How to measure and reduce embodied carbon on a residential job
Embodied carbon is the emissions baked into the materials you order and the waste you tip. You can measure it with a bill of quantities and reduce it with substitution, ordering discipline and site waste control — without changing the way the house performs.
12 min read
Topic
Embodied carbon
Articles and news about Embodied carbon for Australian builders.
How to measure and reduce embodied carbon on a residential job
Embodied carbon is the emissions baked into the materials you order and the waste you tip. You can measure it with a bill of quantities and reduce it with substitution, ordering discipline and site waste control — without changing the way the house performs.
12 min read
Shading and eaves: the cheapest thermal control on the house
Shading is the cheapest thermal control on the house, yet it is the first thing value-engineered out. Here is how to keep it, and why it beats glazing upgrades on cost.
10 min read
Low-carbon concrete: what builders can specify, and what changes on site
Concrete is the biggest source of embodied carbon in most houses, and almost all of it comes from the cement. Here is how low-carbon mixes work, how to specify them, and the site practices that make them perform.
8 min read
Steel vs timber framing: cost, speed, termites, thermal bridging and what goes wrong with each
Most Australian houses are framed in timber, but light-gauge steel has a loyal following. An honest comparison of cost, speed, performance and the defects each material is prone to.
9 min read
Mass timber in Australia: CLT, glulam and what builders need to know before using it
Sydney’s Atlassian Central has just topped out as the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower. Mass timber is also turning up in social housing and townhouses. Here is how it works and what a builder has to get right.
9 min read