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Embodied carbon is the carbon emitted making and building a home — the concrete, steel, brick, insulation and the construction itself (life-cycle stages A1–A5). LETI and RIBA put a new dwelling in the region of 500 kg CO₂e per m² upfront, so a 100 m² house is on the order of 50 tonnes — around 2,381 tree-years, locked in on day one.
Unlike energy in use, you can't retrofit embodied carbon away — it's decided by design choices made early. That's why it's worth measuring properly: our team produces whole-life carbon and energy statements that planners and Building Control accept.
Source: LETI / RIBA 2030 upfront embodied-carbon benchmarks (A1–A5). Figures are illustrative UK equivalents.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 500 kg/m² fixed?
No — it’s a benchmark band. Real figures depend on structure, materials and design, and a low-carbon specification can come in well under it. For a defensible project number you need a whole-life carbon assessment.