01 Sep The practical, technical and economic impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings

MHCLG has recently published a report on “The Practical, Technical and Economic Impacts of Measuring and Reducing Embodied Carbon in New Buildings”, which summarises a research project carried out by AECOM.  

The research shows that carbon assessments are becoming more common, but the quality and consistency of data still varies a lot. About a third of the materials sampled had no UK-based Environmental Product Declarations, making comparisons difficult. Estimated costs for carbon assessments also vary, starting at around £3,700 for early design work and rising to about £9,600 for a full whole life study. 

Materials are a big part of the story too. Timber, for example, has clear potential to cut embodied carbon, especially when used in hybrid structures. But the report points out that skills shortages, fire safety concerns and insurance barriers mean more training and clearer standards are needed before timber can really take off across the sector. 

Read the full report on the MHCLG website.