A comparative review of existing data and methodologies for calculating embodied energy and carbon of buildings

Extended abstract In the Climate Change Act of 2008 the UK Government pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. As one step towards this, regulations are being introduced requiring all new buildings to be ‘zero carbon’ by 2019. These are defined as buildings which emit net zero carbon during their operational lifetime. However, in order to meet the 80% target it is necessary to reduce the carbon emitted during the whole life-cycle of buildings, including that emitted during the manufacture of materials and components, and during the processes of construction, refurbishment and demolition. These elements make up the ‘embodied carbon’ of the building. This paper reviews the existing European and UK standards, methodologies, databases and software tools for the estimation of embodied energy and carbon of buildings. While there is currently no legislation requiring the calculation of embodied energy in buildings, voluntary standards are being developed by the European Committee for Standardisation Te...