Before we go further, a quick explanation of what embodied carbon is. If you think about the carbon footprint of a building throughout it’s lifecycle, there are multiple components.

Emissions from

1. Extracting, manufacturing and transporting building materials to the construction site,
2. Installation, waste disposal, and use of material on site,
3. Operational use of the building,
4. Demolition of and disposal of the building post use

In all the momentum that green-buildings have received, the focus has been on the operational use of buildings. While this is the largest component, embodied carbon (point a) above) is typically half of it, and without addressing this component actively in designs, we are not on the path to reach Net Zero.

This focus on embodied carbon is increasingly being pushed by leading authorities. For instance, the City of London Corporation's New Planning Guidance mandates developers and their design teams to present detailed information on the comparative carbon impact of various alternatives at the pre-application stage. Further, LEED v5's Special Emphasis on Embodied Carbon: The latest version of the LEED certification system places a heightened focus on embodied carbon, reflecting its growing importance in sustainable construction.

To capture the impacts of embodied carbon, a comprehensive shift across the construction value chain is imperative. Some examples of choices across stage is described below

1. Design Stage: Material selection must prioritise minimising environmental impact over the lifecycle. This approach is essential from the very concept stage.
2. Construction Phase: Robust mechanisms and strict oversight are required to ensure alignment with design specifications. Contractors should form networks with suppliers capable of delivering low-carbon materials near construction sites. Reduce construction waste as well..
3. End-of-Life: Emphasis on material reuse and recycling is key to fostering a circular economy, with significant opportunities in recycling construction and demolition waste.

For precise and transparent reporting of carbon footprints and environmental impacts, effectively utilising technology is essential. Envision being able to consistently simulate the environmental impact and cost of different materials, track the carbon footprint of materials entering the site, and track how construction waste is being handled.

This requires multiple systems to talk to each other with seamless workflows to enable data sharing. You will want the design updated in Revit or Digital BIM models flowing into LCA solutions seamlessly. Further during the construction stage, actual data on materials and waste should flow in real time from the Enterprise resource planning systems, so the Carbon flows are modelled real-time. This also helps track if the Life Cycle Environmental Impact during construction are progressing in line with Design

A few players have started working on this in parts, but this approach needs to become more mainstream, like how granularly we think about project and financial planning on construction projects.