Construct zero-carbon buildings

Understanding carbon emissions from building construction

The construction of new buildings contributed 10% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2022. These emissions, sometimes referred to as “embodied emissions,” come from the construction process itself as well as the emissions associated with producing the materials used in buildings, including cement and steel, aluminum, bricks and glass. Analyzing these emissions reveals connections between buildings, the power system (particularly the supply of energy for material manufacturing), the industry system (particularly the manufacturing of cement and steel for use in buildings) and the circular economy system (particularly the reuse of building materials and waste).

Strategies to reduce embodied emissions from building construction

There is an opportunity to maximize the impact of decarbonizing the material itself to make progress in reducing emissions from heavy industry and the embodied emissions of buildings. At the same time, reducing the amount of steel, cement and other building materials needed for a particular building will also help reduce embodied emissions from buildings. Both approaches, as well as using alternative materials, will be necessary to drive rapid declines in embodied emissions.

The importance of decarbonizing building operations

Much of the current effort to decarbonize buildings is focused on either reducing operational energy use or decarbonizing equipment, and both are important. As a result of the lack of focus on embodied emissions, data to assess progress is sparse. Many actors involved in the construction and operation of buildings can help reduce embodied emissions: chiefly, architects and engineers in the design phase, property owners and manufacturers in the procurement phase and developers and construction companies in the construction and demolition phases.