As building regulations evolve and operational energy performance improves, understanding the carbon impact of construction materials is an increasingly important part of designing better homes.
Embodied carbon can account for a significant proportion of a building’s whole-life carbon impact. Here’s what to check before specifying materials – and where to find the data to support more informed decisions.
Three checks before you compare EPDs
- Compare like with like. A figure per brick or per kilogram tells you little on its own. Compare the same functional unit, such as an equivalent area of a finished wall, and check that both EPDs cover the same life cycle stages.
- Check how long it will last. Consider the product’s reference service life with the design life of your building. Products requiring replacement during that period can add to the overall carbon impact.
- Look beyond industry averages. Factory-level data reflects the actual plant behind your product, which gives a more accurate figure than an industry average. Check the EPDs scope and assumptions when comparing results.
Factory-level data from wienerberger
wienerberger has published factory-level EPDs for its UK-manufactured bricks and roof tiles, with documents that explain the modelling scenarios behind the figures.
Explore the EPDs, product summaries and our Carbon Reduction Plan to support your next specification from its EPD page.
Planning for the Future Homes Standard?
Understanding operational energy performance is one part of designing better homes. Material choices and reliable product information also matter when considering a building’s wider environmental impact.
Our CPD, Designing for the Future Homes Standard: Part L, energy performance and specification, explores the changing requirements and their implications for residential design, fabric performance and specification.