zero carbon isn’t really zero: why embodied carbon in materials can’t be ignored

Zero Carbon Isn’t Really Zero[ Why Embodied Carbon in Materials Can’t Be Ignored ]

Webinar: Tuesday, Nov 10 2009, 1pm ET / 10am PT

Total Embodied vs. Operational Carbon for 60 year building lifecycle

1: Baseline 2: Efficiency 3: Clean Power 4a: Refurb 4b: Rebuild

Presenters

Scott Simpson

Design Futures Council Senior Fellow & Contributing Editor

Design IntelligenceCambridge, MA

Fiona Cousins

Principal

ArupNew York, NY

Engin Ayaz

Energy and Resources Consultant

ArupSan Francisco, CA

Frances Yang

Structures and Materials Specialist

ArupSan Francisco, CA

AttendeePollfor the Design Intelligence/ Arup conference about “Embodied Carbon in Buildings.”

Based on actual attendance data

Locations and professions are approximated

Data: Stephanie WhittakerGraphics: Engin Ayaz

Hawaii

Sydney, Aus

architect /

designer engineer

researchercontractor

unknownfacilities manager

PROFESSIONS

LOCATIONS

London

SUMMARY

80 people registered

57 people attended

17 Arup people registered

10 Arup people attended

global | integrated | employee-owned | multidisciplinary

10,000 Staff in 92 Offices

Background of Arup

Principal Fields of Activity in the USStructural Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Plumbing Engineering

Fire Engineering + Life Safety

Sustainability

Civil Engineering

Façade Engineering

Energy

Infrastructure Planning

Transportation Planning

Traffic Engineering

Communications / IT Consulting

Acoustics / Vibration Consulting

Audiovisual Consulting

Master Planning

Security / Risk Assessment

Building Energy Assessment

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Environmental Consulting

Agenda

ARUP SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS DESIGN FRAMEWORKOn every project we aim to help our clients imagine how their buildings might be:

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A closer look at life-cycle thinking

Extraction

Manufacturing & Transport

Design & Construction

Operations & Maintenance

Renovation, Demolition, Recycling & Reuse

OPERATIONAL

EMBODIED

Definitions

Building Embodied Energy = f (Material Energy, Lifespan, Refurbishment)

Building Embodied CO2 = f (Material Energy, Lifespan, Refurbishment + Energy Source + Chemical Processes + Transport Fuel Type)

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Global Statistics

Energy CO2

Impacts

Boundary for Environmental Footprinting

increasing complexity

Embodied in materialsthroughout lifecycle

Transport (People & Logistics)

Water

Waste

Operational Electricity & Gas Consumption

CO2e(All GHGs)

Other Environmental

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Zero Energy / Carbon Definition

increasingcomprehensiveness

Our Study

Energy CO2

Impacts

Boundary for Environmental Footprinting

Embodied in materialsthroughout lifecycle

Transport (People & Logistics)

Water

Waste

Operational Electricity & Gas Consumption

CO2e(All GHGs)

Other Environmental

© Arup

Zero Energy / Carbon Definition

Energy CO2

Impacts

Boundary for Environmental Footprinting

Embodied in materialsthroughout lifecycle

Transport (People & Logistics)

Water

Waste

Operational Electricity & Gas Consumption

CO2e(All GHGs)

Other Environmental

© Arup

Zero Energy / Carbon Definition

Emb

Op

US & CAN

Webster

Cole & Kernan

Athena

Build Carbon Neutral

UK

Eaton & Amato

Simon Group

Past Studies

Embodied energy is 9-12% of 60 yr life-cycle energy demand

Embodied energy is 2-22% of 50 yr life-cycle energy demand

Embodied carbon is 13-18% of 66 yr life-cycle carbon emissions

Up to 80% of the life-cycle carbon emissions is embodied carbon

Embodied energy is 4-9% of 50 yr life-cycle energy

Embodied carbon is 37-43% of 60 yr life-cycle carbon emissions

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Case Studyfo

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Color Legend: Embodied vs. Operational

Line chart:To compare whole-life carbon emissions trends across 60 year lifecycle

Doughnut chart: To compare the aggregated carbon emissions at the end of 60 years

1: Baseline 2: Efficiency 3: Clean Power 4a: Refurb 4b: Rebuild

The tool behind it

“EVOCE: Embodied vs Operational Carbon Emissions” Tool, developed by Arup

Case 1: Baseline

Typical mid-rise office bldg, 60 year lifespan, ASHRAE 2004 baseline

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Case 2: Energy Efficiency

Max LEED EA points – 50% energy reduction

Source: CPUC Energy Efficiency Plan

Source: ASHRAE

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Case 3: Clean Power

30% more renewables (on-site, grid, offsets)

Source: Pew

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Case 4a: Refurbish

Replacement of mechanical systems, façades, and finishes at 30th year

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Case 4b: Rebuild

Demolition and rebuild at 30th year

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Our Conclusion

Embodied carbon is 11-50% of 60 yr life-cycle emissions

1: Baseline 2: Efficiency 3: Clean Power 4a: Refurb 4b: Rebuild

Wider Context

Future flexibility

High-performancedesign

Design forDeconstruction

Infrastructure

Site

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Make use of existing building; Reduce total built area

Long-lasting, weatherproof, disaster-resilient systems; Adaptable, flexible space

Reclaimed and recycled content; Rapidly renewable and local/regional materials

Built-in source separation, chutes; Favor take-back schemes

Outreach to occupants; Purchasing policies & waste contracts

Proposed Overall Approach

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Load reduction, efficiency, renewables

Questions?Thanks…

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