Concrete
Producing 1 tonne of cement releases roughly 1 tonne of CO2 as a byproduct. Reinforced concrete dominates the embodied emissions of floors and roofs, making it the single largest target for structural carbon reduction.
Concrete & Steel
The two materials that
shape embodied carbon
We specialise in concrete and steel — the major contributors to a building's embodied carbon. By tackling structural over-design, we help engineers cut emissions where it matters most.
The opportunity
Structural engineers hold the biggest lever
Structural Engineers have significantly higher scales of opportunity to reduce carbon emissions in comparison with the average citizen. This is because material inefficiencies due to over-design in buildings and infrastructure are in the order of 50%. And by addressing this problem, a typical engineer can achieve a 20% structural embodied carbon reduction.
Major contributors
We specialise in two building materials: concrete and steel
These two are responsible for most of the emissions. During the production of 1 tonne of cement an equal amount of CO2 is created as byproduct. For steel, it is 1.8 tonnes of CO2 for 1 tonne of steel.
Steel
Steel carries an even higher intensity — around 1.8 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne produced. Even the reinforcement hidden inside concrete slabs adds significantly to a building's overall footprint.
How we help
From models to measurable carbon reduction
- Get accurate and automated Material Take-Offs
- Measure and report embodied carbon
- Track your climate impact targets
- Monitor the quality of your BIM models
Facts
Why concrete and steel matter
- 50%
- Material inefficiencies
- Due to over-design in buildings and infrastructure.
- 20%
- Embodied carbon reduction
- A typical structural engineer can achieve.
- 1.8 t
- CO2 per tonne of steel
- Cement adds roughly 1 tonne of CO2 per tonne produced.
Where carbon hides
Major contributors
Embodied emissions are not spread evenly across a building. A large amount of carbon emission appears with the interior floors (slabs), followed by roofs, due to the use of reinforced concrete with 2% steel. Knowing where the impact concentrates is the first step to reducing it.
See it in a Life-Cycle Assessment →Ready to build zero-impact?
Tell us about your concrete and steel structures and discover how AI-driven take-offs and life-cycle assessment can cut their embodied carbon.
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