The construction industry was responsible for 37%¹ of total global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2021 including embodied carbon which refers to the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) released over a building’s life cycle, from the manufacturing of materials to the end-life stage. In contrast to the operational carbon, where GHG are emitted from the energy use: heating and/ or cooling of the building.
As the energy efficiency of new buildings continues to improve and the use of renewable energy increases, the percentage of embodied carbon in building emissions becomes more important.
The embodied carbon content of buildings might differ greatly depending on the building type and the materials used. However, it is necessary to minimize the environmental impact of both new and old buildings by using a life-cycle assessment at the building level. Considering the carbon incorporated into a building during the design stage can lead to choosing materials with lower overall emissions.
