Whole‐Life Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategies in UK 
\nBuildings: A Comprehensive Analysis

This paper presents a detailed analysis of embodied carbon (EC) in various case studies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Through comprehensive assessments, including modules A, B and C, the study evaluates EC across different stages of building life cycles. This study also considers the EC savings achievable through current end‐of‐life strategies in the UK context. As Module A accounts for the highest EC in the case studies, the majority of reduction strategies should focus on this stage. The most impactful strategy for reducing EC emissions involves incorporating Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a replacement for cement. This approach has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the EC of concrete within the buildings under investigation, ranging from 60% to 70%. The study reveals that specification strategy can lead to significant Whole Life Embodied Carbon (WLEC) reductions, with the residential building achieving a 30.59% reduction, the college building a 46.86% reduction, and the hotel building a reduction of 23.69%. Effective mitigation strategies, such as utilizing recycled and reclaimed materials, demonstrate promising results, showcasing significant reduction in WLEC emissions in the buildings.

Publication Details

Journal
UWL Repository (University of West London)
Published
2024-11-07
Primary Topic
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Type
article
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article

Whole‐Life Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategies in UK 
\nBuildings: A Comprehensive Analysis

UWL Repository (University of West London)
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
article

Whole‐Life Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategies in UK 
\nBuildings: A Comprehensive Analysis

article en

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed analysis of embodied carbon (EC) in various case studies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Through comprehensive assessments, including modules A, B and C, the study evaluates EC across different stages of building life cycles. This study also considers the EC savings achievable through current end‐of‐life strategies in the UK context. As Module A accounts for the highest EC in the case studies, the majority of reduction strategies should focus on this stage. The most impactful strategy for reducing EC emissions involves incorporating Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a replacement for cement. This approach has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the EC of concrete within the buildings under investigation, ranging from 60% to 70%. The study reveals that specification strategy can lead to significant Whole Life Embodied Carbon (WLEC) reductions, with the residential building achieving a 30.59% reduction, the college building a 46.86% reduction, and the hotel building a reduction of 23.69%. Effective mitigation strategies, such as utilizing recycled and reclaimed materials, demonstrate promising results, showcasing significant reduction in WLEC emissions in the buildings.

UWL Repository (University of West London)
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 59%
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
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Whole‐Life Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategies in UK 
\nBuildings: A Comprehensive Analysis · UWL Repository (University of West London) (2024) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS