embodied carbon

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal of building materials, as distinct from operational carbon generated by the energy used to heat, cool, and light a building once in use; as operational emissions fall due to grid decarbonisation and improved building efficiency standards, embodied carbon has grown in relative importance and now represents approximately 50 percent of lifetime building emissions in well-insulated new construction; reducing embodied carbon requires using low-carbon materials such as mass timber and recycled content, designing for material efficiency, and extending building lifespans