As we move ever closer to the net-zero deadline of 2050, reducing CO2 throughout the design, construction and operation phases of our new buildings and infrastructure is key. With engineers and construction professionals still adjusting to this sustainable movement, there can be the potential for confusion with many new phrases and terms flying around. Embodied carbon and operational carbon, ECFs and EPDs are just a few examples. Here, we try to take some of the mystery away.
Operational vs. embodied carbon
A crucial aspect of planning and designing using green alternatives is understanding operational vs. embodied carbon. While both contribute to global carbon emissions, embodied carbon can be defined as the carbon output produced during the construction of a building. It is the result of specific processes and design decisions, rather than a continuous emission of CO2. This includes the manufacture and extraction of materials used to construct the building and the transportation of these materials to the construction site.
In contrast, operational carbon is the CO2 emitted during the ongoing operation of the building, which of course can fluctuate depending on the technology and level of use over time. Services, appliances and other infrastructure, such as automatic doors, contribute to operational carbon.
To put this in real terms, an airplane flying from the UK to Germany would be classified as operational carbon, while the CO2 generated from the original construction of the airplane would be embodied carbon.
In recent years, significant steps have been taken to reduce operational carbon, with substantial improvements in technology and energy-efficient appliances. Inventions such as LED lighting, smart heating and innovative technologies in the home are just a few examples of the progress made to reduce operational carbon. These products should be standard in newly constructed buildings, and will be vital in the drive towards net-zero.
In comparison, we are still using carbon-intensive methods to manufacture our building materials and construct our buildings. As such, it is crucial that we address the levels of embodied carbon and work to reduce this within the built environment.
