What is Embodied Carbon? Operational vs. Embodied Emissions
When evaluating the environmental impact of buildings, we distinguish between two primary carbon sources: operational carbon and embodied carbon. Operational carbon represents the emissions generated during the day-to-day use of the building (heating, cooling, lighting, and water usage). Embodied carbon represents the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions generated during the raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, and assembly of the physical building materials.
To calculate the embodied carbon of a material, we multiply its mass by its specific carbon coefficient: $$\text{Embodied CO}_2\text{e} = \text{Mass (kg)} \times C_{\text{embodied}}$$ where \(C_{\text{embodied}}\) represents the kilograms of CO2e released per kilogram of material manufactured. Concrete and steel are the largest contributors to embodied carbon in modern construction due to their high production temperatures and chemical reactions.
To audit your home's operational carbon footprint, use our carbon footprint calculator, or model digital offsets with the paperless transition calculator.