to significant decarbonisation goals, and the construction industry plays a pivotal role in this national effort. Whole life carbon assessment allows project teams to identify and reduce emissions throughout the lifecycle of a building, aligning with Australia's sustainability objectives. This method ensures that emissions are not merely shifted from one phase to another but are comprehensively minimised.
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The National Construction Code (NCC) serves as Australia's primary technical framework for building design and construction. It establishes the minimum necessary requirements for safety, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability in building projects across the country. The 2025 update to the NCC marks a significant shift, as it introduces embodied carbon requirements for the first time. This move is part of a broader strategy to align with global sustainability goals and to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry.
The inclusion of embodied carbon requirements is a groundbreaking development aimed at addressing the full lifecycle emissions of buildings. By focusing on the emissions generated during the extraction, manufacture, transport, and installation of building materials, the NCC is taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability. This update reflects the growing recognition of the importance of reducing embodied carbon to achieve Australia's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
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