How to calculate carbon emissions in construction projects
2 likes2,019 views
The document discusses the significant carbon dioxide emissions associated with construction in India, attributing approximately 23% of the country's emissions to this sector. It outlines strategies to reduce these emissions through smart procurement methods and the use of materials with lower carbon footprints, highlighting specific materials and their CO2 contributions. Financial incentives and targeted procurement practices are suggested to encourage greener construction practices while also considering cost implications.
How to calculate carbon emissions in construction projects
- 1. Introduction • Motivation: Studies have indicated that construction contributes to around 23% of CO2 emissions in India1 1. Jyoti Parikh, Manoj Panda, A. Ganesh-Kumar, Vinay Singh, CO2 emissions structure of Indian economy, Energy, Volume 34, Issue 8, Aug 2009 Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010 • How can Greenhouse Gas emission in construction projects be reduced using ‘smart’ material procurement methods?
- 2. Building Project “X” Ground + 4 floors (20,000 sft per floor) 100,000 sft builtup area Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010 • Calculate CO2 emissions for materials used in external perimeter of the building Steel Cement Glass Bricks
- 3. So how much CO2 are we adding? Material Quantity used Avg CO2 emission/ unit1 Total CO2 (tons) Steel 1000 tons 3 tons/ ton 3000 Cement 3500 tons 0.6 tons/ton 2100 Bricks (per 100,000) 151,000 38 tons 576 Glass 346 1.5 tons/ton 520 Total @ 6200 tons1. Current Science, January 2008 http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jan102008/38.pdf Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010
- 4. Going greener…. • Purchase from manufacturers with least CO2 emissions. e.g. cement, steel – Will the demand from customers improve the overall efficiency of the industry? Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010 If the price difference isn’t substantial, can we buy from producers/ manufacturers who have smaller CO2 emissions? CO2 emissions/ ton (landed) Option A Option B Steel 2.7 3.2 Cement 0.55 0.75
- 5. Going greener (contd…) • Contract with transporters with ‘younger’ truck fleet- less fuel consumption • Use of Fly ash bricks- lower CO2 emissions, and reduced loss of topsoil • Cost implications! Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010
- 6. Countering cost implications Developer/Contract or Property Owner … Can financial incentives help to ‘kick start’ the process? •A 10% reduction in Excise duty on cement = Rs. 176,400 in savings in the construction phase •System of documenting ‘smart procurement’ for possible carbon credits? (in lieu of a uniform tax- e.g. Rs. 30 per ton of coal “green tax”) •10 % rebate in property tax = Rs. 100,000 per year in post-construction phase •Reduced stamp duty / lower interest for green properties Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010
- 7. CO2 impact- revisited Mate rial Quan tity used Total CO2 (tons) Targete d Reducti on using ‘smart’ procur ement Reduce d CO2 contrib ution (tons) CO2 emissio n saved (tons) Steel 1000 tons 3000 5% 2850 150 Ceme nt 700 tons 2100 5% 399 105 Brick s 151,0 00 576 20% 461 115 Glass 346 520 5% 494 26Amresh Deshpande October 23, 2010