Lifecycle impacts & embodied carbon with Mark Bentley of TEP

Climate Change, Carbon Reduction & Sustainable Design in the Built Environment

As the world faces increasing climate challenges, from rising temperatures to more frequent extreme weather, the construction and built environment sectors play a pivotal role in both contributing to and mitigating these impacts. This blog explores how thoughtful design, carbon management, and innovative landscaping can shape a more resilient and sustainable future.

Climate Change & The Built Environment

Human activities — especially construction, energy use, and transportation — release significant quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like CO₂ into the atmosphere. These trap heat, driving global temperature rises, melting ice caps, and raising sea levels.

The Global Carbon Project tracks annual CO₂ emissions, revealing ongoing increases despite international efforts like the:

• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)

• Kyoto Protocol (1997)

• COP Summits (from COP21 in Paris to COP28 in the UAE)

• These forums aim to curb emissions, finance climate action, and develop adaptation strategies

Key climate resilience concepts:

• Resistance: Keeping ecosystems or infrastructure stable during change

• Resilience: Helping systems bounce back after disturbances

• Transformation: Supporting transitions to new, sustainable conditions

Case Studies in Sustainable Development

Several UK projects demonstrate innovation in climate-friendly infrastructure:

• Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, Scotland: Decommissioning efforts with sustainable site management

• Blackfriars Station, London: Solar panel-clad roofs and renewable energy integration

• Queen Caroline Estate, London: Greening public spaces for community well-being

• Langley Park, Buckinghamshire: Landscape-led sustainable development

• William Wroe Wetlands & Emily National Nature Reserve, Kent: Habitat restoration and flood management through green infrastructure

Lifecycle Environmental Impacts

Every product or building leaves an environmental footprint throughout its lifecycle:

• Extraction

• Manufacture

• Transportation

• Installation

• Use

• Maintenance

• Demolition/Repurpose

• Lifecycle assessments (LCA) quantify these impacts, informing better material choices and construction methods

BRE Environmental Profiles provide environmental impact data for building products, aiding sustainable specifications.

Operational vs. Embodied Carbon

Carbon footprints measure the total GHG emissions caused by a person, event, or product.

In the built environment:

Operational carbon: From heating, cooling, and using a building.

Embodied carbon: From producing and constructing materials.

Example: A glazed façade reduces operational carbon (better insulation) but can increase embodied carbon due to the energy needed to manufacture glass.

Key formula:

Mass (kg) × Carbon Factor = Embodied Carbon

Materials like steel, Portland cement, and bricks carry significant embodied carbon. Balancing operational savings with embodied impacts is vital.

Carbon Sequestration & Green Infrastructure

Carbon sequestration stores atmospheric CO₂ in biological (forests, wetlands) or geological (underground) systems. Initiatives like woodland management, urban tree planting, and green roofs (e.g., Bosco Verticale, Milan) contribute to this effort.

Tools like i-Tree quantify the ecosystem services provided by urban trees, including carbon storage, air quality improvement, and flood mitigation.

Sustainable Landscapes & Public Spaces

Examples of regenerative, climate-smart landscape projects:

High Line, New York: Transforming old infrastructure into biodiverse public parkland.

Kings Cross Square, London: Sustainable material specifications and green spaces.

Grey to Green, Sheffield: Integrating Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage rainwater and enhance biodiversity.

Hard vs. Soft Landscapes: Blending built elements with green infrastructure to create sustainable, functional, and beautiful spaces.

Active Travel & Low-Carbon Communities

Sustainable developments promote:

• Walking, cycling, and public transport

• Parks and open spaces designed for health and well-being

• Communities designed to reduce car dependency and water pollution risks

• New and existing habitats enhanced for biodiversity

Reducing Construction Waste

Minimising waste through:

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle plans

• Podium landscapes that repurpose rooftops and elevated spaces

• Substrates with recycled content

• Avoiding materials like peat in soil mixes to prevent habitat destruction

• Pathfinder and other carbon-positive design tools support architects and landscape designers in quantifying and reducing project emissions

Final Thoughts

The path to net zero requires a holistic approach — from how we select materials to how we design communities. By blending engineering expertise, ecological understanding, and innovative thinking, the built environment can evolve to meet the climate challenges of the 21st century.