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Executive Summary

The current scenario of India and world’s buildings sector and its share in CO2 and GHG emissions has risen alarmingly from 22% in 2019 to 32% in 2021
Buildings contribute to carbon emissions on multiple levels: in how we construct buildings, how we use them, and where they’re located. (Operational and Embodied Carbon)
Construction of new and efficient zero carbon buildings on the basis of five interlinked foundations.
Reducing operational Carbon emissions of commercial buildings by focusing on major contributors.
Embodied carbon will be responsible for almost half of total new construction emissions between now and 2050, according to Architecture 2030. We need to get a grip on the embodied carbon of commercial buildings now if we want to meet the climate targets by the year 2050.
A multidimensional approach needs to be adopted by private companies along with government intervention in policy making in order to reduce emissions by commercial buildings.

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Sources: GlobalABC report, India’s Biennial Update Report to UNFCC

The current scenario of India and world’s buildings sector and its share in CO2 and GHG emissions has risen alarmingly from 22% in 2019 to 32% in 2021

HOW CAN BUILDINGS ACHIEVE NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050?

-The impact of the decarbonisation actions must be increased by a factor of five across the buildings’ value chain globally.

In the next 20 years, India’s CO2 emissions are projected to rise by 50 percent, which is the largest for any country. One of the key reasons for this increase is attributed to the buildings sector as India’s total building space is projected to more than double.

The 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, from GlobalABC, found that while global building energy consumption remained steady year-on-year, energy-related CO2 emissions increased to 9.95 GtCO2 in 2019.

When adding emissions from the building construction industry on top of operational emissions, the sector accounted for 38 per cent of total global energy-related CO₂ emissions and in case of India, this figure was 24 percent.

GlobalABC: Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction

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Buildings contribute to carbon emissions on multiple levels: in how we construct buildings, how we use them, and where they’re located.�

Sources: Wood for Good, RMI India

RAW MATERIAL EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING

MANUFACTURING INTO BUILDING MATERIAL

TRANSPORT MATERIAL TO CONSTRUCT-ION SITE

CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING

OPERATIONAL USE OF BUILDING

RECYCLE & DISPOSAL OF MATERIALS

DEMOLITION OF BULDING

REFURB, REFIT & REUSE

CARBON LIFE CYCLE OF A BULDING

Building Material Manufacturing

Building Material Use

Building’s Operational Use

Use Stage Activities

Transport

Construction Activities

Energy Use in Building

Repair

Maintenance

STAGES OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS IN BUIDINGS

Operational emissions, globally are higher compared to embodied emissions.
According to Architecture 2030, by 2050, the share of both will be almost the same.

For India, embodied emissions account for 40% while operational emissions contribute 60% of total.
Not much forecast available for 2050 scenario, huge scope of improvement

Share of embodied and operational emissions within the building and construction sector

Operational

Embodied

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Construction of new and efficient zero carbon buildings on the basis of five interlinked foundations

Sources: New Buildings Institute, World Green Building Council

Energy Efficiency

Grid Integration and Storage

Building Electrification

Energy efficiency offers many of the least-cost actions to achieve carbon reductions in buildings
Buildings can be made energy efficient by installing high quality windows that utilize low-e coatings and gas filling, while choosing the glazing and window frame material that will be most beneficial in the environment.

Grid integration is the practice of developing efficient ways to deliver variable renewable energy (VRE) to the grid.
It helps establish the flexibility requirements and build confidence among operators that the power system can be operated reliably at increased variable RE levels.

Renewable Energy

There are various forms of solar energy available today including the solar, hydro, wind etc.
The use of these renewable energy sources save money, result in more attractive and durable buildings, and they improve the environment and strengthen the economy by reducing the need for fossil fuels

Embodied Carbon

Onsite combustion of fossil fuels contributes to local pollution, GHG emissions,and indoor air quality issues.
Electrification is the process of replacing fossil-fuel burning equipment in a building with electric equipment and intended to lower the building's long-term carbon footprint.

To reduce embodied carbon we need to use more resilient materials that last longer and are often produced via a more efficient construction process.
Adopting these changes will reduce capital expenditure as well as maintenance, repair and replacement costs.

The Five Foundations of Zero Carbon Buildings

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

Grid Integration and Storage

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

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Reducing operational Carbon emissions of commercial buildings by focusing on major contributors.

Sources: Metal Architecture, aia

Use state-of-the-art lighting and optimize daylighting. Solar thermal gain lowers carbon footprints, but too much solar gain in summer causes overheating and increases the need for cooling. Too little solar gain in winter increases the need for heating. Solar control window films can reduce carbon footprints by cutting energy expenditures by up to 30 percent.

Choosing Greener Infrastructures and Equipments. When a need arises for new printers, air conditioners, laptops, screens, bulbs or office materials , if the old ones can’t be fixed, purchase the most efficient (energy-wise, maybe the expensive ones!).

Water-oriented strategies significantly reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Installing efficient fixtures and appliances can reduce water usage. Specify high-efficiency toilets with reduced average flush volumes compared to conventional toilets. Use rainwater as a valuable water source.

Incorporating the most efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems(HVAC), along with efficient operations and scheduled maintenance of such systems.

Optimising Employee’s Transportation by providing car pooling facilities to them or giving them reimbursements for using public transport.
Choosing Suppliers or vendors that embrace environmentally friendly practices.
Promoting environmentally friendly ways of working such as telecommuting, video conferencing in place of travelling to offices of various client by cars.

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Embodied carbon will be responsible for almost half of total new construction emissions between now and 2050, according to Architecture 2030. We need to get a grip on the embodied carbon of commercial buildings now if we want to meet the climate targets by the year 2050.

Design of Buildings

Reuse and refurbishment of existing assets

Renovation and reusage of projects typically saves between 50 and 75 percent of the embodied carbon emissions compared to constructing a new building.
This is especially true if the foundations and structure are preserved, since most embodied carbon resides there.

We can utilize a wood structure instead of steel and concrete, or wood siding instead of vinyl, and reduce the embodied carbon in a project.

Sources: RMI India, McKinsey

Procurement of Materials

Even though emissions per ton are not relatively high, its weight and prevalence usually make concrete the biggest source of embodied carbon in virtually any project.
Its alternatives such as lower carbon concrete mixes comprising of ash, slag, calcined clays, fly ash etc. can be used.

The Circular Design imagines a holistic process of design, evaluation and future changes to the initial design that explicitly values the re-use of materials and materials which are suited for repeated re-use.

For products with high carbon footprints like aluminum, plastics, and foam insulation, thoughtful use is essential.

Design for circularity with demolition and reuse in mind

Resource-efficient designs

Limit Carbon intensive materials

Choose Carbon-storing/

Sequestering

materials

Use Secondary Raw materials

Choose Low carbon alternatives

Use high-recycled content materials.

Using agricultural products that sequester carbon can make a big impact on the embodied carbon in a project.
Wood, straw or hemp insulation are examples of the same.

This is especially important with metals. Virgin steel, for example, can have an embodied carbon footprint that is five times greater than high-recycled content steel.

Buildings must be designed so as to use minimal resources during construction

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Sources: indiaghgp, World Resources Institute India

Low Carbon Technology Adoption

Issue power and water supply if the companies agree to use low carbon technology.

GHG Accounting

Include GHG Accounting as mandatory practice in NBC. A separate tool for India’s building sector can also be made.

Star-rated appliances

Incentivisations

The government can:-

Provide rebates in property tax for zero-carbon emission buildings
Incentivise construction of zero-carbon buildings.

Design Certification System

Initiate a ‘Design Certification System’ on the basis of GHG emissions and developing an India specific Standard for GHG Accounting & Management for Building Sector.

4 indicators

Labeling of buildings on the basis of 4 indicators: Building material
Renewable energy
Non-renewable energy; Water & Soil.

Penalise and subsidise

The government can:-

Penalise high power consuming products.
Subsidise zero carbon products.

Awareness Campaigns

The appliances that are used by companies should be star rated as they consume less energy.and cause less emissions.

Raising social awareness among employees, clients and other stakeholders involved by organising compaigns wherein they feel actively involved.

A multidimensional approach needs to be adopted by private companies along with government intervention in policy making in order to reduce emissions by commercial buildings.

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