Short answer
Always consider the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, not just the initial embodied carbon, to ensure genuine sustainability.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Journal of Cleaner Production (2019)
- Method
- Empirical analysis and case study exploration.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Focusing solely on embodied carbon in infrastructure design can inadvertently increase emissions during the use or end-of-life stages, negating initial savings. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in Journal of Cleaner Production. Using Empirical analysis and case study exploration., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Always consider the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, not just the initial embodied carbon, to ensure genuine sustainability.
Embodied Carbon Calculators Can Shift Environmental Burden to Use and End-of-Life Phases
Focusing solely on embodied carbon in infrastructure design can inadvertently increase emissions during the use or end-of-life stages, negating initial savings.
Journal of Cleaner Production · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Some actions aimed at reducing embodied carbon do lead to burden shifting.
- 02In one case, initial construction savings were offset by increased use-phase emissions within six years.
- 03A transition from embodied carbon calculators to whole-of-life assessments is necessary.
Application
Design takeaway
Always consider the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, not just the initial embodied carbon, to ensure genuine sustainability.
How to apply
When selecting or using carbon calculation tools for infrastructure projects, actively seek out those that support whole-life cycle analysis or supplement embodied carbon calculations with estimations for use and end-of-life impacts.
Project actions
- 01When researching materials, look beyond their initial manufacturing impact.
- 02Consider how material choices affect energy consumption during the product's use phase.
- 03Investigate the recyclability or disposal challenges associated with different material selections.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a critical gap in empirical research on burden shifting.
- +Provides practical heuristics for identifying potential burden-shifting scenarios.
Limitations
It can be challenging to accurately quantify use-phase and end-of-life impacts without extensive data or complex simulation tools.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity relies on the accuracy of the carbon calculation models used and the representativeness of the case studies. Reliability would be enhanced by replicating the analysis with different calculators and project types.
Think critically
How can designers proactively identify and mitigate potential burden shifting when using simplified environmental assessment tools?
Design Principles
"Holistic Life-Cycle Assessment: Design decisions should be evaluated based on their total environmental impact across all life stages, from material extraction to end-of-life."
Designers and engineers in the infrastructure sector must adopt a holistic, whole-life cycle perspective when using carbon calculation tools. Ignoring downstream impacts can lead to suboptimal environmental outcomes and a false sense of sustainability achievement.
What This Means for Your Design
Imagine you're trying to make a new building 'greener' by using less concrete (which has high embodied carbon). This study shows that if you do that, you might end up using more energy to heat or cool the building later on, or it might be harder to recycle at the end, meaning your 'greener' choice actually caused more pollution over its whole life.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the limitations of focusing solely on embodied carbon in your design project's environmental analysis.
- 2.Use the findings to justify the need for a whole-life cycle assessment in your design process.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The selection of materials and design strategies must account for the entire life cycle to avoid burden shifting. As highlighted by Jackson and Brander (2019), focusing solely on embodied carbon can lead to increased environmental impacts during the use and end-of-life phases, potentially negating initial sustainability gains. Therefore, a comprehensive whole-life cycle assessment is essential for informed design decisions in the infrastructure sector.
Source
Journal of Cleaner Production
The risk of burden shifting from embodied carbon calculation tools for the infrastructure sector
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about embodied carbon calculators can shift environmental burden to use and end-of-life phases?
- Always consider the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, not just the initial embodied carbon, to ensure genuine sustainability. Evidence: Journal of Cleaner Production (2019).
- Why does "Embodied Carbon Calculators Can Shift Environmental Burden to Use and End-of-Life Phases" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers in the infrastructure sector must adopt a holistic, whole-life cycle perspective when using carbon calculation tools. Ignoring downstream impacts can lead to suboptimal environmental outcomes and a false sense of sustainability achievement.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Always consider the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, not just the initial embodied carbon, to ensure genuine sustainability.
- What were the main findings?
- Some actions aimed at reducing embodied carbon do lead to burden shifting.. In one case, initial construction savings were offset by increased use-phase emissions within six years.. A transition from embodied carbon calculators to whole-of-life assessments is necessary.
- What research method was used?
- Empirical analysis and case study exploration..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2019 journal from Journal of Cleaner Production.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When selecting or using carbon calculation tools for infrastructure projects, actively seek out those that support whole-life cycle analysis or supplement embodied carbon calculations with estimations for use and end-of-life impacts.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific embodied carbon calculator and may not represent all tools. The extent of burden shifting can vary significantly based on specific project details and regional contexts.