Sustainable Construction Materials - How to reduce the embodied carbon

With the push to net-zero embodied carbon, it is important for Structural engineers to specify sustainable construction materials.

Sustainability in Construction is often seen as this impossible goal, and many thinking that low carbon construction required the cost of the building to be expensive. how this is not the case, construction of a low embodied carbon design may actually be cheaper, through good design and knowing how your decision affects the embodied carbon in construction.

Far too often as structural engineers we think that we cannot impact the design of low carbon buildings, however, this is wrong. As engineers need to ensure that we are up to date with new sustainable construction methods and techniques to allow us to make informed design decisions.

Sustainable Construction doesn't require the designs to be more costly good designs are able to reduce the embodied carbon to allow for the construction of a low carbon building.

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My name is Brendan and I am a structural engineer with over 15 years of experience based in Australia. I have a wide variety of projects from very small to some of the biggest in the southern hemisphere. I have a passion for good structural design and teaching/mentoring.

This channel is to share my passion for engineering and provide entertaining short clips on:
- tips for young engineers on progressing their careers
- anyone needing a refresher on any design element
- design approaches
- Review past engineering failures to improve structural knowledge
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Disclaimer: Some of the below links are affiliate links as an Amazon Associate and other affiliate programs I'll earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
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[martinmukisakuzegera]

Thank you Brendan... I always look forward to your content...You are making me fall in love with structural engineering...Am a structural engineer right here in Uganda

[dsafdfgrfgag]

The amazing thing is that most of the sustainable solutions are actually more economic, which means that it's a win win situation for all parties of a project. High level of education and confidence within an engineer is the key game changer in both sustainabling and value engineering !

[DeepakKrishna]

Thank you Brenden for doing one of my favourite topics. I think we can always play with different cement types too like low heat cement which has more curing period as you mentioned, which significantly reduces the heat produced. Altering the bogus compounds inside cement is the key. Keep going.

[ardalanesfandiari]

Hi Bendan, addition of fly ash to concrete mix also can help reduce the coal waste and at the same time make the concrete a more durable material.

[staffordbiggs]

How are you.I am doing EIT Australia Civil and Structural Engineering

[TheSavageDFA]

This has been my focus for a while. On a committee over here in Cali. The first thing that came to mind is embodied carbon due to cement ahaha

[grumpycardcollector]

I dont really like the idea of reducing the liveload as this will limit the building's usage thru out its life. The building will usually chage its type of occupancy. Maybe it was designed for office use but after few year they change it to machinery storage then change it agan to place of worship. Normally the owner will not engage an engineer to check if its safe to change its occupancy.

To be honest we optimise the design because we need to reduced project cost not because of carbon footprint. And normally if we save money from structural aspect, the owner likely use the saving in other parts of the project which defeats the purpose. I think the push to reduce carbon footprint will need to come from the client. As engineers we are only focus on cost/time, quality/functionality and safety.