Embodied Carbon and the Nuances in Office-to-Residential Conversions

Abstract

Reducing carbon emissions associated with buildings is a top priority for mitigating the human impacts from climate change. Reducing carbon emissions resulting from the manufacturing, designing, constructing, investing, owning, operating, occupying, renovating, and demolishing of buildings is essential to safeguard the environment from negative consequences. This paper relates to the environment and human influence on the climate and addresses the different amounts of embedded carbon for building activities ranging from new buildings to major renovations to minor renovations, using a methodology termed the “whole-life carbon measurement”. The data from the case studies indicate that refurbished or renovated buildings exhibit the least carbon footprint compared to other alternatives. This outcome can be attributed to the sustainable practice of reusing materials, coupled with the positive effects of retrofitting. The expectation that refurbished buildings would demonstrate a lower carbon footprint aligns with the principles of sustainability, emphasizing the environmental benefits of repurposing existing structures. While embedded carbon is currently not priced, it is important that it be accurately measured over the entire life cycle of buildings if the real estate industry is to meet sustainability goals.