Currently, most sustainability regulations focus on the reduction of CO2 emissions, and on the operation, rather than on the formation, of a building. This approach adheres to the perception that more energy is consumed by running assets than in constructing them. In contrast, when cost is considered, attention is generally focused on capital, rather than life-cycle costs. In the same way that operating and maintenance costs need detailed consideration, it is important that both the day-one carbon impact of a project and the effects of maintenance, refurbishment, and even disposal, should be understood and mitigated. This article focuses on the importance of embodied carbon and how it is assessed.

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