Embodied Carbon

Innovative and emerging technologies to reduce embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon refers to the carbon footprint or emissions associated with the materials and construction processes used during the whole lifecycle of a building or infrastructure. It is distinct from operational carbon, which is the carbon that comes from energy used for heating, cooling, lighting, etc. 

Embodied carbon includes:

• Emissions created during the production of building materials, the transport of the materials to a job site, and the construction process. 
• Emissions produced during the use of the material (e.g., concrete absorbs carbon dioxide over time), and in building repair, replacement, refurbishment, demolition, waste transport, disposal, and material recycling.

The buildings and construction sectors account for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, including 11% from embodied carbon. Building materials such as iron/steel, cement/concrete, and aluminum alone account for 7%, 6%, and 2% of global emissions, respectively. 

Due to significant advances that reduce operational carbon and the exponential rise in building construction set to come online by 2060, embodied carbon will account for a larger share of a building’s overall carbon footprint (WGBC 2019). 

ACEEE works at the intersection of the industrial and buildings sectors using innovative and emerging technologies to reduce the embodied carbon of materials.     

Our research and policy efforts span the market spectrum, from supply to demand. We engage key stakeholders and collaborators for building materials such as cement/concrete, steel, and others to facilitate the adoption of low embodied carbon materials in construction and ensure continuous emissions reductions on the path to achieving net zero by 2050. 

Specifically,  ACEEE advances research, policy, and implementation of emerging and innovative technologies that decarbonize building materials – primarily cement and concrete, and secondarily others like steel, chemicals. We look at technologies that can practically be adopted and transform the market. We promote federal and state policies that will increase product supply in the market, material use in projects, and emissions reductions. Within ACEEE, we work with the buildings team on cross-sector and cross-market solutions. Externally, we work with stakeholders from across the market, including industry, trade associations, standards-setting organizations, other NGOs, and government agencies, as well as the architecture and engineering communities and building owners/developers.