A clear and universally understood definition framework would help increase stakeholder awareness and confidence in adopting innovative construction methods and could help encourage a more structured and focused conversation across the industry at large..
LETI has been working in collaboration with other bodies and industry groups to resolve these inconsistencies and have published the ‘Embodied carbon target alignment document’.. Based on this document and the comparison of the current targets defined by LETI, RIBA and GLA, an average performance for non-domestic commercial building performance (A-C) would be to achieve an embodied carbon around 1400kgCO./m², good practice would be below 970kgCO.
and best practice below 550kgCO.This lower threshold is only achievable by refurbished buildings and timber structures that account for carbon sequestration and design with ambitious low carbon specifications.. Bryden Wood aspires to design new buildings that achieve at least the good practice thresholds shown in Figure 4 and where feasible deliver best practice performance.In order to be able to meet these aspirations, it is necessary to develop a clear strategy for both embodied and operational carbon..
From LETI: graphic showing the range of performance based on benchmarked projects..Comparison embodied carbon targets from RIBA, LETI and GLA.
Achieving net zero operational and embodied carbon with lean design and modern methods of construction.
Bryden Wood’s strategy to achieve net zero carbon building is based on the adoption of a clear hierarchy for operational and embodied carbon..I also feel there’s a big issue around the embodied carbon that goes into making a battery and how batteries are reused and recycled.
As such, there’s going to be quite a distinct focus on looking at some of the new technologies and working out whether they are actually going to be suitable in another fifty years time..I also think there will be a huge drive to reduce material quantity in buildings.
As a result, there will be less carbon going into the building and the lifecycle impact of the building will be lower.I don’t believe this is necessarily achievable just by changing materials.
(Editor: Durable Consoles)