Embodied Carbon: What Is It And Why Should We Care?
I think it’s safe to say most of us are aware of the role global emissions are having on our climate. When we think about it and what actions we can take, we might make the decision to go solar or fly less. But what about our built environment? Our office buildings, our homes, and shopping centers. Where do they fit in? They’ve got a much bigger impact on climate change than you may think.
The processes and materials that go into our built environment are major drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions stem from the materials that comprise buildings and all the manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, renovation, demolition, and disposal of these materials – this is what’s referred to as “embodied carbon.”
The majority of a building’s total embodied carbon is released upfront at the beginning of a building’s life. Unlike with operational carbon – which refers to the emissions due to a building’s energy consumption (e.g., from heating/cooling) – there is no chance to decrease embodied carbon after the building is constructed.
When considered over their full life cycle, the building industry influences nearly every major sector of global greenhouse gas emissions – think transportation, land use change, waste, etc.
Architectural design strategies and careful material selection can reduce a building’s embodied carbon.
Additionally, building material reuse is great opportunity for sequestering carbon, retaining embodied energy, reducing landfilled material, and conserving natural resources.
The American Institute of Architects has published an Embodied Carbon Toolkit, which strategies for
