“According to the NIUA RMI report, embodied emissions account for 10 percent of emissions from the building sector, and given the improvements made in operational carbon and the work that needs to be done with embodied carbon, emissions due to embodied carbon could reach as much as 50 percent.” We read everywhere that the built environment accounts for 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but what exactly does that mean at a granular level? Unless we understand the full spectrum of these emissions, we cannot plan an integrated approach to decarbonizing the built environment. Even before any work on a project begins, the choice of a site in the first area can affect emissions, especially if there is a land-use change that leads to deforestation or the appropriation of green farmland. Building in urban areas, thoughtful urban densification, and brownfield conversion are the easiest ways to avoid these emissions. One of the most difficult components of emissions from the built environment to eliminate comes from the materials that make up a building, primarily cement, concrete, steel, glass, aluminum, other metals, plastics, wood, etc. According to the NIUA RMI report, embodied emissions represent 10 percent of emissions from the building sector, and given the improvements made in operational carbon and the work that needs to be done with embodied carbon, emissions caused by embodied carbon could reach up to 50 percent.” (Aun Abdullah and Tarun Garg)

"by clicking on the title of the article, you will be redirected to the entire article"