We can’t hide from reality: The construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings are responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions. Of that figure, 28% comes from operational emissions and 11% from materials and construction.
It's a tough pill to swallow, but these statistics highlight the substantial environmental impact of the construction sector. But as the saying goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. As an industry, it's high time that we prioritize carbon reduction strategies—and doing that starts with measuring the carbon footprint of our projects.
The push to build more sustainably is coming from multiple directions. In addition to government regulations (which vary from one state and country to another), owners are also seeing the value of green building initiatives. Industry data shows that green-certified office spaces in major U.S. and Canadian markets command an average rental premium of over 7%.
Additionally, more and more building end users are considering sustainability when selecting properties. A National Association of REALTORS survey found that over half of respondents see the importance of including energy-efficient information in property descriptions.
Clearly, the demand for sustainable buildings is no longer just a construction trend—it's a market expectation. That's why we should analyze and account for the carbon footprint of our projects' materials, processes, and operations.
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of measuring your carbon footprint, let's take a step back and define what carbon impact actually means and understand its effects.
Carbon impact is the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a construction project, from raw material extraction to building operations and eventual demolition. It's measured in CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) and includes both embodied carbon (from materials and construction) and operational carbon (from energy use over time).
Embodied carbon refers to the emissions locked into a building's materials (e.g., concrete, steel, insulation, etc.). In contrast, operational carbon is the emissions generated from running the building over its lifetime (e.g., HVAC, lighting, etc.)
While operational carbon can be reduced with energy-efficient upgrades, embodied carbon is set in stone (literally) once construction is complete.
That's why it's critical to evaluate carbon impact in the preconstruction phase, where choices about materials and methods have the biggest influence.
Because what gets measured gets managed. Tracking carbon impact allows construction firms to identify high-emission materials, optimize supply chains, and reduce waste—all while meeting regulatory requirements. And as mentioned above, clients and users are increasingly demanding sustainable buildings, so having a better understanding and more transparency around your carbon impact can also position your business as a leader in sustainable construction.
Identifying and understanding the different sources of carbon emissions in construction are key steps to measuring your carbon impact. These sources include:
You don't need an in-house team of carbon experts to measure and reduce your project's environmental footprint. With the right tools, you can easily integrate carbon tracking into your workflows.
Here are some solutions to help you get started.
The EC3 tool helps construction teams quantify and compare embodied carbon in materials before procurement. You can use it to filter materials by carbon intensity, identify lower-carbon alternatives, and ensure your project meets sustainability targets.
Even better? EC3 integrates with Autodesk Construction Cloud, which creates streamlined workflows between Autodesk Takeoff and Docs. This makes carbon data easily accessible and incorporated into project decision-making.
Autodesk Takeoff takes carbon tracking a step further by embedding carbon accounting directly into your existing workflows. Takeoff's carbon accounting features apply a MasterFormat classification to a takeoff output. From there, Autodesk Takeoff automatically checks the EC3 database for carbon values associated with the selected codes. The corresponding carbon values are then displayed in the Takeoff inventory. Members can override these values if adjustments are necessary or if the values are not found in the database.
Note: Carbon accounting is available as a beta feature for all Autodesk Takeoff users.
Using tools like the EC3 calculator and carbon accounting in Autodesk Takeoff empowers you and your team to track and ultimately reduce your carbon impact without adding complexity to your processes. Here's how these tools make a difference.
Manual carbon calculations leave too much room for error. With Autodesk's integrated tools, you get precise, real-time carbon impact data pulled directly from trusted databases, so your decisions are backed by up-to-date information. This means fewer miscalculations and more confidence in your sustainability strategies.
Autodesk Takeoff helps automate carbon accounting so teams can reduce time-consuming processes. You can quickly assess embodied carbon, compare material choices, and make more informed decisions around construction sustainability.
With growing pressure to reduce emissions, now is the time for construction teams to take charge of their carbon impact. Technology like Autodesk Takeoff and EC3 makes measuring and optimizing your material choices simpler than ever.
Discover the EC3 integration and carbon accounting in Autodesk Takeoff so you can level up carbon tracking in your projects.
Looking for even more ways to be sustainable? In addition to carbon tracking, Autodesk offers several solutions to help you reduce waste, plan smarter, and implement new and innovative solutions for going green. Learn more.
