The significance of Embodied CO2 Ecocem Ireland Ltd
CO2 in construction
Embodied CO2 emissions = arising from creating maintaining and demolishing the asset
Operational CO2 emissions = arising from using the asset
+ =Operational
CO 2
Embodied CO 2
Tota
l
CO 2
Ref: S. Sturgis & G. Roberts, “Redefining Zero: carbon profiling as a solution to whole life carbon emission measurement in buildings”, May 2010, RICS Research
SEAI Mission
“To play a leading role in transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practice”
The SEAI strategy to date is focused on operational CO2
SEAI Strategy
Ref: SEAI - 2010-2015 strategic plan
SEAI Strategy
SEAI strategy is subdivided in 5, 15 & 25 year horizons
Building materials are only referenced in the 25 year strategy:• “All buildings at least energy self-sufficient. Building
materials [to] have minimal environmental impact”
This should be part of the current 5 year strategy
Ref: SEAI - 2010-2015 strategic plan
Embodied CO2
Embodied CO2 of the built environment is 11% of global annual emissions (approximately 3 billion tonnes).
The embodied CO2 used to create a building may be as high as 62% of its total whole life emissions.*
Success in reducing operating CO2 has raised embodied CO2, relatively and absolutely.
A reduction in Embodied CO2 has an immediate benefit in tackling Climate Change.
Ref: S. Sturgis & G. Roberts, “Redefining Zero: carbon profiling as a solution to whole life carbon emission measurement in buildings”, May 2010, RICS Research
Ref: SEAI “ A Guide to Building Energy Rating (BER)”Ref: PM Group: “Embodied CO2 of housing construction in Ireland” - Architecture Ireland – Jan/Feb 2010
Impact of building regulations on operational/embodied CO2
B2 Rat
ing
(200
8 Reg
ulatio
ns)
A1 Rat
ing
2013
Reg
ulatio
ns0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Embodied CO2Operational CO2
CO2(tonnes)
CO2 in construction
Typical different whole life carbon splits for different types of buildings
40%
60%
Warehouses
55%
45%
Offices
80%
20%
Supermarket
70%
30%
Houses
Embodied CO2
Operational CO2
Ref: S. Sturgis & G. Roberts, “Redefining Zero: carbon profiling as a solution to whole life carbon emission measurement in buildings”, May 2010, RICS Research
CO2 in construction
Typical different whole life carbon splits for different types of buildings – in 10 years time
Embodied CO2
Operational CO2
5%
>95%
Warehouses5%
>95%
Offices
5%
>95%
Supermarket5%
>95%
Houses
Ref: S. Sturgis & G. Roberts, “Redefining Zero: carbon profiling as a solution to whole life carbon emission measurement in buildings”, May 2010, RICS Research
Case Study: 3-bed semi detached house
ref: PM Group: Embodied CO2 of housing construction in Ireland Architecture Ireland – Jan/Feb 2010
Concrete accounts for 55% of embodied CO2 of a typical 3 bed semi-detached house
Embodied CO2
3 bed Semi Detached House
Original Embodied CO2
(38.7 tonnes)Reduced Embodied CO2
(25.8 tonnes)
ref: PM Group: “Embodied CO2 of housing construction in Ireland” - Architecture Ireland – Jan/Feb 2010
Reduction in Embodied CO2 through the use of GGBS
Two simple points
In construction, concrete is the main contributor to embodied CO2
Cement + GGBS is the best available technology to reduce embodied CO2 in construction.
What is GGBS cementGround Granulated Blastfurnace Slag
Steel Manufacture Water to make GBS
GBSGrind to make GGBS
Store GGBS for distribution
GGBS Manufacture
GGBS and the Environment
CO2 emissions for cement and GGBS production
Portland Cement GGBS0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Generation of Electricity Used
Fossil Fuel Use
Process Emissions
kg
per
Ton
ne o
f O
utp
ut
Ref: British Cement Association – Fact Sheet 18 [1]
Typical CO2 Emissions for Portland Cement and GGBS Production (Figures in kg per tonne of output)
GGBS and the Environment
Typical Energy usage for Portland Cement and GGBS Production
Portland Cement Ecocem GGBS0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1486
152
Energy (Kwh)
KW
H h
ou
rs p
er
ton
ne
of
ou
tpu
t
Ref: E. Kennedy, The Integration of the Measurement of Energy Usage into Road Design, National Roads Authority, Dublin. 2006
GGBS and the Environment
Energy Usage in Barrels of Oil for Portland Cement and GGBS production
Portland Cement Ecocem GGBS0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
0.87
0.09
Barrels of Oil Equivalent
Nu
mb
er
of
Ba
rre
ls o
f O
il
Industry sector 2030 cost curve
Ref: SEAI - “Ireland’s Low Carbon Opportunity” – July 2009
≈ 300,000 tonnes
Industry sector 2030 cost curve
Ref: SEAI - “Ireland’s Low Carbon Opportunity” – July 2009 – amended by Ecocem
Further opportunity to increase CO2 abatement at negative cost
≈ 600,000 tonnes
Increases abatement potential up to 2.3m tonnes
15% increase
Financial effects
1. Value of €35/tonne CO2 derived from EU Directive 2009/33/EC Promotion of Clean Energy Efficient Road Transport Vehicles and UK Government Climate Change Act 2008 – Shadow Price of Carbon
2. OECD “Ancillary benefits and costs of GHG mitigation: Policy Conclusions” ENV/EPOC/GSP(2001)13/FINAL, April 2002
3. Based on a price of $80/barrel
4. Based on quarrying cost of €10/tonne.
Financial effects of 600,000 tonne CO2 abatement
Environmental Saving/Benefit Value of Savings
CO2 emissions (t) 600,000 €21,000,0001
Other pollutants (t) 6,299 €8,400,0002
Energy (MWh) 993,865 €38,117,4553
Unused quarry stone(t) 1,177,914 €11,779,1404
Realising the Opportunity
Green Procurement Policy National Action Plan
Green Procurement in private sector
Green design
Green specification
Green Procurement
OperationalEmbodied
Towards ZeroCarbon
BER SchemeBuilding Regs updates
• Green Procurement• Green Design• Green Specification
Realising the Opportunity
Structure
Cladding
Finishes
Heating
Lighting
Cooling
OperationalEmbodied
Towards ZeroCarbon
BER SchemeBuilding Regs updates
• Embodied Energy Scheme
Realising the Opportunity
Structure
Cladding
Finishes
Heating
Lighting
Cooling