Whole Life Carbon Assessment
Understand the total carbon impact of your development from material production and construction through to operation, maintenance, replacement and eventual end of life.
Measure Carbon Across the Entire Building Life Cycle
A Whole Life Carbon Assessment considers the carbon emissions associated with a building throughout its full life cycle. This includes the manufacture and transport of materials, the construction process, energy used during occupation, maintenance and replacement, and the building's eventual deconstruction or demolition.
One Stop Consult coordinates suitably experienced sustainability and carbon consultants to review the available design information, calculate the anticipated carbon impact and identify practical opportunities for improvement.
Completing the assessment during the design stage allows the project team to compare options before key materials and systems are fixed.
What Does a Whole Life Carbon Assessment Cover?
The exact scope depends on the project stage, available information and the requirements of the client or Planning Authority.
Product and Material Stage
Carbon associated with raw-material extraction, manufacture and the production of building products and components.
Transport and Construction
Emissions arising from the transport of materials to site, construction activities, plant, energy use and site waste.
Operational Energy
Carbon associated with the energy expected to be used during the building's operation, including heating, cooling, lighting and building services where included in the scope.
Maintenance and Replacement
The impact of maintaining, repairing and replacing building components over the selected assessment period.
End-of-Life Stage
Carbon associated with deconstruction, demolition, transport, waste processing and disposal at the end of the building's life.
Benefits Beyond the Boundary
Potential benefits associated with reuse, recovery, recycling or energy recovery beyond the building's assessed life cycle, where relevant to the chosen methodology.
Embodied Carbon and Operational Carbon
Embodied carbon relates to the materials and construction of the building, including manufacture, transport, installation, maintenance, replacement and end-of-life processes.
Operational carbon relates to emissions generated while the building is in use. A complete whole-life assessment considers how both elements contribute to the overall carbon impact of the development.
Why Complete a Whole Life Carbon Assessment?
The assessment provides evidence to support informed design, planning and procurement decisions.
Planning Requirements
Support planning applications where a carbon assessment, sustainability statement or evidence of reduced whole-life impact is requested.
Design Comparison
Compare structural systems, materials, specifications and servicing strategies before key design decisions are finalised.
Carbon Reduction
Identify the largest sources of carbon and focus improvement measures where they can have the greatest effect.
Cost and Resource Efficiency
Carbon reduction can often align with more efficient material use, reduced waste, longer component life and improved design coordination.
Client and Investor Reporting
Provide measurable information for environmental objectives, project reporting, funding requirements or corporate targets.
Future Design Development
Establish a baseline that can be updated as the project moves from concept design to detailed design and construction.
How the Assessment Process Works
The assessment begins with a review of the project scope, building type, design stage and available technical information. The consultant then develops a model of the building's anticipated material quantities and life-cycle impacts.
Project Review
Confirm the development type, design stage, assessment objectives and available project information.
Information Collection
Gather drawings, schedules, specifications, quantities and energy information relevant to the assessment.
Carbon Modelling
Model the life-cycle impacts of the building elements and systems included within the agreed scope.
Design Review
Identify the main sources of carbon and assess practical opportunities to reduce the overall impact.
Final Report
Provide a clear summary of the methodology, assumptions, results, limitations and recommendations.
Information Usually Required
The quality and detail of the assessment depend on the information available at the relevant design stage.
Architectural Drawings
Site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections and general arrangement drawings showing the proposed building.
Structural Information
Details of the proposed structural frame, foundations, floor construction, roof structure and major material quantities.
Material Specifications
Available wall, roof, floor, insulation, cladding, glazing and internal-finish specifications.
Services Strategy
Information regarding heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, lighting and renewable-energy systems where relevant.
Energy Information
Available SAP, SBEM, energy-model or predicted operational energy results where operational carbon forms part of the scope.
Planning Requirements
The relevant planning policy, condition wording, sustainability brief or client reporting requirement.
Potential Carbon-Reduction Measures
The most appropriate recommendations depend on the building design, project constraints and assessment results. Measures may include reducing unnecessary material quantities, selecting lower-impact products, increasing recycled content, improving durability and designing for future adaptability.
The assessment may also consider opportunities to retain existing structures, simplify the structural grid, reduce finishes, improve fabric performance, select efficient building services and reduce construction waste.
Assessments for a Wide Range of Buildings
Whole Life Carbon Assessments can support both new development and refurbishment projects.
Nationwide Whole Life Carbon Assessment Service
One Stop Consult coordinates Whole Life Carbon Assessments for residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments throughout mainland UK. The scope is tailored to the project type, design stage and relevant planning or client requirements.
Other Services Your Project May Require
Whole-life carbon work is often coordinated alongside energy, sustainability and environmental-design services.
Important Whole Life Carbon Information
Whole Life Carbon results depend on the agreed methodology, assessment boundary, reference period, available design information, product data and assumptions used at the relevant project stage. Results may require updating as the design develops. One Stop Consult provides consultancy and coordination support through its specialist sustainability and carbon-consultant network.
Whole Life Carbon Assessment FAQs
What is a Whole Life Carbon Assessment?
It is an assessment of the carbon emissions associated with a building across its entire life cycle, including materials, construction, operation, maintenance, replacement and end-of-life processes.
What is the difference between embodied and operational carbon?
Embodied carbon relates to materials, construction and life-cycle processes. Operational carbon relates to energy used while the building is occupied and operating.
When should the assessment be completed?
It is best started during the design stage, when the project team still has the opportunity to compare materials, systems and construction approaches. It can then be updated as more detailed information becomes available.
Can the assessment compare different design options?
Yes. Subject to the agreed scope and available information, alternative structural systems, materials or specifications can be compared to understand their relative carbon impact.
Is a Whole Life Carbon Assessment required for planning?
It may be required by local planning policy, a planning condition, a sustainability brief or a client requirement. The relevant authority or project brief should be checked before confirming the scope.
What information do you need to provide a quote?
Send the site address, proposed drawings, project stage, description of works and the relevant planning or client requirement. Structural, material and energy information should also be included where available.
Do you provide Whole Life Carbon Assessments nationwide?
Yes. We coordinate suitable sustainability and carbon consultants for eligible projects throughout mainland UK.
Request Your Free Whole Life Carbon Assessment Quote
Complete the form below with the site address, proposed development and current design stage. Upload any available drawings, specifications, energy information and planning requirements so our team can review the project and coordinate an appropriate quotation.