10% 0 50% 80% 100% The graph above is from a recent report, Net-zero buildings: halving construction emissions today, published by ARUP and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It underscores the influence of the timing of decisions on the carbon reduction potential of a construction project. The earlier decisions in favor of decarbonization are taken, the greater their impact. Strategic planning during initial briefing and design phases, with a focus on frugality and circularity, can dramatically reduce embodied carbon emissions. But focusing on the costs of sustainable materials and products fails to consider all the principles of “sustainable thinking”. Entirely focused on the objective of reducing CO2 emissions, it allows us to ask the right questions from the start. Can we reuse or redevelop instead of building? Can we rethink the geometry of a building to optimize the area available while building less? This philosophy of “doing more with less” is a cornerstone of sustainable construction and goes hand in hand with a more economically frugal approach. DECARBONIZATION: THE EARLIER DECISIONS ARE MADE, THE GREATER THEIR IMPACT Embodied carbon reduction potential BRIEF Build nothing / re-assess the need Build less / repurpose / refurbish Define key parameters: geometry / materials MANUFACTURE Prioritize low-carbon materials DESIGN Design efficiently / Specify CONSTRUCTION Build Lean 62
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