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Embodied Carbon and Building Services
Dr Julie Godefroy, Technical Manager
23rd July 2020
CIBSE Climate Action Plan
https://www.cibse.org/news-and-policy/july-2019/cibse-climate-action-plan-building-services-engi
POLICY FRAMEWORK
https://www.cibse.org/news-and-policy/policy
Regular engagement with policy consultations
including Building Regulations, retrofit, energy
efficiency, low-carbon heat, climate adaptation
Position statements e.g. Building Regulations
Part L, overheating
Members of Part L, Part F and overheating
working groups for the 2019 Building
Regulations review
Collaboration with other institutions to align our
policy recommendations where possible e.g.
Green Building Council, LETI
Update our policy statements on zero carbon
buildings, climate change mitigation and
adaptation
Seek more opportunities to collaborate with
others to send consistent policy messages e.g.
with RTPI on planning & climate change,
RAEng on data sharing and disclosure, RICS on
valuing sustainability and encouraging more
focus on operational outcomes in asset valuation
COMPETENCE AND TRAINING
Regular training and CPDs covering climate
change, low-carbon buildings, and building
performance
Low-carbon consultant and Low Carbon Energy
Assessor certification schemes
Joint training with Green Register on
collaborative design and overheating risk
Review training programme in line with new
technical guidance
Explore further opportunities for multi-
disciplinary training with other organisations
e.g. retrofit, professional ethics
⁇ Introduce mandatory CPDs on climate change
and zero-carbon buildings
EVENTS, DISSEMINATION AND AWARDS
Regular reporting on low-carbon buildings in
CIBSE Journal, blog, newsletter and on website
Regular CIBSE events on low-carbon buildings
Since 2012, requirement for in-use performance
data for the CIBSE awards
Initial steps with RIBA to better align the
sustainability criteria in our awards
Increase our coverage of retrofit design & skills
Seek opportunities to further encourage and
reward the monitoring, disclosure and sharing of
building performance data e.g. through our
awards or energy benchmarks platform
Seek more alignment with other institutions on
sustainability awards e.g. with RIBA on
operational performance, with IStructE and ICE
on embodied impacts
RESEARCH
https://www.cibse.org/knowledge/research
Research on low-carbon buildings, climate
change adaptation, and future weather files
Updated energy benchmarks and benchmarking
tool to encourage continuous improvement
Continuous review of research areas to align with
needs for future guidance, in collaboration with
other research organisations e.g. retrofit, circular
economy, fuel cells, hydrogen boilers, energy
benchmarks for low carbon buildings
⁇ BSERT Special Issues e.g. zero carbon, retrofit
TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
Extensive guidance on low-energy and low-
carbon buildings; upcoming publications include
the revised Code of Practice for heat networks
(CP1) and revised Guide L- Sustainability, 2019
Coverage of climate change adaptation in
existing guidance and weather files
Collaboration with RIBA: input to upcoming
RIBA sustainability outcomes
Collaboration with others on guidance e.g. BSI
on standards for retrofit and building
performance evaluation
Keep our guidance under review, and seek to
ensure it represents best practice on low and zero
carbon built environments; members are invited
to let us know where they think guidance should
be updated
Work with others to harmonise our
recommended building performance outcomes
Extend our guidance in low-carbon buildings,
with priority themes including:
Defining and achieving low embodied and
whole life carbon, in collaboration with
others including UK-GBC, RICS, IStructE
Building simulation
Hot water temperatures for low-carbon heat
Heat pumps
Heat networks: low-temperature, ambient
loops, and low-carbon network retrofits
Demand management
Reducing plant requirements for demand
management and lower embodied carbon
Retrofit – in collaboration with others
Collaborate with others for guidance on trees and
green infrastructure, and how they can contribute
to climate mitigation, adaptation and wider
sustainability outcomes e.g. with the Trees and
Design Action Group and Landscape Institute
⁇ Produce a Code of Practice for zero carbon
buildings
Action on embodied
carbon in all these
streams:
➢ Events
➢ Training
➢ Policy
➢ Research
➢ Guidance
+ Possibly in future:
➢ Awards
MEP vs Total initial embodied carbon
LETI, from Cradle to Gate CIBSE TM56
Figure 8.1 - Big ticket items study for a typical mixed use development: commercial & residential.Study by Mirko Farnetani
Figure 8.2 - Embodied carbon break-down per element (Cradle to Gate)
Proportions of embodied carbon by building element
The diagram below shows the relative proportions of
embodied carbon by building element and illustrates
the elements where the most savings may be made.
What is important is not just the proportion of
embodied carbon per element, but the potential
total embodied carbon reductions of all the elements.
At RIBA Stage 3 a full building detailed whole life
carbon assessment should be undertaken. As part of
this a study should be undertaken that identifies the
breakdown of embodied carbon by element and
the carbon reductions that could be achieved for
each element. This helps to identify ‘big ticket items’ –
where the greatest embodied carbon reductions can
be achieved. Figure 8.1 shows the results of this type
of assessment for an example of a typical mixed used
development commercial + residential. It is evident
that the top five building parts (Piling, Foundation,
Frame, Upper Floor and Envelope) provide the greatest
embodied carbon reduction opportunities, and thus
should be the focus of embodied carbon reductions.
8.0 Reducing embodied carbon – by building element
Nevertheless, the remaining bottom items (Ceiling
Finishes, Internal walls, Floor Finishes and External
Works) should also be considered for establishing the
project Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategy.
Rules of thumb for reducing embodied carbon per
building element
Page 27 identifies the big wins by building element.
For further detailed information refer to Appendix 6 -
Rules of Thumb.
SIGNPOST Appendix 6 - Rules of Thumb
48%4%
16%
15% 17%
Substructure
Superstructure
InternalFinishes
Facade
MEP
Office
Medium
scale resi-
dential
School
46%
Superstructure
4%
21%13%
16%
Substructure
MEP
InternalFinishes
Facade
31%13%
17%
22% 17%
SuperstructureInternalFinishes
Facade
MEPSubstructure
Upper Floors
Foundation
Envelope
Frame
Piling
Internal walls
Ceiling Finishes
Floor finishes
External works
0 5 10 15 20 25
Percentage of Embodied Carbon (%)
Embodied Carbon Baseline Emissions
Embodied carbon emissions after reduction measures
26
11
generated and used, without creating barriers to trade (NBS, 2012). This work has resulted in the development of a suite of standards including BS EN 15804.
BS EN 15804 (BSI , 2012) is a standard for developing a Type I I I environmental declaration of construction products that is intended to assess the sustainabil i ty of construction works. I t provides a structure to ensure that all EPDs of construction products, construction services and construction processes are derived, verified and presented in a harmonised way. Manufacturers only need to undertake one li fe cycle study to obtain a TC 350 complaint Environmental Product Declaration for their product wherever i t is used in Europe.
8.4 Embodied energy/carbon
8.4.1 Definition of embodied carbon/energy
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) includes other
greenhouse gas emissions as well as carbon dioxide (e.g. methane and nitrous oxide). Carbon dioxide equivalents of different gases are calculated according to how they contribute to global warming if they are released into the atmosphere.
In the Inventory of Carbon and Energy (a commonly used database for embodied energy and carbon factors for generic materials in the UK ) (Hammond et al., 2011) i t states
‘Embodied energy (carbon) is the total primary energy consumed
(carbon released) from direct and indirect processes associated
with a product or service and within the boundaries of cradle-to-
gate. This includes all activi ties from material extraction
(quarrying/mining), manufacturing, transportation and right
through to fabrication processes unti l the product is ready to
leave the fin
a
l fact or y gat e’ .
The inventory does not include additional processes that may be applied to materials after they leave their factory gate. For example, steel wil l require further fabrication, such as bending, cutting and welding, to form the casing of an air handling unit. I t is clearly important to understand for a given material what the ‘factory gate’ represents as there may be numerous factories along the supply chain.
The fina l value for cradle-to-gate for a product (A1 to A3 in Figure 8) should include all the manufacturing processes unti l the product is ready to be purchased and delivered to site. This should be based on actual data from suppliers (e.g. include the energy they use in their own factory) whenever possible instead of using average values for materials.
A comprehensive assessment of embodied carbon would also need to consider the whole li fe implications including the construction stage (A4 to A5), maintenance and replacement of components during operation (i tems B1 to B5) and disposal at end of l i fe (Category C and D).
Section 8.4.3 provides more detai l on how to calculate embodied carbon.
Assessment and tools
0 200 400
Low Typical
kgCO2/m2 of GIA
Substructure Superstructure Cladding Fit-out (shell and core)
M&E Delivery and construction Category A All (not itemised)
High
600 800 1000 1200
1650
Ropemaker place
One Kingdom Street (target zero)
One Kingdom Street (Deloit te)
3 storey – concrete framed (Bennett)
3 storey – steel framed (Bennett)
7 storey – concrete framed (Bennett)
7 storey – steel framed (Bennett)
4 storey – steel (Eaton and Amato)
4 storey – RC (Eaton and Amato)
4 storey – precast (Eaton and Amato)
8 storey – steel (Eaton and Amato)
8 storey – RC (Eaton and Amato)
8 storey – steel (Eaton and Amato)
BCO Report – Central London – air con
BCO Report – regional city – air con
BCO Report – regional city – no air con
Davis Langdon – average of 30no.
Davis Langdon – maximum
Davis Langdon – minimum
WRAP medium rise office
Barangaroo Offices, Sydney
Stanhope – Building A
Stanhope – Building B
Stanhope – Building C
Okehampton Business Centre
Pool Innovation Centre
Brunel Business Park
Leadenhall Building, London
Figure 10 Summary of embodied
carbon in construction of new office
buildings from various studies
(source What colour is your building,
(Clark, 2013))
TM56 text final (KB).indd 11 20/08/2014 12:45
Th
is p
ublic
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n is
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pplie
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y C
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r the
sole
use o
f the p
ers
on
makin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
. The
con
tent re
main
s th
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op
yrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
40-75 in Swiss study
mentioned by Jane
Embodied & whole-life carbon
Source: LETI Embodied Carbon Primer, 2020
MEP often has shorter cycle
➢ Over building life cycle,
total MEP embodied
carbon is not negligible
Comparisons are difficult
Many assumptions for both operational and embodied elements
➢ Operational: “performance gap”, future use
➢ Embodied: data, supply chains, future use…
There is a lot we can already do
to reduce MEP embodied carbon
(even if we can’t quite quantify it well)
CIBSE guidance on embodied carbon
CIBSE TM56 Resource Efficiency, 2014
Contribution to LETI Embodied Carbon Primer, 2020
CIBSE Guide L Sustainability, 2020
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urce
effi
cien
cy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvice
s TM
56
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opyrig
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Su
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IBSE G
uid
e L
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Sustainability
CIBSE Guide L: 2020
CIBSE guidance on embodied carbon
Why resource efficiency
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools
Embedding resource efficiency in projects & contracts
Principles for circular economy, and in building services:
1. ‘Designing-out’
2. Resource-efficient systems design
3. Safeguards against premature or planned obsolescence
4. Use of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
5. 3D printing (additive manufacturing)
6. Design for off-site construction
7. Recycled content
8. The standardisation of products and systems
9. Design for deconstruction/disassembly
10. Label products with a list of materials and components
11. Leasing equipment or services
12. Transport and packaging
13. End-of-life recovery, reuse and recycling
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urce
effi
cien
cy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvice
s TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
kin
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e d
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ad
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e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
CIBSE guidance on embodied carbon
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urce
effi
cien
cy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvice
s TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
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ad
. Th
e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
Opportunities in HVAC, lighting and vertical transportation:
➢ ‘Designing-out’
➢ Systems design
➢ Product selection
➢ Reuse
➢ End of life
Opportunities in HVAC, lighting and vertical transportation:
➢ ‘Designing-out’
➢ Systems design
➢ Product selection
➢ Reuse
➢ End of life
“Designing out”
Could it be less ?
Or at least much smaller ?
Opportunities in heating & cooling
Design
➢ Challenge the brief, design criteria & internal conditions
➢ Size with appropriate margins & avoid oversizing
“Heating plant is often oversized due to excessive design margins.
The use of multiple boilers has led to considerable oversizing – up to 500% compared with even the maximum design load” (AM14, 2010)
➢ For heating, use CIBSE KS8 (2006) and send feedback to CIBSE➢ Clear statement of assumptions and implications on design limits➢ Revisit assumptions, design load and sizing as detail progresses➢ Monitor in use, if possible, and send feedback to CIBSE
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urc
e e
fficie
ncy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvic
es
TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
kin
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ow
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ad
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onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
Future data & functions: ➢ Peaks? ➢ Profiles ?
Resource efficiency
of building services
Reso
urce
efficie
ncy o
f build
ing se
rvices
TM56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
97 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1
20/08/2014 14:07
This p
ublica
tion is su
pplie
d b
y CIB
SE
for th
e so
le u
se o
f the p
erso
n m
akin
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e d
ow
nlo
ad. T
he co
nte
nt re
main
s the co
pyrig
ht p
roperty o
f CIB
SE
Opportunities in heating & cooling
Design: reducing demand
➢ Influence early stage decisions: site layout, building form,
orientation and fabric
➢ Minimise thermal bridging, ventilation and air infiltration
heat losses
➢ Reduce heat loss by insulating pipework, valves etc
Resource efficiency
of building services
Reso
urce
efficie
ncy o
f build
ing se
rvices
TM56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
97 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1
20/08/2014 14:07
This p
ublica
tion is su
pplie
d b
y CIB
SE
for th
e so
le u
se o
f the p
erso
n m
akin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad. T
he co
nte
nt re
main
s the co
pyrig
ht p
roperty o
f CIB
SE
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urc
e e
fficie
ncy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvic
es
TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
kin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
. Th
e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
Examples
Passivhaus criteria:
Max space heating demand of 15kWh/m2/yr or 10W/m2
Guide L case study: Office in Switzerland, 2009:
hardly any heating or cooling plant
Layout & strategic decisions
Where to put which uses?
Non-domestic buildings:
➢ Need balance incl. occupancy density & natural ventilation potential
Less articulated (form & façade): smaller heat loss area
Insulation to achieve Passivhaus (BRE Passivhaus primer)
heatingcooling and lighting
Building form
Opportunities in heating & cooling
System Design
➢ Consider the whole system to reduce demand overall
➢ E.g. influence of equipment on heating and cooling
demand
➢ E.g. no suspended ceilings: impact on materials,
thermal mass, and coordination and quality of works
➢ Review overall impacts of system & product selection:
➢ Function
➢ Comfort
➢ Whole-life carbon
➢ Other environmental impacts >> e.g. Environmental
Product Declarations
➢ Reduce the length of distribution systems, incl. location
of plant room
➢ Reduce heat emitters as far as possible
➢ Select systems with low refrigerant volumes
➢ …..
Resource efficiency
of building services
Reso
urce
efficie
ncy o
f build
ing se
rvices
TM56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
97 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1
20/08/2014 14:07
This p
ublica
tion is su
pplie
d b
y CIB
SE
for th
e so
le u
se o
f the p
erso
n m
akin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad. T
he co
nte
nt re
main
s the co
pyrig
ht p
roperty o
f CIB
SE
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urc
e e
fficie
ncy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvic
es
TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
kin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
. Th
e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
“End of life” and circular economy
Guidance and case studiesResource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urce
effi
cien
cy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvice
s TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
kin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
. Th
e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
e c
opyrig
ht p
rop
erty
of C
IBS
E
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
Su
stain
ab
ility
C
IBSE G
uid
e L
20
20
Sustainability
CIBSE Guide L: 2020
2020 CIBSE Research insight:
Circular economy principles for building
services
https://www.cibse.org/knowledge/knowled
ge-by-publication-type/research-insight
Research InsightCircular economy principles for building services
Circular economy principles for building services 15
3 Conclusions
3.1 The five scenarios
The five scenarios outlined in this document provide a framework that can be applied to any
project to incorporate circular economy principles. Embedding these principles in project
briefs is a step that can be taken to address both the environmental issues associated
with the production of building services equipment and the challenges faced by building
operators. There are also potential reductions in the whole life cost of ownership.
universal
passive
joint venturerecover
pre-loved project-specific
circular economy design space
Figure 5 The five scenarios provide a framework which can be applied to any project design
3.2 Early engagement is important
A common theme throughout the research was the importance of early stakeholder
engagement. Scenarios such as ‘universal’, ‘joint venture’ and ‘passive’ require buy-in from
the client and early engagement with the supply chain, whether it be deciding the future
use of the space, agreeing to novel contractual arrangements, or defining different design
conditions. Outlining the implications of circular design at an early stage of the project
allows more informed decision making. A TOTEX approach to planning and funding projects
can allow the full value of circular economy to be realised. If this is not possible, however ,
different briefs can be used to deliver improved value within specific financial contraints, e.g.
divided CAPEX and OPEX budgets.
3.3 Collaboration
Close collaboration between members of the project team is another recurring theme. Joint
ventures incentivise the management of systems so that they retain their highest value.
Digital technology is a major enabler for this collaboration, providing the opportunity for
a data-driven approach to system operation, preventative maintenance, appropriate plant
replacement and improved stakeholder engagement.
Ensuring that there are open channels of communication within projects enables this
collaboration and provides stakeholders with visibility of the relevant data. The result is a
reduction in the performance gap between design and operation that is present in many
buildings.
Th
is pu
blica
tion
is sup
plie
d b
y C
IBSE fo
r the so
le u
se o
f the p
erso
n m
akin
g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
; it sho
uld
no
t be co
pie
d o
r forw
ard
ed
to a
ny o
ther p
erso
n o
r info
rmatio
n so
urce
.
Operational & embodied carbon
Win-wins
➢ Very often the big wins
➢ Seek & prioritise them
Demand reduction
Efficient shapes
Shorter distribution routes
Low refrigerant leakage
Easy maintenance
…
Case-by-case balance
➢ Maybe other impacts
e.g. comfort
GWP of refrigerant
Thermal mass
Level of insulation
(in non-domestic)
Shading, filters - too important
to be gauged on carbon alone
…
Figure 8.1 - Big ticket items study for a typical mixed use development: commercial & residential.Study by Mirko Farnetani
Figure 8.2 - Embodied carbon break-down per element (Cradle to Gate)
Proportions of embodied carbon by building element
The diagram below shows the relative proportions of
embodied carbon by building element and illustrates
the elements where the most savings may be made.
What is important is not just the proportion of
embodied carbon per element, but the potential
total embodied carbon reductions of all the elements.
At RIBA Stage 3 a full building detailed whole life
carbon assessment should be undertaken. As part of
this a study should be undertaken that identifies the
breakdown of embodied carbon by element and
the carbon reductions that could be achieved for
each element. This helps to identify ‘big ticket items’ –
where the greatest embodied carbon reductions can
be achieved. Figure 8.1 shows the results of this type
of assessment for an example of a typical mixed used
development commercial + residential. It is evident
that the top five building parts (Piling, Foundation,
Frame, Upper Floor and Envelope) provide the greatest
embodied carbon reduction opportunities, and thus
should be the focus of embodied carbon reductions.
8.0 Reducing embodied carbon – by building element
Nevertheless, the remaining bottom items (Ceiling
Finishes, Internal walls, Floor Finishes and External
Works) should also be considered for establishing the
project Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategy.
Rules of thumb for reducing embodied carbon per
building element
Page 27 identifies the big wins by building element.
For further detailed information refer to Appendix 6 -
Rules of Thumb.
SIGNPOST Appendix 6 - Rules of Thumb
48%4%
16%
15% 17%
Substructure
Superstructure
InternalFinishes
Facade
MEP
Office
Medium
scale resi-
dential
School
46%
Superstructure
4%
21%13%
16%
Substructure
MEP
InternalFinishes
Facade
31%13%
17%
22% 17%
SuperstructureInternalFinishes
Facade
MEPSubstructure
Upper Floors
Foundation
Envelope
Frame
Piling
Internal walls
Ceiling Finishes
Floor finishes
External works
0 5 10 15 20 25
Percentage of Embodied Carbon (%)
Embodied Carbon Baseline Emissions
Embodied carbon emissions after reduction measures
26
Initial embodied carbon
(LETI, from Cradle to Gate)
Poll
Help inform CIBSE Activities
Q1 - How could CIBSE most help you reduce MEP embodied carbon?
a) Guidance on reducing peak loads
b) Guidance on reducing plant: design margins, back-up…
c) Guidance on products: selection, assessment methodology
d) Guidance on systems: selection, assessment methodology
e) A database of EPDs
f) Case studies
g) More training on TM56
h) Something else – please detail in the chat box
i) I’m not sure
Poll
Help inform CIBSE Activities
Q2 – What is the lowest priority for CIBSE to spend efforts on?
a) Guidance on reducing peak loads
b) Guidance on reducing plant: design margins, back-up…
c) Guidance on products: selection, assessment methodology
d) Guidance on systems: selection, assessment methodology
e) A database of EPDs
f) Case studies
g) More training on TM56
h) Something else – please detail in the chat box
i) I’m not sure
Take-aways
We need more data & guidance (CIBSE are working on it),
But there is already a lot we can do
Simpler buildings, less complex systems
Optimised shapes
Lower demand to reduce or avoid HVAC
➢ Consider whole-life carbon
➢ Look for co-benefits: operational carbon, comfort
➢ Let clients know – capex benefits, design limits
➢ Ask for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
➢ Look out for new CIBSE guidance
➢ Contribute to benchmarks – annual & peak demand
=Operational & Embodied
carbon benefits
Resource efficiencyof building services
Reso
urce
effi
cien
cy o
f bu
ildin
g se
rvice
s TM
56
The Chartered Institut ion of Building Services Engineers
222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
+ 44 (0)20 8675 5211
www.cibse.org
TM56: 2014
9 7 8 1 9 0 6 8 4 6 4 6 6
ISBN 978-1-906846-46-6
cover v3.indd 1 20/08/2014 14:07
Th
is p
ub
licatio
n is
su
pp
lied
by C
IBS
E fo
r the s
ole
use
of th
e p
ers
on
ma
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g th
e d
ow
nlo
ad
. Th
e c
onte
nt re
ma
ins th
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rop
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of C
IBS
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