Promoting decarbonisation in the construction of new buildings: A strategy to calculate the Embodied Carbon Footprint

Abstract

Building construction significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, with embodied carbon playing a critical role in the environmental impact of new buildings. This research addresses the pressing need to reduce embodied carbon emissions by developing an integrated strategy to assess and compare the embodied carbon footprint of building projects. The proposed methodology, organized into three steps and grounded in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles, divides buildings into four sections: structure, envelope, interior, and exterior, enabling precise identification of carbon-intensive products. Data collection is enhanced by promoting the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for accurate material-specific carbon calculations. This strategy integrates a detailed section-level analysis with transparent reporting of embodied carbon impacts, addressing limitations in prior approaches that lack lifecycle comprehensiveness or detailed material-specific insights. The key contribution of this research lies in its practical applicability during the early phases of building design, where adjustments to reduce carbon emissions are most feasible. The novelty of the study stems from its capacity to compare entire buildings and individual sections, including promoting low-carbon innovations and benchmarking for sustainable construction practices. Besides, accounting embodied carbon footprint for the exterior section is a new contribution since the area has been underexplored, as most studies focus on the building itself rather than its surrounding environment. Thus, this research provides valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of early interventions and comprehensive carbon accounting in achieving decarbonization goals in the construction sector. • Strategy to assess embodied carbon in construction from early project phases. • Calculation of embodied carbon footprint in new building’ projects. • Divides buildings into sections, pinpointing high-carbon impact areas precisely. • Promotes using Environmental Product Declarations to ensure accurate measurements. • Guiding stakeholders in reducing emissions with informed material choices.

Topics & Concepts