FUTURE CLIMATE
High
performance architecture
Developing strategies to radically reduce embodied carbon in buildings
RESEARCH GROUP
Global construction levels are equivalent to building a ‘ new ’ New York City every month , with an estimated 96,000 new homes needed daily . Each square metre of this construction emits around half a tonne of greenhouse gases due to the materials used – called ‘ embodied carbon ’.
Embodied carbon is responsible for around 11 % of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and there ’ s an urgent need to reduce this .
The High-Performance Architecture Research Group has partnered with federal and state government and industry organisations to develop better methods to measure embodied carbon in buildings and create strategies for its reduction . This includes approaches to reduce material usage , innovative structural systems , the adaptive reuse and extension of existing buildings ( instead of demolition and rebuild ), material reuse and recycling , and the use of bio-materials such as timber , straw and cork .
> Developed tools for industry partners , including architects and builders , to measure and reduce their embodied carbon in practice .
> Created national guidance for the Australian Institute of Architects ( AIA ) and contributed to the National Australian Built Environment Rating System ( NABERS ) policy on embodied carbon .
> Documented how Australian buildings can reduce embodied carbon by up to 40 % today , and charted pathways to net zero embodied carbon by 2050 .
• 25