What are some examples of low-embodied-carbon materials that can be used in construction?
Low-embodied-carbon materials are those that require less energy to produce and transport. Some examples are locally sourced eelgrass, straw bales, hemp, mycelium and certain types of timber. Using these materials can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a building.
How can architecture contribute to lowering carbon emissions in the built environment?
Architecture plays a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions. Designing energy-efficient buildings and selecting sustainable and low-embodied-carbon material will contribute greatly to decarbonise the built environment.
What is the difference between operational carbon and embodied carbon?
Operational carbon refers to the emissions produced during the use phase of a building or infrastructure, such as those from heating, cooling, and providing electricity. On the other hand, embodied carbon refers to the emissions produced during the manufacture, transportation, construction, and demolition of building materials.
What is the proportion of global carbon emissions from the built environment?
The built environment is responsible for approximately 40% of total global carbon emissions when considering both operational and embodied carbon. This includes carbon emissions from building materials and construction (approximately 11%) and from building operations, like heating, cooling, and lighting (approximately 28%).
How does the built environment contribute to carbon emissions?
The built environment contributes to carbon emissions in several ways. Construction activities, such as the extraction and processing of raw materials, transportation, and actual construction, all emit carbon dioxide. Once built, buildings use energy for heating, cooling, and electricity, which often comes from burning fossil fuels. Infrastructure, such as roads, also facilitate carbon-emitting activities, such as driving cars.
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Glossary
LifeCycle Assessment (LCA)
What tools are available to architects and designers to assess the impacts of materials in LCA stages A1-A3?
There are numerous tools and databases available that provide information on the environmental impacts of different materials in stages A1-A3. Our platform provides A1-A3 stages calculations for a whole project or individual materials.
How does the choice of materials during the project phase impact the LCA stages A1-A3?
The choice of materials greatly impacts the LCA stages A1-A3. For instance, materials that are locally sourced or made from recycled content can reduce the environmental impacts associated with raw material extraction and transportation (A1 and A2). Also, materials that require less energy-intensive manufacturing processes have a lower impact in the manufacturing stage (A3). Therefore, by selecting materials with a lower environmental impact in these stages, designers can reduce the overall carbon footprint of a building.
What are the LCA stages A1-A3 and why are they important in the built environment?
The LCA stages A1-A3 represent the "Product stage", and specifically: • A1: Raw material supply, • A2: Transport to the manufacturer, and • A3: Manufacturing of the construction product
These stages are critical as they account for all the emissions related to extracting and processing the raw materials, as well as manufacturing the actual construction products. By focusing on these stages, designers and architects can choose materials that have low environmental impact, thereby significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint of their projects.
What is a "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)"?
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction, through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, to disposal or recycling.
This method allows for a comprehensive view of a product's environmental impacts and can help identify opportunities to reduce these impacts.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
How can EPDs contribute to achieving green building certifications?
Many green building certifications, such as LEED and BREEAM, provide credits for projects that use materials with EPDs. This is because EPDs provide a measure of the environmental impact of the materials, and using materials with lower impacts contributes to the sustainability of the project. By specifying materials with EPDs, architects and designers can contribute to achieving these certifications.
What is the difference between a product-specific EPD and a generic EPD?
A product-specific EPD represents the impacts of a specific product from a specific manufacturer, and is based on data from that manufacturer. A generic EPD represents an average impact for a product type, based on data from multiple manufacturers. Product-specific EPDs can provide more accurate information for that product, but generic EPDs can be useful when product-specific EPDs are not available.
Are EPDs available for all building materials?
While the use of EPDs is growing, they are not yet available for all building materials. However, the construction industry is moving towards greater transparency, and the number of available EPDs is increasing. Some jurisdictions and green building certification programs are encouraging or requiring the use of EPDs, further driving their adoption.
How can I compare EPDs for different products?
Our platform makes it easy to compare different materials and even download individual EPDs. To compare two materials you can look at the environmental impacts in the same categories (e.g., global warming potential, ozone depletion potential) and the same life cycle stages. It's also important to make sure the functional units are the same (e.g., per kilogram of product, per square metre of flooring).
How are EPDs created and who verifies them?
EPDs are created by the manufacturers of the product, based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). They are then independently verified by a third-party organisation to ensure accuracy and reliability. This process is governed by international standards to ensure consistency and comparability between different EPDs.
What kind of information can I find in an EPD?
An EPD includes a range of information about the environmental impact of a product. This includes the product's carbon footprint, its impact on ozone depletion, air and water pollution, and waste generation. It also includes information about the product’s life cycle, from raw material extraction, through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling.
What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardised document that provides information about the environmental impact of a product, based on a life cycle assessment. It includes details about the product’s impact on climate change, ozone depletion, water pollution, and more. EPDs are useful for comparing the environmental impact of different products and materials.
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