Hiding in Plain Sight: Embodied Carbon & MEP Systems
Most industry embodied carbon targets and benchmarks focus on architectural building materials, without considering the embodied carbon impact of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. But more and more studies are now revealing just how significant the embodied carbon impacts of our MEP systems can be.
Integral Group recently completed a study comparing different residential space heating options in the UK. The embodied carbon emissions associated with a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) split system, with refrigerant for heating and/or cooling, was about 800 kgCO2e/m2 over 60 years?equivalent to a third of a typical home?s total operational energy use over that time. Additionally, in a study of an eight-storey office building, we found that the mechanical system design?s embodied carbon could be, to our own astonishment, equivalent to that of the building?s structure and envelope combined. Until now, the industry hasn?t been considering the embodied carbon emissions from the MEP equipment that enable our buildings to operate efficiently. Clearly, that needs to change.
MEP systems have an embodied carbon footprint throughout the lifespan of a building.
Heavy Mass, All Metal, Frequent Replacement: A Perfect Recipe for High Embodied Carbon
Just how much do these MEP systems contribute to the overall mass in a building" One study by the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) estimates that the mass of MEP equipment in a typical office building in the U.S. Pacific Nort...
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