The Carbon Challenge

Challenges in Measuring Carbon in Construction Projects

Thankfully, we are seeing a change in the construction and infrastructure industries towards a more sustainable delivery of projects, with some great advances in the development of key materials and how we design, procure, manage and measure the impact of carbon through our projects lifecycle.

Measurement and Reporting Methodologies

One of the main challenges in measuring carbon in construction projects is the lack of standardisation in measurement and reporting methodologies. Different carbon assessment methodologies have varying scopes and boundaries, which can create inconsistencies in measuring carbon in construction projects. For instance, some carbon assessment methodologies consider the operational carbon emissions for a station building, while others only consider the embodied carbon emissions of the materials used in construction.

Each organisation has their preferred method, which is mainly driven by their management reporting tool.

Data Availability

Like any component or issue that is relatively new, the challenge is the development and availability of reliable data needed to calculate carbon emissions in construction projects. Data availability is affected by various factors such as access to data, the quality and consistency of data, and the compatibility of data sources. Due to the complexity of construction projects, data is often scattered across different stakeholders, making coordinating and integrating data sources difficult.

Each contractor and client has their own method to capturing data from their projects, whether it is via a design, procurement, commercial or materials reporting tool.

Lifetime Assessment of Carbon Emissions

The lifetime assessment of carbon emissions is another challenge that arises when measuring carbon in construction projects. Carbon emissions are generated from various stages of a building's lifecycle, from the extraction of the raw materials used in construction to the waste created during demolition. Measuring the carbon footprint of a building requires considering its entire lifecycle, including design, construction, operation, and end-of-life.

A Positive Way Forward

As we can see, measuring carbon in construction projects is a complex and challenging task that requires a comprehensive assessment of the project's entire lifecycle. Standardisation of measurement and reporting methodologies and the availability of reliable data sources play a significant role in accurately measuring carbon in construction projects. Addressing the challenges related to measuring carbon in construction projects is essential in achieving sustainable construction practices that help the challenges we face against climate change and the pursuit of a clean sustainable construction industry.

A Key Difference

At Key Estimating Ltd we are working with clients to capture carbon within our budgets, estimates and cost plans. By maintaining a library of carbon measuring tools and consistently using an estimating software we can provide some uniformity to our outputs.

Due to the nature of our work we have a key input into the development of your projects, working with designers and architects, to provide advice on sustainable and affordable solutions in the early stages of your build.

For any further information on how we can help with carbon capture or estimating/bidding support then please get in touch.

justask@keyestimating.co.uk or visit the website www.keyestimating.co.uk