Embodied carbon: the hidden challenge for real estate developers
Achieving net-zero carbon building ambitions by steering on including embodied carbon during the early design process
R.R.S. Teunissen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Paul Chan – Mentor (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)
AAJF Van Den Dobbelsteen – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Environmental & Climate Design)
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Abstract
Purpose:
Given the urgent need to decarbonize the building and construction industry to prevent a catastrophic climate breakdown. The United Nations has called for action from industry leaders to drastically decrease their carbon footprint, and bring it to zero by 2050 at the latest. Efforts to decrease operational carbon emissions associated with energy used to light, heat, cool, and power buildings are striving considerably. Attempts to minimize embodied carbon emissions, on the other hand, are falling behind. This has resulted in an increase in both the relative and absolute contribution of embodied carbon. The importance of the early design process concerning embodied carbon reduction has repeatedly been emphasized throughout the literature. Change in the early design process is required to reduce embodied carbon. The purpose of this research is to determine how real estate developers can steer on including embodied carbon during the early design process, to achieve net-zero carbon building ambitions.
Research question:
How can real estate developers steer on including embodied carbon during the early design process to achieve net-zero carbon building ambitions?
Methodology:
Qualitative research methods were used to answer the research question. Following a literature review to establish the theoretical background, ‘Research through design’ was used during the empirical research. Semi-structured interviews with real estate developers and design team members were conducted to Identify the relevant actors within the early design process and the activities that need to be completed to steer on embodied carbon. Furthermore, guidelines for real estate developers were developed to assist in achieving net-zero carbon building ambitions. The findings are used as input for the creation of a prototype that can be used by real estate developers. Finally, this prototype was validated and improved through two focus groups.