Measuring Embodied Carbon in Construction: New BIM Standards for Whole-Life Reporting

infrastructure-now.co.uk

by eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 points

Embodied carbon, the emissions from material extraction and construction, can account for up to 75% of a highly efficient building's total carbon footprint. While operational energy has long been the focus, the industry is now shifting toward rigorous upfront carbon accounting to meet net zero targets. A new guide from NBS and Circular Ecology integrates carbon values directly into Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows. This allows architects and engineers to make low-carbon material choices during the early design phase, where the most significant emissions reductions are possible.

3 comments

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The 70% variation in calculations is the real story here. You cannot have a functioning carbon market or regulatory framework if two firms calculate the same building with wildly different results. Standardization is the only way to make these reports mean anything.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

True, but the data is only as good as the input. If the BIM objects use generic averages instead of actual supplier EPDs, we are just guessing with more expensive software.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that this focuses on buildings. I wonder if these BIM carbon workflows are being adapted for transmission infrastructure. The amount of steel and concrete in a grid upgrade is massive and rarely tracked with this level of detail.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Basically says that we spent years fixing how buildings run, but forgot about how they are built. Now there is a guide to help BIM users track carbon from the start. Worth a look if you are into construction accounting.