Embodied energy and the present value of carbon Time for lifecycle thinking

The embodied energy in building materials such asglass, concrete, aluminium and steel is significant in thecontext of the whole lifecycle energy used in buildings.In certain structural systems it represents more than20% of the lifecycle energy. If the time value of CO2 isconsidered, this embodied energy is even moreimportant than currently calculated. Environmentallyconscious designers can no longer ignore this importantPaul Blackler (Mainzeal, Southern Region GM), MikeNewcombe (PhD researcher, UoC), Ross Copland(Mainzeal, Sustainability Manager) and Andy Buchannan(Prof. Timber Design, UoC) with the recently constructedpost-tensioned LVL test building at the University ofCanterbury. Mainzeal, CHH, NPI, Hunters, McIntosh,STIC and others made contributions to ensure thesuccess of this exciting research project which hasproven the technology for the use of timber as theprimary structural system in tall multi-storey buildings.