Embodied Carbon Footprint Calculators for Construction

Embodied carbon footprinting buildings and construction requires the analysis of a large number of materials, products and assemblies.

This can be a laborious task, as a result embodied carbon calculators may be of assistance.

A selection of carbon footprint and embodied carbon assessment calculators and tools for construction are presented on this page. At the moment tools with true BIM integration are lacking.

The first step to achieving Net Zero Carbon construction is measurement. That is where embodied carbon tools could assist. They may also help with optioneering, to find embodied carbon reductions and greener construction methods. This leaves the remaining embodied carbon footprint, where the final step to net zero is carbon offsetting. High quality embodied carbon calculations are essential to support any claims of carbon neutrality.

There are organisations who have their own custom, internal tools. However, the public cannot access these carbon calculators. As a result, we have only listed publicly available carbon calculators and tools below. Most are freely available, but a few are subscription based tools.

AggRegain Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Estimator Tool – For Aggregates

The Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Estimator Tool is an Excel based calculation tool. It estimates the carbon dioxide saved in selecting different construction techniques and supply alternatives. This includes the use of primary or recycled and secondary aggregates. The AggRegain Tool is freely available from WRAP. Unfortunately, the tool is no longer supported by WRAP.

Asphalt Pavement Embodied Carbon Tool – asPECT

asPECT provides a methodology and calculator to calculate the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions or ‘carbon footprint’ of asphalt used in highways. The project has a freely downloadable Excel based asPECT calculator.

BRE IMPACT Compliant Tools

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) have an embodied carbon database called IMPACT. It is often confused as being an embodied carbon tool. However, it is actually a database of emissions factors. There are a small number of software packages that are BRE IMPACT compliant. At the time of writing, there were three IMPACT compliant tools. eTool, One Click LCA and ADW Developments.

The first two tools are publicly available tools, for a subscription free, and are described on this page. The tool from ADW Developments is not publicly available, therefore isn’t covered on this page. Check the latest BREEAM IMPACT compliant tools on the BRE website.

Build Carbon Neutral

The build carbon neutral tool is a website tool that helps developers, builders, architects and land planners approximate the embodied carbon emissions of a project’s structures and site.

Environment Agency Carbon Calculator for Construction

The Environment Agency Carbon Calculator for construction is an Excel based tool. The tool can be used to assess and compare the sustainability performance of different design and management choices. Particularly at the options appraisal stage. It helps highlight where you can make big carbon savings on specific construction projects. It can also be used to help calculate your organisation’s overall carbon footprint from construction and identify ways of reducing it.

eTool

eTool is a web-based life cycle assessment (LCA) tool for buildings. It is one of the few BRE IMPACT compliant tools available. It is a subscription based online software. Read more about eTool. 

One Click LCA

One Click is an online LCA tool for buildings. It requires a subscription to access. It is one of the few BRE IMPACT compliant tools available. Read more about One Click LCA.

PAS 2050 Carbon Calculator for Stoneworks

A free carbon footprint calculator was created by the Natural Stone Specialist website. It is an Excel based spreadsheet that is being made available to the stone industry by Forest Pennant. It was devised by Forest Pennant for the PAS 2050 Carbon Footprinting certification it has achieved on its paving. The tool is now longer available on the Natural Stone Specialist website, but a copy can still be downloaded from Scridb.

The High­ways Agency Carbon Calculator for Construction

The Highways Agency have a carbon calculator for construction. They have devel­oped a car­bon cal­cu­la­tion method­ol­ogy, so their busi­ness and sup­ply chain have a con­sis­tent and trans­par­ent method­ol­ogy for col­lect­ing and cal­cu­lat­ing their car­bon emis­sions. They use the data to cal­cu­late an annual car­bon foot­print for the High­ways Agency, includ­ing their main­te­nance, con­struc­tion and oper­a­tional (office and travel) activities. The Excel based carbon calculators are freely available.

Transport Scotland Carbon Management System – Carbon Calculator for Road and Rail Schemes

Transport Scotland have developed an Excel based carbon calculator for road and rail projects. They call it their Carbon Management System. It was developed and implemented with Carbon Management System (CMS) as a suite of tools to measure scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. Those emissions are associated with the construction and maintenance activities, across their road and rail schemes. Transport Scotland do not currently offer a direct download link, as a result they invite you to get in touch, to obtain a copy of their calculator.

Other Carbon Footprint Calculators

Finally, there are many embodied carbon footprint calculators and tools for construction. If you would like to discuss carbon calculators further, or if you would like a calculator adding to the list (that is publicly available), please contact us.

Interested in Carbon Footprinting? Download the ICE Database for FREE

The following articles may also be of interest:

• A free carbon footprint database for construction materials
• Circular Economy: Recycling is Not the Benefit
• Online training courses
• Free webinars

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