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Whole Life Carbon Assessment of a Typical UK Residential Building Using Different Embodied Carbon Data Sources

Author

Listed:
  • Maryam Keyhani

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, London W5 5RF, UK)

  • Atefeh Abbaspour

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, London W5 5RF, UK)

  • Ali Bahadori-Jahromi

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, London W5 5RF, UK)

  • Anastasia Mylona

    (Research Department, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers [CIBSE], London SW12 9BS, UK)

  • Alan Janbey

    (Research Department, London College, London TW5 9QX, UK)

  • Paulina Godfrey

    (Hilton, Maple Court, Reeds Crescent, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 4QQ, UK)

  • Hexin Zhang

    (School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburg Napier University, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK)

Abstract

The climate crisis in many sectors is driving rapid and substantial changes. Considering the fact that the building sector accounts for 39% of energy related carbon emissions, it is important to take swift actions to reduce these emissions. This study will identify the accuracy and availability of the embodied carbon databases. In this regard, the effect of using different embodied carbon databases on the total emissions during product and end-of-life stages will be compared. The results showed that using the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy database (BEIS) overestimates the embodied carbon emissions. Additionally, using the Environmental product declarations database (EPDs), compared to the Inventory of Carbon and Energy database (ICE), can reduce embodied carbon for some materials up to 100%. The end-of-life calculation showed a huge difference between the two databases. In addition, Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLC) has been carried out. The findings revealed that 67% of emissions come from operational carbon and embodied carbon is responsible for 33% of emissions. Using LED lights and installing PV panels can reduce the total CO 2 emissions by 24.82 tonCO 2 . In addition, using recycled metal, less carbon intensive concrete, and recyclable aluminium can reduce the total CO 2 emissions by 18.57, 2.07, and 2.3 tonCO 2 e, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Keyhani & Atefeh Abbaspour & Ali Bahadori-Jahromi & Anastasia Mylona & Alan Janbey & Paulina Godfrey & Hexin Zhang, 2023. "Whole Life Carbon Assessment of a Typical UK Residential Building Using Different Embodied Carbon Data Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5115-:d:1096572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Omar Isaac Asensio & Magali A. Delmas, 2017. "The effectiveness of US energy efficiency building labels," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Golnaz Mohebbi & Ali Bahadori-Jahromi & Marco Ferri & Anastasia Mylona, 2021. "The Role of Embodied Carbon Databases in the Accuracy of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Calculations for the Embodied Carbon of Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-22, July.
    3. Jim Hart & Bernardino D'Amico & Francesco Pomponi, 2021. "Whole‐life embodied carbon in multistory buildings: Steel, concrete and timber structures," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(2), pages 403-418, April.
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    2. Wanying Wang & Luyan Li & Victor Shi & Shervin Espahbod, 2024. "Carbon Emission Accounting and Reduction for Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study in China’s Hot-Summer and Warm-Winter Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.

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