Embodied Carbon in MEP Design

Building design has come a long way in recent years, with increasing attention to energy efficiency and operational carbon issues. However, many architects and engineers still don’t consider the amount of greenhouse gases their designs will produce during construction. This is a mistake, as even small changes in design can significantly impact emissions, both during construction of the project and beyond.

Here, we take a closer look at embodied carbon in MEP design and how you can help reduce it.

What Is Embodied Carbon?

Embodied carbon is the carbon dioxide emitted during the mining, manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials. When it comes to MEP systems, embodied carbon can account for a significant portion of the total emissions of a project. For example, steel and copper production emits a large amount of carbon dioxide, as does the refining and manufacture of plastics.

In addition, transporting these materials to the job site and erection of the building adds to the embodied carbon footprint. Therefore, it is essential to consider embodied carbon of the MEP systems when assessing the total emissions of a building project.

One way to reduce embodied carbon is to use locally sourced materials. This can help reduce transportation emissions and support local businesses. In addition, choosing recycled materials can also help to reduce embodied carbon emissions. However, the most effective way to reduce embodied carbon in the construction of a building is to simply use less material to build it.

How MEP Systems Contribute to Embodied Carbon

MEP systems are essential for the proper functioning of buildings.  They can’t be eliminated or the building is not habitable.  Therefore, they must be designed to account for the embodied carbon of the materials used and use them in the most efficient manner possible.  MEP systems have long been considered beyond the reach of embodied carbon reduction strategies, a sort of “necessary evil” when it comes to embodied carbon reduction.  However, there are many ways in which the embodied carbon footprint of your MEP systems can also be reduced.

Methods to reduce MEP’s Embodied Carbon Footprint

Energy Sensitive Envelope Design

The most important consideration is the overall thermal performance of the building, as this directly impacts the systems required to heat and cool the building.  Designing the building to reduce the amount of solar heat gain and reduce radiated heat losses/gains will result in smaller equipment, smaller piping, ductwork and wires, along with a significant reduction in the cost of the building. This adds up to a very significant reduction in the embodied carbon of the project. 

Often this means considering alternative ways to site the building or simply optimizing where the windows and overhangs are placed. There are many calculation tools on the market that aid architects and engineers in preparing early “shoe box” energy models, which can be used to rapidly test alternative configurations of the building in an effort to contain energy costs and reduce the environmental impact of the project.  Often, these energy driven changes actually result in a better functioning, more comfortable building for the occupants, by minimizing radiant heat gains and potential glare conditions within the building.

Limit Carbon Intensive Materials

MEP systems are vital in creating a comfortable and sustainable built environment, but the embodied carbon of these systems is a significant contributor to a project’s embodied carbon footprint. Therefore, it is important to consider the embodied carbon of the MEP systems and components when designing low-carbon buildings. One way to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of MEP systems is to limit the use of carbon-intensive materials.

For example, steel and copper are two of the most commonly used materials in MEP systems, and both have very high embodied carbon footprints. Therefore, using alternative materials such as polypropylene or glass can help reduce the embodied carbon footprint of a project.  While polypropylene, or any other plastic material, has its own set of environmental drawbacks, it is most often significantly lower in embodied carbon than any metallic alternative material, and is often more thermally efficient, saving operational carbon over the life of the building.  Copper substitutes used in construction alone have been estimated to reduce overall carbon emissions in North America by up to 600 Billion Kg per year. Reuse should be an integral part of MEP’s embodied carbon footprint strategy. We can significantly reduce the emissions associated with construction by simply reusing materials and buildings instead of demolishing and building new.  All too often, the existing MEP systems are simply demolished and rebuilt, rather than carefully considering their remaining useful life and availability for reuse. In most cases, the existing piping, wiring, ductwork and even equipment could be reused as a part of the new design, however it takes time and effort to try to optimize their reuse.  The days of the “gut-remodel” approach must come to an end if we are going to make significant progress in embodied carbon reduction.

Use AI Technology to Assist in Finding the BEST Design Solutions

As stated previously, one of the best ways to reduce the embodied carbon is to simply use less material to get the job done.  That requires optimized designs.  Through the use of AI for MEP^TM technology, Schnackel Engineers is able to find the most efficient routing and sizing of all of the MEP systems, effectively reducing the embodied carbon of the distribution systems by 10-30% relative to a human designed system.  This revolutionary technology studies countless thousands of ways to design the MEP distribution systems to find the best possible route to reduce the materials and labor used in the construction of the project, having a direct impact not only on the embodied carbon of the systems, but also the operational carbon over the life of the facility.

Maintaining an Overall Strategy for Carbon Reduction

An MEP embodied carbon footprint strategy must include several initiatives to promote carbon reduction, including:

1. Working with developers and architects to identify opportunities for major carbon reduction initiatives in new construction projects at the beginning phases of design.
2. Taking the time necessary to gather information about the existing systems and determine how to best reuse the existing infrastructure to support the new requirements of the building.
3. Finding the most efficient way to design the MEP distribution systems to minimize both materials and labor in the construction of the building.
4. Designing the systems for durability and long-term operation to help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the MEP systems by reducing or eliminating the need for replacement and disposal as systems age.
5. Designing the MEP systems with the flexibility to be adapted for other uses as the needs of the building change in the future, reducing the embodied carbon footprint of the building in the long run.  
6. Encouraging the use of recycled and refurbished materials whenever possible.
7. Investing in the research and implementation of new carbon friendly and reusable materials, in lieu of the traditional copper and steel approach.  
8. Tracking the embodied carbon of the materials used in our projects.  If it isn’t measured, it won’t be improved. 

By employing these strategies, MEP engineers can work to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of all projects and create a more sustainable built environment.  It’s time to make a difference in global warming through smart MEP design.

Final Words

MEP design is one of the most important aspects of a building’s construction and with good reason. MEP systems can account for a large percentage of a building’s embodied carbon.

That’s why it’s so essential to partner with an experienced and technically savvy engineering firm like Schnackel Engineers when you’re planning your next project. We have the expertise and the AI Technology to help you reduce your building’s environmental impact and save energy costs for the life of the facility. Contact us today to learn more about our services.