Embodied Carbon as a Material Selection Criterion: Insights from Sri Lankan Construction Sector

Amalka Nawarathna,Zaid Alwan,Muditha Siriwardana

doi:10.3390/su13042202

Abstract

The choice of materials is crucial in responding to the increasing embodied carbon (EC) impacts of buildings. Building professionals involved in material selection for construction projects have a vital role to play in this regard. This paper aimed to explore the extent to which building professionals in Sri Lanka considered EC as a material selection criterion. A questionnaire survey was conducted among a sample of building professionals in Sri Lanka. The results indicated that the consideration of EC as a material selection criterion remained low among key professionals, such as architects, engineers, and sustainability managers, despite their reasonable influencing powers and knowledge of EC. Those respondents who had considered EC as a selection criterion said they had been primarily driven by green building rating systems and previous experience. Those respondents who had not considered EC during material selection commonly reported that they had been prevented from doing so by the lack of regulations and the lack of alternative low carbon materials. Respondents believed that the involvement of actors, such as the government, professional bodies, environmental organizations, activist groups, and the public, may be significant in promoting the greater consideration of EC during material selection.

Highlights

As embodied carbon (EC) is associated with the materials and construction processes used throughout a building life cycle, it is vital to consider
EC minimization strategies associated with materials during material selection
Once the materials have been selected and embedded in the construction, the opportunity to reduce the EC impacts of buildings is much lower. This means that building professionals involved in material selection decisions have a pivotal role in minimizing the EC of buildings

Summary

Introduction

The building and construction sectors consume large quantities of materials, and one-third of global energy [1]. They are responsible for nearly 39% of global carbon emissions [2]. They have more significant opportunities for reducing carbon emissions in the short term compared to other major carbon-emitting economic sectors, such as transportation, energy generation, agriculture, forestry and other land use, and product manufacturing [3,4]. Owing to the larger share (40–60%) of whole building life carbon, the main focus until recently was given on reducing operational carbon (OC) emissions associated with energy use in building operational activities, such as heating, cooling, light, and other electronic and electrical appliances [5,6,7]

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