The construction industry is responsible for around 11% of energy-related CO2 emissions, which contributes to the climate emergency. However, with the increasing focus on sustainability, technology and innovation, particularly in the digital and technology sectors, can play a significant role in reducing embodied carbon costs. Building information modelling (BIM), modular construction, design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), and digital twins are examples of systems that can help. Additionally, AI, automation, and bespoke toolkits and dashboards can facilitate progress. Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial to creating sustainable design decisions, particularly in the early stages of a project. The use of technology can help collect and process data quickly and accurately, reducing embodied carbon costs. In order to fully utilize available software to inform design decisions, the construction industry and clients need to work together to explore how they can reduce embodied carbon costs and achieve sustainability in every building constructed in the future.
The Role of Digitisation in Reducing Embodied Carbon Costs
May Winfield, global director of commercial, legal and digital risks at engineering consultancy Buro Happold, highlights the contribution of the construction industry to the climate emergency, with 11% of energy-related CO2 emissions coming from construction and materials. With sustainability becoming a key focus, there is a pressing need to act.
The Role of Technology
The good news is that technology and innovation, especially in the digital and technology sectors, can play a significant role in reducing embodied carbon costs. Building information modelling (BIM), modular construction, design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), and digital twins are examples of systems that can help. Additionally, AI, automation, and bespoke toolkits and dashboards can facilitate progress.
DfMA provides a way to design products much more simply and cost-effectively, resulting in less waste and lower embodied carbon costs. With BIM, designers can analyse and track sustainable results and make more informed decisions with their clients. New platforms incorporating real-world data, gaming, and 3D visualisation are improving BIM technology, enabling the intelligent selection and validation of domestic heat network solutions. Other toolkits can generate climate or comfort reports in as short as 10 minutes, providing engineers with data to make faster design decisions that assess and mitigate climate challenges.
The Data Analysis Challenge
While creating new technologies is an essential first step, using them to make informed decisions during the construction process can be challenging. However, technology can help collect and process data quickly and accurately, reducing embodied carbon costs. By making the most informed design decisions, sustainability can become a reality in the construction industry.
Using Data Analysis to Reduce Embodied Carbon Costs
Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial to creating sustainable design decisions, particularly in the early stages of a project. With the help of technology, assessing wind and solar performance, integrating wind-friendly measures and building massing, and modifying building-height profile can lead to better sustainable design decisions, lowering embodied carbon costs. However, there is still more to be done in fully utilizing available software to inform design decisions. The construction industry and clients need to work together to explore how they can reduce embodied carbon costs and achieve sustainability in every building constructed in the future.
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