Material LIFE:The Embodied Energy of Building Materials

Gabrielle Rossit, ARIDO, LEED AP ID+C

Marion Lawson, LEED AP BD+C

September 21, 2012

IIDEX/NeoCon Toronto 2012

1. Explain how to define a building material’s embodied energy content.

2. Describe the findings of an examination of the current research and existing datasets and tools related to embodied energy from among product manufacturers, peer design firms and academic or non‐profit institutions.

3. Describe customized tools that are available to project teams for using embodied energy as a selection criterion in material specifications.

4. Using two current design projects as examples, explain how material embodied energy research has been applied.

Learning Objectives for Today’s Session

SECTION 1

Why Embodied Energy?

SECTION 2

Defining Embodied Energy

SECTION 3

Our Research Process & Findings

SECTION 4

Mbod-E Calculator

SECTION 5

Material LIFE

SECTION 6

Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

SECTION 7

Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

SECTION 8

Conclusions

1. Why Embodied Energy?

1. Why Embodied Energy?

Cannon Design Chicago Office

Cannon Design

1. Why Embodied Energy?

- Energy is embodied in everything we use and depend on; it includes:• Extraction of raw materials• Transportation of materials• Manufacture/processing of materials, food, clothing, etc.• Usage and disposal/recycling

- Greenhouse gas emissions of manufacturing processes

- Often ignored because not as “visible” or easy to track as operational energy

1. Why Embodied Energy?

U.S. energy consumption by sector

Source: Architecture 2030 and Richard Stein 1977

1. Why Embodied Energy?

At beginning of building life, embodied energy = 100% of building’s energy

Source: Architecture 2030, 2030 Inc.

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1. Why Embodied Energy?

At end of life-cycle (year 50), operational energy = 75% and embodied energy = 25%

Source: Architecture 2030, 2030 Inc.

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1. Why Embodied Energy?

Embodied Energy = Operational Energy around year 15-20

Source: Architecture 2030, 2030 Inc.

2027

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1. Why Embodied Energy?

Embodied energy

Operational energy

As operational energy is reduced, the impact of embodied energy increases.

YR 0 YR 15-20 YR 25-30 YR 50

Reduced operational energy

Embodied energy of capital improvements

1. Why Embodied Energy?

Architecture industry’s interest in embodied energy:

- Understand how building materials are manufactured

- Specify sustainable products

- Consider entire life-cycle of products

- Encourage manufacturers to find more efficient processes

- Commitment to reduce carbon footprint of buildings

2. Defining Embodied Energy

2. Defining Embodied Energy

- Embodied energy = the sum of energy inputs to make a product

- For full cradle-to-grave cycle, energy inputs from:

• Extraction of raw materials

• Transportation to factory

• Manufacture of product / components

• Assembly of product / system

• Transportation to site / point of sale

• Installation / construction

• Maintenance

• Replacement

• Disposal / re-purposing / recycling

2. Defining Embodied Energy

- Embodied energy for building materials is often measured cradle-to-gate (extraction, transportation, manufacture, packaging)

2. Defining Embodied Energy

Energy to manufacture product Product orBuilding

Impact

WASTE ENERGY SITE ENERGY

Fossil Fuel

Non-fossil Fuel

EmbodiedCarbon Embodied

Energy

2. Defining Embodied Energy

Typical office building:

- 50% of embodied energy from envelope and structure

- Average = 4.82 GJ/m2 or 447.8 MJ/ft2

- 1 MJ = 0.948 kBtu

Breakdown of initial embodied energy for typical office building

Source: Cole and Kernan, 1996

3. Research Process & Findings

Multi-disciplinary research team

Goals:

• Calculate and evaluate embodied energy of building materials

• Develop embodied energy calculator specific to building industry

• Develop design tools to help with material selection

• Adopt a comprehensive and sustainable approach to material selection

3. Research Process & Findings

Literature review:

- Subject gained interest 20-30 years ago

- Majority of research comes from U.K.and Australia

- Most comprehensive research from Hammond and Jones at University of Bath

- Data pulled from Life Cycle Assessments

- No rating / certification system currently exists for embodied energy

3. Research Process & Findings

USGBC LEED rating system indirectly addresses embodied energy:

• Regional materials

• Recycled content

• Material / building reuse

3. Research Process & Findings

Study of existing calculators/databases:

- University of Bath Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE)

- Athena Institute Eco Calculator

- GRANTA CES Selector software – Eco Audit Tool

- GaBi software

- BEES software

3. Research Process & Findings

University of Bath ICEembodied energy database for materials

Interviews/discussions with industry peers

Kieran Timberlake• Embodied energy research• Used on several projects

Architecture 2030• 2030 Challenge for Products

USG• Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs)

Herman Miller• Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs)

Thornton Tomasetti• Signed on to 2030 Commitment• Embodied energy research for

structural systems

3. Research Process & Findings

Comparable research

Portola Valley Town Center, Portola Valley, CA

Siegel & Strain Architects

3. Research Process & Findings

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Los Altos, CA

EHDD Architecture

Cellophane House, MOMA New York, NY

Kieran Timberlake

3. Research Process & Findings

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

- Governed by ISO standards

- Cradle-to grave analysis of products/materials

- Include embodied energy as well as other environmental factors

- Drive product comparison within industry

3. Research Process & Findings

Research initial findings:

- Subject of embodied energy and carbon is gaining attention in the industry

- Focus seems to be more on embodied carbon rather than energy (Architecture 2030)

- Some industry leaders have committed to conducting EPDs for all products

- More manufacturers and product reps need to understand embodied energy

- To our knowledge, no one has developed an industry-specific calculator

3. Research Process & Findings

Research result:

We need a calculator to track embodied energy in buildings.

We need an embodied energy tool to provide design guidance.

4. Mbod-E Calculator

4. Mbod-E Calculator

- Goal of calculator: calculate embodied energy of building materials, assemblies, and entire projects

- Resources used:

• ICE database

• Product-specific LCAs from manufacturers

• Product-specific EPDs from manufacturers

• Information acquired from manufacturers (when available)

- Current format: Excel calculator

4. Mbod-E Calculator

Organized according to ASTM UNIFORMAT II categories:

- A10 & A20 – Foundations & Basement Construction

- B10 – Superstructure

- B20 – Exterior Closure

- B30 – Roofing

- C10 – Interior Construction• C1010 – Partitions• C1020 – Doors• C1030 – Fittings

- C20 – Staircases

- C30 – Interior Finishes• C3010 – Wall• C3020 – Floor• C3030 – Ceiling

- E20 – Furnishings• E2010 – Fixed• E2020 - Movable

4. Mbod-E Calculator

- Categories not currently included:

• D10 – Conveying

• D20 – Plumbing

• D30 – HVAC

• D40 – Fire Protection

• D50 – Electrical

• E10 – Equipment

- Not included due to difficulty of assembly calculations

- Best way to get values: directly from manufacturers

4. Mbod-E Calculator

Inputs for calculator = material quantities

- Finishes: typically in ft2

- Partitions: ft2 of wall (calculator accounts for thickness)

- Furnishings: # of units

- Lumber & steel studs: linear feet

4. Mbod-E Calculator

BIM warehouses and Mbod-E

- Completed warehouses: partitions, doors

- Future work: window warehouse, finish tags, etc.

4. Mbod-E Calculator

BIM schedules and Mbod-E

- Embodied energy built into wall property = efficient system

- Automated calculation

- Unit values and total values appear in schedules

- Creating project baselines for firm

5. Material LIFE

5. Material LIFE

5. Material LIFE

Design tool rather than calculator

Quick material comparisons

Used for material selection

Same UNIFORMAT II categories as Mbod-E calculator

Detailed comparisons for specific materials (i.e. carpet types)

Summary page

- For each UNIFORMAT group

- Shows range of each material

- Highlights mean of material

- Materials grouped by type

- Example: wall finishes

• Tackable

• Directly applied to wall

• Applied to wall with adhesive or cement

• Mechanically attached to wall or frame

5. Material LIFE

5. Material LIFE

Values page

- Detailed range for specific product within material group

- Examples:

• Different thickness

• Primary vs. recycled

• Solid vs. veneer panels

5. Material LIFE

Material page

- Graphs specific characteristics

- Examples:

• Material type (i.e. metals: aluminum, steel)

• Primary vs. recycled

5. Material LIFE

5. Material LIFE

Carpet detail page

- Different carpet types (Nylon 6 vs. Nylon 6,6)

- Modular vs. Broadloom

- Backing options

6. Case Study: Cannon DesignChicago Office

Cannon Design Chicago Office, Chicago, IL

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

Cannon Design Chicago Office, Chicago, IL

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

Project:

- Relocation of Cannon Design office in Chicago

- 60,205 sf floor in office tower

Sustainability goals:

- LEED-CI Platinum

- Reuse materials and furniture whenever possible

- Reduce embodied energy of project overall

- Pilot project of embodied energy tools

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

Collaboration with research team:

- Provided feedback on calculator

- Addressed ease of use

- Advice led to creation of Material LIFE

- Provided preliminary material selection lists for embodied energy comparisons:

• Carpet

• Write-on wall finishes

• Furniture

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

MANUFACTURER CARPET TYPE PRODUCT YARN TYPE DYE METHOD BACKING PILE

WEIGHTEMBODIED

ENERGY

Bentley Prince Street Broadloom Satellite City Tile Nylon 6,6 100% solution dye High PerformancePC 24 oz/yd2 16.639 MJ/ft2

FLOR Modular Shear Indulgence 100% British Wool undyed GlasBac Tile 43 oz/yd2 unknown

InterfaceFLOR Modular Raw Nylon 6 100% solution dye GlasBacRE Tile 24 oz/yd2 9.199 MJ/ft2

InterfaceFLOR Modular Distressed Nylon 6 unknown (assume solution) GlasBac Tile 16 oz/yd2 11.636 MJ/ft2

Mannington Modular Spatial Progressions Nylon 6,6 100% solution dye Infinity RE Modular 24 oz/yd2 unknown

Shaw Contract Group Modular Ambient Tile Nylon 6 72% solution, 28% piece ecoworx tile 24 oz/yd2 28.196 MJ/ft2

MANUFACTURER EMBODIED ENERGY

Bentley Prince Street 16.639 MJ/ft2

FLOR unknown

InterfaceFLOR 9.199 MJ/ft2

InterfaceFLOR 11.636 MJ/ft2

Mannington unknown

Shaw Contract Group 28.196 MJ/ft2

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

Furniture selection:

- RFP language sent to furniture manufacturers

- Proposals passed to research team for evaluation

As part of Cannon Design’s office relocation, we are conducting research on the embodied energy of the products we are using in the design of the space. This information will inform design decisions we will make on this project. For each product, please provide the following information:

• Product Name   • Locations of manufacture and final assembly• Life Cycle Assessment report for the product, which

includes cradle-to-gate embodied energy assessment• Complete list of all component materials and their

respective weights

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

LCA data for work stations from Herman Miller

Raw Material Extraction/Production

Transport

Part Production at outside suppliers

Transport

Assembly At Herman Miller

Distribution to Customer

Use

Transport

RecyclingDisposal

Disassembly

System Boundaries

Inputs from Environment

Emissions to Environment

Raw Material Extraction and

Processing

Production

Distribution

Lifecycle Stage

Use

End of Life

Part Production at Herman Miller

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

LCA data for work stations from Herman Miller

LCI Results Unit Total Raw Material Production

Product Production

Distribution and Retail

End of Life

Water Emissions

Phosphates kg 2.6x10-4 2.6x10-4 4.0x10-6 1.1x10-7 5.2x10-7

Nitrates kg 2.1x10-3 0.0x100 2.1x10-3 4.0x10-7 7.8x10-6

Dioxin kg 1.4x10-15 1.4x10-15 2.9x10-19 3.3x10-22 3.5x10-22

Heavy Metals kg 3.4x10-2 2.2x10-2 1.1x10-2 1.3x10-5 2.1x10-4

Air EmissionsNitrogen Oxides (NOx) kg 5.1x10-1 2.4x10-1 2.7x10-1 4.9x10-4 4.1x10-3

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) kg 7.3x10-1 3.8x10-1 3.5x10-1 3.5x10-4 1.9x10-3

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) kg 2.8x102 1.5x102 1.3x102 7.6x10-1 1.3x100

Methane (CH4) kg 4.9x10-1 3.1x10-1 1.8x10-1 9.0x10-4 1.6x10-3

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas, N2O) kg 6.0x10-3 4.3x10-3 1.6x10-3 3.3x10-6 8.4x10-6

NMVOCs kg

8.9x10-2

6.8x10-2 2.0x10-2 3.2x10-4 1.1x10-3

Energy DemandPrimary Energy

MJ4.0x103

2.1x103 2.0x103 1.1x101 1.9x101

Fossil Fuel EnergyMJ 3.5x103 1.8x103 1.7x103 1.1x101 1.9x101

Nuclear EnergyMJ

5.3x102

3.0x102 2.3x102 5.8x10-2 3.8x10-1

Renewable Energy MJ 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100

WasteWaste to Landfill kg 5.1x101 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100 5.1x101

Waste to Incinerator kg 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100

Waste to Recycling kg 1.7x101 0.0x100 6.9x100 0.0x100 9.6x100

Hazardous Wastekg

1.8x10-1

1.8x10-1 0.0x100 0.0x100 0.0x100

OtherConsumptive Water Use

kg1.8x103

1.3x103 5.9x102 2.7x10-1 1.4x101

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

85.6 MJ/ft2

(921.4 MJ/m2)

81.1 kBtu/ft2

(255.8 kWh/m2)

Move-in day YR 1 YR 2 YR 3 YR 4

Embodied energy and operation energy:

- Embodied energy = 85.6 MJ/ft2 = 81.1 kBtu/ft2 (255.8 kWh/m2)

- Operational energy = 548,580 kWh/year = 31.1 kBtu/ft2/yr (98.1 kWh/m2/yr)

- Note: embodied does not include MEP

Embodied = OperationalYR 2.6

6. Case Study: Cannon Design Chicago Office

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

- Similar approach to ChicagoOffice project

- Reused almost all furniture

- Received embodied energydata from Teknion

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

42.3 MJ/ft2

(455.3 MJ/m2)

40.1 kBtu/ft2

(126.5 kWh/m2)

Chicago Office

41.5 MJ/ft2 (446.7 MJ/m2)

Washington D.C. Office

34.4 MJ/ft2 (370.3 MJ/m2)

7. Case Study: Cannon Design Washington D.C. Office

8. Conclusions

8. Conclusions

Building life-cycle does matter

Consider the balance between embodied energy and operational energy

The building industry is learning and you can help engage all sectors

8. Conclusions

How can designers contribute?

- Ask manufacturers & product reps for LCAs and EPDs

- Talk about embodied energy so product reps know that the industry cares about it

- Sign on to the Architecture 2030 Challenge for Products

How can manufacturers contribute?

- Increase product transparency around embodied energy — very soon it will matterto your bottom line

- Drive waste from the manufacturing process and innovate new technologies

EXPLORATION

Thank You

FOR A COPY OF MATERIAL LIFE ON CANNON DESIGN WEBSITE: http://media.cannondesign.com/uploads/files/MaterialLife-9-6.pdf

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Gabrielle Rossit416.915.0121 (Toronto)grossit@cannondesign.com

Marion Lawson312.960.8382 (Chicago)mlawson@cannondesign.com