Embodied carbon is relevant when you are looking at the upfront carbon footprint that exists before a building is put to use. This is part of the process of determining the eco-friendly nature of building projects through data about the emissions that are generated by the life cycle of the materials that are used to create a building.
Embodied carbon that previously wasn’t considered when companies were building structures, but as we have become more environmentally conscious, we have recognized it as a key factor in eco-friendly building processes. You need to have this in mind for most projects these days, so if you are not familiar, it’s important to understand what embodied carbon is and what it means for your building projects.
What is Embodied Carbon?
Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas emissions that are created by building materials before any kind of structure is made from them. This type of carbon is the result of raw materials extractions, transportation emissions, manufacturing and processing emissions, on-site construction processes, and end-of-life disposal or recycling processes.
This is not the same as operational carbon, which is linked with heating and cooling, as well as lighting and equipment use. This is a “front-loaded” environmental concern that is related to the process of creating the materials needed to complete construction jobs.
Why does this matter? It matters because embodied carbon effects are immediate. This means that the current condition of the climate on Earth is impacted by them immediately, well before any kind of structure is built from the materials that caused the embodied carbon to exist in the first place.
This kind of carbon can be easily quantified, and it directly enhances emissions. It can also impact the longevity of a building’s performance.
What Are the Key Sources of Embodied Carbon?
In this context, the most common places that you can look to find the embodied carbon in your building project are the concrete, steel, and wood products that are part of the project. All three of these materials and building products are processed quite a bit before they are delivered in raw materials form to your construction job’s location.
These are the most common materials that are used to make manufacturing buildings as well as homes, and the carbon footprint of these materials is expanded by adding stud framing, sheathing, insulation, vapor control, and foam products to the build.
There are many new kinds of building materials that remove these emissions from the building process, such as ICF. You might want to look at moving toward these materials if you are worried about the emissions and carbon footprint of your construction jobs.
Why Is Embodied Carbon Useful?
This kind of emission is useful from the standpoint that it can be calculated right away. This can allow businesses to avoid working with materials that are harmful to the environment. You can calculate the projected embodied carbon for each of your construction jobs, and then you can determine whether or not this amount of emissions impact is acceptable for your project’s goals.
This is one of the biggest areas of awareness in the construction industry today, and more and more builders are moving away from the kind of materials and processes that create embodied carbon.
Design optimization and improved building materials and processes are some of the key ways to create a smaller footprint and also build homes and business properties that will last for years into the future. This is one of the best things to happen when it comes to sustainably-focused construction since embodied carbon is so easy to track and quantify in comparison to projects that are planned out with other kinds of materials.
Why is ICF a Good Choice?
One of the options that is becoming increasingly popular and which is frequently replacing standard embodied carbon-containing builds, is ICF. This is one of the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly building materials that you can select for your construction project.
The resulting buildings are incredibly durable, highly energy-friendly when it comes to heating and cooling, and comfortable to live in. Since you are avoiding significant use of wood, steel, and concrete for much of the construction process, you are removing most of the sources of carbon production that harm the environment.
While it is true that the companies and industries that make these environmentally-harmful products will continue to do so, you don’t have to purchase their products if you wish to build in a more environmentally ethical way.
You will need to pay attention to concrete use in this kind of build, as you do need to have concrete for part of the construction of the walls. You might also need to make sure that you plan the design process completely and thoroughly early on so that you have all the right resources and people on hand when you start construction. This kind of build tends to move along much faster than some other building styles, and it can be an issue if you don’t have all the right resources on hand at the same time.
Avoiding Harming the Environment is Key
The construction industry is increasingly aware of the impact that building homes and businesses has on the environment. You don’t have to accept that your construction jobs will hurt the environment if you want to make a difference. There are other construction styles and materials that will actually make the world a better, healthier place, and you can switch to these materials and processes if you wish.
Calculating the embodied carbon in your construction jobs can be key to ensuring that you are being as environmentally friendly as possible while you create homes and business buildings for customers. This is one of the metrics that you need to have in mind when you are part of the construction process or own a business that completes these kinds of jobs, to be sure that you are helping to make the world a better place.