How can you optimise your upfront carbon emissions?
“Only by accurately measuring and recording carbon emissions can the industry work to meet net zero goals to confront this planet-wide challenge and developing and deploying this methodology, is crucial for supporting the built environment sector and the world in their aim to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.”
RICS
RICS reaches out to built environment to ensure consistent measurement of carbon
Embodied carbon, a problem embedded in construction
Embodied carbon comes from the extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, and disposal of building materials within the construction industry. It is estimated that embodied carbon emissions account for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Up until recently, there has been a lack of a dominant regulatory standard to control embodied carbon emissions in the construction sector.
Projects have been left with arbitrary targets and benchmarks to hit from a variety of industry stakeholders including RIBA, LETI, BREEAM, and UKGBC.
Carbon data collection and supply chain engagement
As a project progresses the accuracy of the assessment increases, but the ability to influence and limit embodied carbon decreases. To reduce embodied carbon, it is vital that supply chain engagement and reliable data collection is brought forward and actioned as soon as possible.
Data Collection - Tender to completion
There are, however, problems to overcome with each…
Carbon data collection
1. Data quality and transparency
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and other data sources often vary in quality and transparency, making it difficult to obtain accurate and reliable data.
2. Lack of centralised data
There is no centralised database for embodied carbon data, making it difficult to track and compare emissions across projects and materials.
3. Methodological differences
Different methodologies for calculating and reporting embodied carbon can lead to inconsistencies and make it difficult to aggregate and compare data.
4. Resource intensive
Collecting and analysing carbon data can be resource intensive, requiring significant time, expertise and financial investment.
Supply chain engagement
1. Lack of Awareness and Commitment
Many suppliers and manufacturers are not all fully aware of the importance of reducing embodied carbon, or are not committed to making the necessary changes.
2. Fragmented Supply Chains
The construction industry often involves complex and fragmented supply chains, making it difficult to coordinate efforts and ensure all parties are working towards the same goals.
3. Cost and Availability of Low-Carbon Materials
Low-carbon materials can be more expensive and less readily available, which can deter suppliers and contractors from adopting them.
4. Inconsistent Standards and Practices
There is a lack of standardized practices and benchmarks for measuring and reporting embodied carbon, leading to inconsistencies and difficulties in comparing data across the supply chain.
Introducing CarbonCentric
CarbonCentric is designed to enhance supply chain engagement and centralising reliable data collection at key stages.
Integrating CarbonCentric into, tender stage, procurement, and construction, allows us to better understand the embodied carbon performance of supply chains before work package orders are placed, and before materials arrive on site.
It therefore supports mitigation of risks to delivering on embodied carbon targets.
The platform facilitates effective communication with sub-contractors, acquiring project data at a time when it is actionable, during RIBA Staged 4 Technical Design, and not waiting until material deliveries start arriving.
Through CarbonCentric, Mainer can gather data with the required granularity and detail at an early stage, offering superior reporting accuracy and carbon management. The centralised approach CarbonCentric offers also help mitigate data-related uncertainties in WLCA reporting.
Built with precision in mind for impact quantification and carbon emissions, the CarbonCentric app reshapes the way we approach building projects, introducing a new era of responsible development, through considered project planning.
The CarbonCentric App provides real time insights and preliminary results through a comprehensive carbon emissions score, empowering intervention and guidance at any stage of the project, before a single brick is laid.
Enabling better informed decision-making, adaptability, accuracy, as well as more coherent and aspirational carbon management, tailored to the client’s budget and targets, enables teams to mitigate risks associated with employers carbon targets.
The experience of using the app on live projects facilitates identification of both potential risks to embodied carbon targets and opportunities to pursue carbon savings at an effective time to enhance well-informed decision-making and optioneering.
CarbonCentric significantly improves the accuracy and quality of consultant reporting, ensuring that recommendations are based on precise, reliable data.
How CarbonCentric benefits your project?
A real-time, carbon management tool, facilitating more effective supply chain engagement
More accurate tracking of material quantities
A centralised approach of obtaining accurate and real-time data on what has been (& will be) procured/installed on-site.
This ensures an easy & effective liaising process, communicating with sub-contractors on the client’s behalf.
It reduces the chance of misrepresentation on the true performance of a project, as well as mis-guided decision-making based on assumptions
The app enables Mainer to collate data with the desired granularity/detail and with an added narrative for the client
Carbon savings
More effective and informed consultancy services
Optimise upfront carbon emissions with CarbonCentric and drive meaningful carbon reductions.
Collecting data for carbon assessments in a more structured fashion, as undertaken in carbon centric, will lead to more robust data collection and subsequently the accuracy of results.
We are of the view that it is contractors and their supply chains that hold the key to decarbonising the sector.
Low carbon alternatives to materials are starting to become more common, but cost, availability, and programme, will always be important considerations.
How can I look at the carbonCentric app?
To learn more, or see a demonstration of the CarbonCentric app, please contact our team at hello@mainer.co.uk
Please click below for more information on Mainer’s Services:
LCA
EIA
BREEAM
Building Physics
Fitwel
Scope 3 Emissions
Planning Statements
ESG