Conference article

Howard J. Darby
Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments, University of Reading, Reading, UK

Abbas A. Elmualim
School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, Reading, UK

Fergal Kelly
Peter Brett Associates LLP, Reading, UK

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110571781

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:6, p. 1781-1788

Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

This paper describes a case study on the whole life carbon cycle of a building in the UK. Specific issues addressed are the relationship between embodied carbon (Ec) and operational carbon (Oc); the proportions of Ec from the structural and non-structural elements; carbon benchmarking of the structure; the value of ‘cradle to site’ or ‘cradle to grave’ assessments and the significance of the timing of emissions during the life of the building.

The case study indicates that Ec can be an important consideration and that the structure was responsible for more than half of the Ec.

An indicative structural benchmark for the building is between 260kgCO₂/m² and 286kgCO₂/m².

Weighting of future emissions appears to be an important factor to consider. The PAS 2050 reduction factors had only a modest effect but weighting to allow for future decarbonisation of the energy supply had a large effect.

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