Clarifying embodied vs operational carbon once and for all
If you’ve ever been in a project meeting and someone throws around terms like embodied carbon or operational carbon, and you just nod like you totally get it… well, you’re not alone 😅.
Let’s break it down.
Embodied carbon refers to all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials before they’re used in a building. Think mining, manufacturing, transport, and even disposal. If a project uses concrete, for example, you’re looking at emissions from cement production, rebar manufacturing, transport to site, and construction activities. All that adds up long before the lights are ever switched on.
Operational carbon, on the other hand, kicks in once the building is in use. This includes energy consumed for heating, cooling, lighting, appliances, and ventilation. So while embodied carbon is a one-time upfront hit, operational carbon builds up over time, sometimes for decades.
Now here’s the truth: in new energy-efficient buildings, embodied carbon can make up over 50% of total emissions. That flips the old assumption that operational carbon is the bigger problem. And in infrastructure projects like bridges or tunnels, operational carbon is often minimal meaning embodied carbon dominates entirely.
Understanding this distinction shapes how and where teams can intervene. Especially if you want to meet net-zero targets without greenwashing or guesswork.
So if carbon reduction in construction is on your radar (and it should be), the question becomes: who needs to understand this, and why does it matter to your team?
Let’s explore that.
Why Project Teams Need to Care
Carbon impacts your timeline, budget, and compliance
Most project teams don’t wake up thinking, “How can we cut embodied carbon today?” And yet, failing to grasp this can mean the difference between ticking boxes and leading real impact.
Here’s why this matters.
Modern construction is about delivering low-carbon performance. Clients, funders, and regulators are asking harder questions: “What’s the total lifecycle footprint?” “Have you accounted for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?” And they expect solid answers, not just vague sustainability statements.
When your project team understands the difference between embodied vs operational carbon, you’re better positioned to influence key decisions early. For instance, swapping standard concrete for GGBFS-blended cement might raise a few eyebrows at procurement but if your engineers and QSs know the embodied carbon trade-offs, you can back your choices with confidence.
In the UK, government frameworks like PAS 2080 and initiatives like Construct Zero are already shaping procurement decisions. If your team can’t speak the language of carbon, you risk being excluded from future work, especially on public sector and ESG-driven projects.
Put simply, carbon literacy for project teams isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s now a key part of your risk management and competitive edge.
But knowing why it matters isn’t enough. You’ve got to know what to track. And that starts with understanding the data behind the emissions.
Key Data You Should Be Tracking
From drawings to dashboards: what to measure and why
So, you're now aware that embodied and operational carbon hit at different stages, but how do you actually track them?
Here’s where carbon data turns from abstract numbers to decision-making gold.
Start with the big picture: Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. These categories help you classify where your emissions come from.
Scope 1: Direct emissions from things your project directly controls, like on-site fuel combustion.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity (e.g., running site offices).
Scope 3: Everything else across the value chain: materials, transport, waste, and even staff travel.
Embodied carbon mostly lives in Scope 3, while operational carbon typically falls under Scope 2. Knowing this helps you assign ownership, set boundaries, and avoid double-counting.
But carbon literacy doesn’t stop at scopes.
You need to track carbon KPIs that give insights across the project lifecycle. Metrics like:
kgCO₂e/m²: Total carbon per square metre, great for benchmarking.
Carbon cost per stage: Helps compare emissions between design, procurement, and construction phases.
Energy Use Intensity (EUI): A key metric for operational performance.
Many built environment professionals are now using tools like One Click LCA, CarboniCa, or Carbonetrix’s own AI-powered dashboards to automate carbon tracking. Even something as simple as a well-structured Excel sheet can highlight trends and hotspots.
Once you can see where emissions stack up, you can start shaving them down. And the good news? Many impactful changes are well within reach, if you know what levers to pull.
Simple Ways to Reduce Both Types
You don’t need a PhD, just the right levers at the right time
Now that you’ve got the carbon data in hand, the real magic happens when you start cutting emissions with confidence.
Reducing embodied carbon is often about early-stage decisions. Materials matter, a lot. Cement, steel, and aluminium are some of the biggest culprits. One decarbonisation strategy that’s gaining traction is using low-carbon concrete mixes, like substituting Portland cement with GGBFS or fly ash. It’s a small tweak with a big footprint impact.
Another overlooked win? Designing for reuse. Projects that use modular components or reclaimed materials can dodge emissions tied to virgin material production entirely.
Operational carbon, meanwhile, is more about long-term building performance. Here, energy efficiency is king. Passive design strategies, like maximising daylight, optimising insulation, and orienting buildings to reduce HVAC load, can slash energy use before you even think about renewables.
And if you are thinking about renewables, make sure the building envelope performs first. Otherwise, you’re just throwing tech at a leaky problem.
On site, temporary power sources and equipment also matter. Switching to electric plant machinery or planning generator use efficiently can cut Scope 1 emissions during construction.
Carbon reduction in construction doesn’t have to mean radical redesigns. It’s about knowing where the carbon lives and targeting that with smart, context-specific moves.
And that’s where project teams make the difference. When everyone, from architect to site foreman, is carbon-aware, you get better decisions all round.
But how do you actually build that kind of team? Thinking paperwork? The answer is mindset, and a bit of upskilling.
The Carbon-Literate Project Team
Build a team that speaks the language of sustainability
Here’s the thing: most low-carbon strategies die in the gap between design intent and delivery. Not because the ideas are bad, but because the team doesn’t fully own the carbon conversation.
That’s where carbon literacy makes all the difference.
When project managers, engineers, QSs, and site teams understand what embodied vs operational carbon really means, they stop seeing it as “the sustainability consultant’s job.” Instead, it becomes part of the everyday language of delivery, just like cost or schedule.
In practice, that might look like:
The procurement team choosing EPD-certified materials without being told.
The site foreman flagging wasteful sequencing that increases transport emissions.
The design lead optimising form factors to reduce material use, without waiting for a sustainability review.
This kind of team doesn’t just track carbon, they actively manage it. And the good news? You don’t need a week-long retreat to get there.
More and more teams are using quick, role-specific upskilling tools. For instance, Carbonetrix’s own platform offers AI-tool and dashboards that show real-time carbon implications as teams input data. It’s like having a digital carbon coach sitting beside you while you plan, procure, or build.
When carbon management in the built environment becomes a shared responsibility, the results speak for themselves. Faster decisions. Fewer silos. Lower emissions.
And as sustainability moves from optional to essential in public tenders and client expectations, this mindset isn’t just ethical, it’s profitable.
Want to get your team there faster? Start small. Share this guide. Run a lunch-and-learn.
— Suhaib Arogundade, PhD