Case study: Construction Carbon Calculator Review
Client: Environment Agency
In the UK, the construction industry has a significant environmental impact. It is the largest consumer of materials, consuming over 400 million tonnes of materials each year1 and the sector also generates some 124 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste each year, which is around one third of all waste2.
BioRegional engaged with carbon footprinting experts and tool developers, businesses across the construction industry, and government bodies, to review the Environment Agency’s construction carbon calculator. This review examined the technical methodologies of the tool, the industry’s experience and perceptions of the tool and other carbon calculators, and explored developments in the use of carbon calculation tools. The work helped gain a clear understanding of how businesses interact with carbon calculators, together with understanding the perceptions and barriers to their use across the construction industry.
Some of the main findings were that the industry carbon calculators need to offer more ‘added value’ to a project. It was found that carbon measurement is only being carried out within a small minority of construction projects. This is due to a lack of incentives and a perceived lack of useful accounting tools needed to carry out the job. If developed in a meaningful and robust way, carbon calculators could become a key tool to help the construction industry meet its responsibility to effectively reduce carbon emissions. However, although very important, carbon is only one indicator of sustainability and ideally a holistic One Planet Living approach should be taken to ensure that other impacts such as waste, water and biodiversity are also considered.
1. BERR. 2008. Strategy for Sustainable Construction. Available at: www.tinyurl.com/yua68g
2. Defra. 2006. The Environment in your Pocket. 10th Edition.
Date of completion: March 2009
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