Upfront Embodied Carbon Reporting
What is embodied carbon?
Embodied Carbon
Embodied carbon is the total amount of greenhouse gases released during the entire life of a product or building. This includes the carbon emissions from making, transporting, constructing, maintaining, and eventually getting rid of the materials. It's important because it helps us understand the full environmental impact of what we build and use, beyond just the emissions from using it.
Upfront Embodied Carbon
Upfront Embodied Carbon refers to the embodied carbon mentioned above that is devoted to the construction of the built form of an asset.
Embodied Carbon Classifications
Infrastructure NSW Policies
In April 2024, Infrastructure NSW released the Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy (Reducing Upfront Carbon in Infrastructure). This policy is set to take affect in April 2025 and applied to all NSW state agencies that engage in capital works projects (roads, buildings etc).
Similar policies are likely to be introduced in other states soon.
As this policy is binding for all NSW state agencies, any group that interacts with these agencies will be required to be versed and engage with these requirements.
Who Does This Affect?
In short, anyone involved in the delivery of a construction related project for a NSW government agency.
Similar policies are expected from other state governments in the coming years.
It is also expected these requirements will trickle down to the private sector eventually. So it’s best ot get in early and understand the implications!
The Importance of Early Intervention
These measurements are imperative early in a projects lifecycle as this is the time that the most effective carbon reduction strategies can be employed.
If, for example, an embodied carbon measurement is carried out at 80% design, and if the embodied carbon does not meet the Principals requirements, changes become expensive due to extensive re-measurement and re-approval requirements.
A measurement conducted early in the planning phase can identify where the bulk of the embodied carbon is in the asset and the project team will then be able to devise reduction strategies that balance the Principals cost, upfront carbon, lifecycle cost and lifecycle carbon needs.
The Fine Carbon Balance
Embodied carbon measurement, reporting and engineering seeks to find the perfect balance between upfront embodied carbon, upfront cost, lifecycle embodied carbon and lifecycle cost.
A qualified QS is a valuable addition to any design team as they are perfectly placed to advise on all of the above attributes.
For further information on Embodied Carbon Measurement, Reporting and Engineering, get in touch with Quantum Insights Advisory.
