Maximising value through early-stage carbon optioneering

“Why is early-stage carbon optioneering important? We've seen an increasing prevalence across all industry standards from operational carbon to embodied carbon, and that could follow through to the increasing cost to carbon offset. Optimising early provides the biggest impact."

 — Holly Wheeler, Senior Environmental Consultant, Chapmanbdsp

As the construction industry accelerates its efforts toward sustainability, the significance of carbon optioneering during the early design stages has grown at a rapid pace. Chapmanbdsp, a leading global environmental consultancy, has a team of environmental specialists guiding clients in achieving carbon-efficient and cost-effective outcomes for their projects. Combining early design phase expertise with One Click LCA’s powerful Carbon Designer 3D tool, they emphasise the importance of early-stage carbon optioneering and how it can profoundly influence the environmental footprint, cost efficiency, and overall success of construction projects for clients across the world.

The rising importance of early-stage carbon assessments

Globally, the construction sector is responsible for a substantial 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Of this, embodied carbon — the emissions generated from the extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, and end-of-life phases of building materials — accounts for approximately 11%. Traditionally, the industry’s primary focus has been on operational carbon, driven by the need to enhance energy efficiency and meet stringent building performance standards. However, as energy grids continue to decarbonise globally, the emphasis is shifting from operational to embodied carbon. This shift underscores the critical need for comprehensive carbon assessments at the earliest stages of a project’s life-cycle.

Chapmanbdsp has recognised this shift and advocates for early-stage carbon optioneering as a strategic approach to managing and reducing embodied carbon. Conducting these assessments early in the design process allows project teams to influence critical decisions related to materials, construction methods, and overall design strategy when the potential for reducing carbon emissions is greatest. Early-stage optioneering is not just about meeting current regulatory requirements but also about preparing for future trends in carbon accounting, where embodied carbon will likely become a more dominant consideration.

Early-stage carbon assessments align with the growing number of policies and standards focused on reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. For example, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has introduced guidelines considering whole-life carbon, including embodied carbon, from the earliest design stages. Similarly, other regions and municipalities are beginning to follow suit, making it increasingly important for construction professionals to integrate embodied carbon considerations into their projects from the outset.

Methodologies for effective carbon optioneering

Effective early-stage carbon optioneering requires a methodical approach that can adapt to the varying levels of data available at different stages of a project. Chapmanbdsp has developed a robust methodology that begins with minimal input data and gradually incorporates more detailed information as it becomes available. This iterative process ensures that the carbon assessments remain relevant and accurate as the project evolves.

At the initial stages, tools like One Click LCA’s Carbon Designer 3D play a crucial role. These tools allow for the creation of a basic model of the project using only a few essential parameters, such as the building type, gross floor area, and structural frame. This initial model provides a foundation upon which additional data can be layered as the project progresses. For instance, as more detailed structural information becomes available, it can be integrated into the model, replacing earlier assumptions and enhancing the accuracy of the carbon assessment.

One of the key advantages for Chapmanbdsp when using Carbon Designer 3D is their ability to generate meaningful insights to share with clients, even with limited data. This capability is particularly important in the early stages of a project, where detailed design information might not yet be available. By focusing on relative comparisons rather than absolute numbers, Chapmanbdsp guides clients toward more informed decisions without locking them into early assumptions that may need to change as the design develops.

Transparency is another critical aspect of Chapmanbdsp’s methodology. By clearly communicating the sources and accuracy of the data used in the carbon assessments, they help manage stakeholder expectations and ensure that everyone involved in the project understands the limitations and potential of the early-stage models. This transparency also fosters a collaborative environment where design teams, clients, and other stakeholders can work together to explore the most effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions.

Real-world applications and outcomes

Chapmanbdsp's approach to early-stage carbon optioneering has been successfully applied across a range of projects, demonstrating its value in both new construction and refurbishment scenarios. One notable case study involved the refurbishment of a large office building in the City of London. The client sought to rejuvenate the office building to meet modern environmental standards, while also enhancing its functionality and appeal to tenants.

In this project, Chapmanbdsp used early-stage carbon optioneering to evaluate several scenarios, including a business-as-usual approach, a complete rebuild, and various refurbishment options. By comparing the carbon impact of these scenarios, the team was able to identify the option that offered the best balance between carbon reduction and cost-effectiveness. 

One of the key insights from this analysis was the concept of carbon parity — the point at which the carbon savings from a refurbishment begin to outweigh the carbon emissions associated with the initial construction. This concept allowed the client to make a more informed decision about the long-term environmental and financial benefits of the refurbishment.

Another case study highlighted the application of early-stage carbon optioneering in fit-out projects, which present unique challenges and opportunities for carbon reduction. In commercial office spaces, fit-outs often involve the installation of suspended ceilings, lighting, and HVAC systems that might be removed or replaced when a new tenant moves in. This cycle of installation and removal can lead to significant embodied carbon emissions. By analysing different fit-out strategies, including the use of reclaimed materials and alternative construction methods, Chapmanbdsp was able to recommend solutions that minimised carbon impact while still meeting the client’s aesthetic and functional requirements.

For instance, in a fit-out project for a large office space, the team evaluated the carbon impact of a standard Category-A fit-out versus a more sustainable approach that minimized material use and incorporated recycled components. The analysis showed that the more sustainable option not only reduced carbon emissions, but also offered potential cost savings, by avoiding the need for frequent refurbishments. This example underlines the importance of considering the entire lifecycle of building components, from initial installation to eventual replacement or removal, when evaluating the carbon impact of fit-out projects.

The benefits of early-stage optioneering

The benefits of early-stage carbon optioneering extend far just beyond carbon reduction. As Chapmanbdsp demonstrates, this approach offers several key advantages that can significantly enhance the overall value of construction projects:

1. Cost efficiency: One of the primary benefits of early-stage optioneering is its ability to identify cost-effective strategies for carbon reduction. By integrating carbon considerations into the earliest stages of design, project teams can avoid costly changes later in the process. For example, specifying low-carbon materials and construction methods from the outset can reduce the need for expensive retrofits or design alterations in the future. Additionally, by considering carbon costs early, projects are better prepared for potential future carbon pricing or offset requirements, further enhancing their financial viability.
2. Improved design outcomes: Early-stage optioneering allows design teams to create buildings that are not only environmentally sustainable, but also functionally superior. By considering the carbon impact of different design options from the beginning, teams can make more informed decisions about the trade-offs between different materials, construction methods, and building systems. This holistic approach leads to more balanced and optimised designs that meet both sustainability goals and performance requirements. For instance, by evaluating the carbon impact of different structural systems, design teams can select the option that provides the best combination of strength, durability, and low-carbon emissions.
3. Risk mitigation: Proactively addressing carbon-related risks is another significant advantage of early-stage optioneering. As regulatory frameworks around carbon emissions continue to evolve, projects that have already incorporated carbon reduction strategies will be better positioned to comply with new requirements. By conducting thorough carbon assessments early in the project, teams can identify potential risks, such as the likelihood of future carbon offset requirements or the impact of carbon pricing, and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of project delays, cost overruns, and non-compliance issues.
4. Encouragement of innovation: Early-stage optioneering fosters a culture of innovation within project teams. By exploring a wide range of design options and material choices, teams can identify and implement innovative solutions that might not be considered in a more traditional design process. For example, the use of novel materials, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) or low-carbon concrete alternatives, can significantly reduce the embodied carbon of a building. Similarly, innovative construction techniques, such as modular construction or the use of prefabricated components, can lead to both carbon and cost savings. By embracing these innovative approaches early in the design process, projects can achieve higher levels of sustainability and efficiency.
5. Enhanced collaboration: Early-stage carbon optioneering encourages greater collaboration between different disciplines within the project team. By involving all stakeholders — including architects, engineers, contractors, and clients — in the carbon optioneering process, projects can benefit from a more integrated approach to design and construction. This collaboration leads to better alignment between the project’s sustainability goals and the technical and financial constraints of the project, resulting in more successful outcomes. For example, by involving structural engineers in the early-stage carbon assessments, projects can ensure that the selected structural system not only meets performance requirements, but also contributes to the overall carbon reduction strategy.

Effectively approaching early-stage optioneering

The construction industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation as it increases  sustainability, with embodied carbon now playing a central role in design and construction decisions. Chapmanbdsp’s approach to early-stage carbon optioneering demonstrates how this shift can be managed effectively, delivering significant value to clients not just in terms of carbon reduction, but also in cost savings, improved design outcomes, risk mitigation, and innovation.

By integrating tools like One Click LCA’s Carbon Designer 3D into the early stages of project planning, Chapmanbdsp is helping to lead the industry toward a lower-carbon future. This approach ensures that carbon reduction strategies are embedded into the design from the outset, providing clients with a clear pathway to achieving their sustainability goals.