Introduction to

Climate Change
& Carbon
Footprinting
James Cadman,
Action Sustainability
House Rules
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Workshop Overview
• Overview of climate change

• What we can do: carbon reduction

strategies

• Carbon footprinting 101

• Case studies

• Guidance on useful resources

Introductions

Let’s check your name badge

• Who you are and how much do you know about climate
change from 0 - 10?
Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Effect
Greenhouse Gas Effect
Scene Setting: The last 800,000 years

Homo Sapiens Agricultural

emerges civilisation
Scene Setting: The last 200 years
Sharp increase in CO2 emissions by global region
Scene Setting: The last few years
Global Temperature Anomalies in 2019
Annual CO2 emissions by country, 2019
1. China: 10.2 billion tCO2
• 28%
2. USA: 5.3 billion tCO2
• 15%
3. India: 2.6 billion tCO2
• 7%
4. Russia: 1.7 billion tCO2
• 5%
…

18. UK: 370 million tCO2

• 1%
73. Ireland: 37 million tCO2
• 0.1%
Per capita CO2 emissions
• USA: 16 tCO2 pp
• Russia: 11.5 tCO2 pp
• Ireland: 7.6 t CO2 pp
• China: 7.1 tCO2 pp
• UK: 5.5 tCO2 pp
• India: 1.9 tCO2 pp
But who’s the highest?
• Qatar at 38.7 tCO2 pp !!
Cumulative CO2 emissions
1. USA: 400 GtCO2 (25%)
2. EU-28: 370 GtCO2 (22%)
3. China: 230 GtCO2
4. Russia: 115 GtCO2
5. Germany: 92 GtCO2
6. United Kingdom: 78
GtCO2
Where do GHG emissions come from?
• Industry 29.4%
• Agriculture & Forestry 21.1%
• Buildings 17.5%
• Transport 16.2%
What causes climate change?
• CO2 (carbon dioxide)
• CH4 (methane)

• N2O (nitrous oxide)

• SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride)
• HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)
• PFCs (perfluorocarbons)
• (NF3 nitrogen trifluoride)
• Kyoto Protocol ‘Basket’ of 6 GHGs
• Limit warming to 2°C above pre-
industrial levels, if not 1.5°C
Taking action: Governments
The Law!
• UK Climate Change Act target of 100% reduction
by 2050 – ‘net zero’

• Scotland has legislated to hit net-zero by 2045

• Wales’ target to reduce by 95% by 2050 but aiming

for net zero

• Ireland has legislated to hit net-zero by 2050

• New intermediate target for UK of 78% by

2035 vs 1990 baseline
UK Gov’t PPN06/21: 5th June 2021 Carbon Reduction Plans
• Bidders for any contract over £5m ex VAT per year from
Central Government, their Executive Agencies and NDPBs

• Contractors will have to provide a carbon reduction strategy

confirming their commitment to achieving Net Zero by
2050 in the UK

• Covers Scope 1, 2 and certain Scope 3 (Upstream transportation

& distribution, Waste generated in operations, Business travel,
Employee commuting, Downstream transportation & distribution)

• From 30th September 2021

• Plans for an ‘embodied carbon law’: The Carbon Emissions

(Buildings) Bill, and Part Z of Building Regulations
The science-based route to a lower carbon world
Taking action: Industry
Construction Leadership Council – 9th March 2021
Transport
1. Zero emission vehicles and onsite plant
2. Modern methods of construction, improved logistics, reducing waste
and transport
3. Connection with low carbon transport
Buildings
4. Retrofitting to improve energy efficiency of the existing housing stock
5. Low carbon heat solutions in buildings
6. Enhance the energy performance of new and existing buildings with
monitoring
Construction activity
7. Carbon measurement to support quantifiable decisions to remove
carbon
8. Become world leaders in designing out carbon, developing
capability of designers and construction professionals to develop
designs in line with circular economy – reducing embedded and
operational carbon, shifting commercial models to incentivise and
reward measurable carbon reductions.
9. Develop innovative low carbon materials
(prioritising concrete and steel), as well as advancing low carbon
solutions for manufacturing production processes and distribution.
Scale of the issue for Infrastructure

• This report makes clear that reducing

carbon reduces costs. It is part and
parcel of saving materials, reducing
energy demand and delivering
operational efficiencies
• 53% of UK emissions from
infrastructure
• 1/3 of which we can control
• 2/3 we can influence
• CapCarb rising in relation to OpCarb
Progress decarbonising the UK’s Grid
• Significant progress to reduce
carbon intensity of the UK’s grid
electric

• Reduced by 67% since 1990. Why?

• Two big reasons Dash for Gas

• ‘Dash for gas’ in 1990’s (less coal)

Investment in
• Five-fold increase in renewable Renewable
energy production since 2010: on- & Energy
offshore wind, solar PV, and
biomass
UKGBC Framework Definition of a Net Zero Carbon
Building
Net zero carbon – construction: “When the amount of carbon
emissions associated with a building’s product and construction stages
up to practical completion is zero or negative, through the use of offsets
or the net export of on-site renewable energy.”

Net zero carbon – operational energy: “When the amount of carbon

emissions associated with the building’s operational energy on an
annual basis is zero or negative. A net zero carbon building is highly
energy efficient and powered from on-site and/or off-site renewable
energy sources, with any remaining carbon balance offset.”
But, still, why should we…?
• Reporting for compliance

• Reduced risk of energy security

• Stay ahead of regulation

• Identify hotspots to make carbon reductions and cost savings

• Improve reputation

• Meet stakeholder/client demands

• Win new work

• Become a market leader

• Which all means data accuracy…

Where does carbon
come from and Where does carbon
how can wecome from and how
reduce
can we reduce it...?
it...? ….with jargon
explainer ….with jargon
explainer
Sources of Carbon Emissions from your Organisation

Your Suppliers Your Business Your Client

• Materials, goods and services, • Fuel and energy in company • In-use emissions from
facilities running the building / asset;
• Capital goods,
• Vehicles and plant. • End-of-life treatment
• Delivery
• Chemical / biological • Downstream distribution
• Utilities: electricity, waste and
processes, and
water
• Fugitive emissions
• Business travel
“Embodied” Carbon
“Operational” Carbon - OpCarb “End User” Carbon UseCarb
“Capital” Carbon - CapCarb

Upstream Company Downstream

What can we do about it?
Mitigation Adaptation

• Sustainable transportation • Geothermal • Infrastructure upgrades: SUDS,

sewers & culverts
• Energy conservation • Green roofs
• Residential programs: sewer
• Thermal mass / sinks for temperature • Solar thermal backflow & downspout
regulation disconnection
• District heating
• Insulation and heat recovery systems • Health programs and help for
• Building design for
• Renewable energy natural light & vulnerable people
ventilation • Emergency & business continuity
• Energy & carbon efficient materials
and products • Tree planting & care planning

• Improve vehicle fuel efficiency • Water harvesting & • Coastal and river bank protection
conservation and flood plain maintenance
• Capture and use landfill & digester
gas • Local food production
Carbon Reduction
Avoid energy and carbon where possible, e.g.
Actions
• Teleworking and conferencing
• Passive design to reduce energy demand
Use more efficient equipment and transport, e.g.
• Invest in energy-efficient equipment, e.g. lighting, plant & equipment, HVAC, IT
• Upgrade fleet to Euro 6 and plant to NRMM Stage V. Go further to electric / hybrid. Air quality benefits
Consider the materials you are using, e.g.
• Take an eco-design approach to enable easier maintenance, repair and upgrade
• Use less material in absolute terms – work with design and procurement teams
• Switch to alternative materials with lower embodied carbon impacts: innovation
• Increase reusable items and the recycled content of materials – engage suppliers
Improve behaviours and systems , e.g.
• Energy Management Systems and automatic switches & sensors
• Offsite and lean construction
• Train colleagues and suppliers in how to use equipment efficiently:
• Choose the right equipment for the job – don’t overspec
• Use correct power modes including in low / eco power modes
• Turn off equipment that’s not being used. Avoid machine idling

Switch to low and zero energy sources

• Make use of renewable power sources, such as GSHP/ ASHP, solar
• Low and zero carbon fuels: HVO, electric for vehicles
Use the Carbon & Energy Hierarchy

AVOID: don’t use

energy if you can
avoid the need

REDUCE: use less by smart

design, more efficient
equipment, less materials, and
better behaviours

SWITCH to low carbon and

renewable sources of energy and
materials

COMPENSATE/ REMOVE the residual

remaining emissions when all other
actions have been taken
Get a Carbon Reduction Strategy

Report
Disclose your
Remove / Offset emissions and
Remove residual reduction actions.
Reduce
GHG emissions, but Follow up with
Implement only after other revising and
reduction actions, actions have been continual
Measure on hotspots first taken improvement
and then other
Goal and Scope Measure your aspects, using
Agree the aim and footprint, identify carbon hierarchy,
set boundaries, hotspots and agree and measure the
base year and action plan reductions
targets
Case Study – The Forge (105 Sumner St): Landsec
• 139,000 sq ft office development in Southwark
• Aims to be first commercial building constructed and operated
in line with UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework
• Work on both supply chain scope 3 emissions, and operational
use
• Using a platform-led approach to design & construction: P-
DfMA, consists of a set of components that can be combined to
produce highly customised structures

• The trial had positive results compared to a traditional construction site and techniques:
• Construction productivity improved by 55%; Installation time 30% less; the final build achieved 33% cost savings
• Final structure uses less material and less waste, and has an almost 20% reduction in embodied carbon
• Further savings made in specifications, including high levels of recycled content and cement replacement in the main
building materials.
• Passive design techniques to reduce the energy demand, air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, and solar PV
for electricity. Once in operation, these will be run on a 100% renewable electricity tariff.
https://www.futureoflondon.org.uk/2020/11/23/achieving-net-zero-case-study-zero-carbon-commercial-development/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQjcvSFU8Wk
How do you compare?...
Mentimeter

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How many times do you need to use a reusable cup
Which is better for carbon, travelling by train or plane for
before the carbon us less than a disposable cup?
the same distance?

But how much better is the train, in percentage terms? → Menti!

Train vs Plane
Train lower impact per passenger.km

Comparison Rail: Oxford to Glasgow 497km Air: Brum to Glasgow, 418km

Cost for return ticket £153 £215

Time 5h 30 4h estimated: 1h15 train Oxford to Brum

Intl, 1h check in & wait time in airport, 1h15
flight, 0h30 to leave airport

Carbon emitted (per 22 kgCO2e → 80% less than by air 132 kgCO2e
passenger)

Saving for Rail 103 kgCO2e, or 82% less impact Approx. 1h30. But, you can work more
than flying; effectively on a long distance train than in
£60 or 29% cheaper airport and on plane
How many times do you need to use a reusable cup
Which is better for carbon, the plastic bag or the cotton
before the carbon us less than a disposable cup?
bag, for the same volume?

Vs.

But how often do you need to use the cotton bag for a lower
footprint than a plastic bag? → Menti!
How many times do you need to use a reusable cup
Plasticthe
before vs Paper
carbonvs us
Cotton
less than a disposable cup?
Type of bag HDPE bag (No HDPE bag (40.3% HDPE bag (100% HDPE bag (Used 3
secondary reuse) reused as bin liners) reused as bin liners times)

Paper 3 4 7 9

LDPE ‘bag for 4 5 9 12

life’

Non-woven PP 11 14 26 33

Cotton 131 173 327 393

Break for Tea – back in 10 mins
What is Carbon Footprinting?

“Commonly used to describe the total

amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions attributable to an
organisation, project or product.”
The Footprinting Process: Data Collection & Analysis
Agree boundaries
and scope for the
footprint

Review progress, Gather data and

report and update assess for accuracy
strategy and relevance

Undertake
Implement action footprint analysis
plan to reduce with suitable
carbon emissions conversion factors

Identify hotspots
and develop action
plan
The GHG Protocol

Accounting and Reporting of 6 greenhouse gases

(Kyoto Protocol)
GHG Protocol

GHG inventory using standardised approaches and

principles

Develop an effective strategy to manage and reduce

GHG emissions

Consistency and transparency in GHG Accounting

and Reporting

Construction-specific GHG Protocol - Encord

Organizational Boundaries: Consolidation approaches
• Equity share approach

• Control approach

• Financial control

• Operational control
• Equity share

• Under the equity share approach, a company

accounts for GHG emissions from operations
according to its share of equity in the operation.

• The equity share reflects economic interest, which is

the extent of rights a company has to the risks and
rewards flowing from an operation.
• Financial control

• Under the financial control approach, a company

accounts for 100% of the GHG emissions over
which it has financial control.

• It does not account for GHG emissions from

operations in which it owns an interest but does not
have financial control.
• Operational control

• Under the operational control approach, a

company accounts for 100% of the GHG emissions
over which it has operational control.

• It does not account for GHG emissions from

operations in which it owns an interest but does not
have operational control.
Example
Biz Units Structure Equity Control

Construct Ltd
Construct UK Incorporated 100% OC 100%
Company FC 100%

Aufbau Incorporated 80% OC 100%

GmbH Company FC 100%
Aufbau GmbH Construire Srl
Construct UK
(Germany) (France) HausBau Subsidiary of 60% OC 100%
Aufbau GmbH 75% FC 100%
owned
EA 100% EA 80% EA 33% Construire SrL Non-incorporated 33% OC 0%
OC 100% OC 100% OC 0%
FC 100% FC 100% FC 33% Joint Venture FC 33%

HausBau
(Germany, 75%
owned)

EA 60%
OC 100%
FC 100%
Operational Boundaries – Scopes

• Direct emissions are emissions

from sources that are owned or
controlled by the reporting
company

• Indirect emissions are emissions

that are a consequence of the
activities of the company but occur
at sources owned or controlled by
another company
The links between Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions in the
Supply Chain
Tiers Continued Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1 Tier 0 - Client

1 1
3 3
2
2 1
1 3 1
3 1
2
2
3 2
3
1 2
3 1
2
1 3
1
3 2
2

3
2

Scope 1 – Direct Emissions from owned or controlled sources

Scope 2 – Indirect emissions from generation of purchased energy
Scope 3 – All other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain
Set your Boundaries for your Organisation

Your Suppliers Your Business Your Client

• Materials, goods and services, • Fuel and energy in company • In-use emissions from
facilities running the building / asset;
• Capital goods,
• Vehicles and plant. • End-of-life treatment
• Delivery
• Chemical / biological • Downstream distribution
• Utilities: electricity, waste and
processes, and
water
• Fugitive emissions
• Business travel
“Embodied” Carbon
“Operational” Carbon - OpCarb “End User” Carbon UseCarb
“Capital” Carbon - CapCarb

“Upstream Scopes 2 & 3 (Indirect) Company’s Scope 1 (Direct) Downstream Scope 3 (Indirect)
Product Boundaries

Inputs: energy,
materials, water

Disposal /
Growth / Manufacture Storage &
Processing Use Circular
Extraction & Assembly Distribution
Economy

Outputs: air
emissions, waste,
wastewater,
Where does Activity Data come from

Fuels: Gas,
Plant &
Vehicles

Fugitive &
Third party
process
Logistics
emissions

Data

Materials &
Electricity
Products

Staff &
Business
Travel
Where does Activity Data come from

Fuels: Gas, Kinds of Data

Plant &
Vehicles • Litres of fuel (diesel, LPG…)
• Litres of refrigerant
Fugitive &
Third party • kWh of electricity
process
Logistics
emissions
• Mileage travelled
• Tonnes, m3 of materials
Data
Where the Data is
• Fleet
Materials &
Electricity • Estates
Products
• HR / Travel agent
Staff &
Business • Procurement
Travel • Suppliers
How to calculate a carbon footprint

Activity Emission Carbon

• A carbon footprint is
Data
X Factor
= Emission

2.758 689.5
250 litres
• For example
of diesel
X kgCO2e = kgCO2e
per litre emitted

• KgCO2e (“equivalent”) takes into account all the main GHGs emitted: CO2, CH4 and N2O, etc.
• Think about units of measurement and converting between them: factors of a thousand
Some Fundamentals- Emissions Factors
Comparing Power Sources and Modes of Travel

1 kWh grid 1 kWh red 500 p.km by 500 km by 500 p.km by

electricity = diesel = train = car = airplane =
0.291 kg CO2e 0.336 kg 18 kg CO2e 84 kg CO2e 122 kg CO2e
CO2e
Some Fundamentals- Emissions Factors
Comparing Materials

1 tonne of
steel =
1550 kg CO2e
1 tonne of
plasterboard
=
390 kg CO2e
1 tonne of
bricks = But can vary greatly with
210 kg CO2e • Raw material source
1 tonne of • Recycled content
concrete =
100 kg CO2e • Other additives, e.g., PFA, GGBS
1 tonne of • Manufacturing energy source
aggregate =
• Shipping/transport
5 kg CO2e
Supplier engagement and EPDs !
Some fundamentals – Global Warming Potentials: GWP
• It’s all relative...
• CO2: 1
• CH4: 28
• N2O: 265
CH4
• SF6: 23,500 CO2
• HFCs: 4 – 12,400
• PFCs: 6,630 – 11,100
= CO2

• NF3: 16,100
• Expressed as “tonnes of CO2
equivalent”; tCO2e
Mentimeter

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Primary Activity Data Sources
Sources of Data – Quantities (tonnes, m3, etc.)

• Purchase Ledger
Real data for • Meter Readings
the year
• Physical Survey

• E.g. Cost data ÷ Average

Proxy Data price = Quantity

• E.g. Physical Survey for

Sample Data defined period pro-rated
to annual
Challenges in Carbon Footprinting

• Relevant data to your situation

Data • Reliable, unbiased data
• Up-to-date data

• Control and influence

• Time constraints - what do you
Time have time to collect?
• Pareto 80/20
Exercise 1: Calculate the carbon footprint for your
organisation or site
Use the data provided to calculate the carbon footprint of your site’s
activities:

• Fork lift trucks

• Electricity for your offices / site welfare

• Diesel for outsourced delivery logistics

• List it as scopes 1, 2 and 3 and the overall total

• Time: 10 mins

• Nominate a spokesperson
And the answers are…
• Scope 1 389 kg CO2e
• Scope 2 1,168 kg CO2e
• Scope 3 2,512 kg CO2e
• Total 4,069 kg CO2e
Resources Guidance – Free Carbon Data and Tools
• Defra/BEIS 2021 Greenhouse gas reporting conversion factors : the UK Government’s database of carbon factors for fuel, energy, transport,
and materials, updated annually. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2021
• Bath Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE) database: a well-established database of embodied carbon factors for a variety of materials,
updated periodically. http://www.circularecology.com/embodied-energy-and-carbon-footprint-database.html
• Supply Chain School Carbon Calculator: a free tool from the School to measure scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in your supply chain.
https://carbon.sustainabilitytool.com/
• The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) Tool: a database of EPDs for construction products
https://buildingtransparency.org/ec3
• Carbon Trust Carbon Calculator for SMEs: The Carbon Footprint Calculator has been designed to help UK based SMEs measure their
corporate emission footprint following GHG Protocol Guidance, including direct emissions from fuel and processes (Scope 1 emissions) and
those emissions from purchased electricity (or Scope 2 emissions) for the assets they operate
https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/tools/carbon-footprint-calculator
• Highways England Carbon Tool: a free-to-download Excel tool to calculate carbon emissions for operational, construction and maintenance
activities undertaken on behalf of Highways England that draws on Defra and Bath ICE datasets
www.gov.uk/government/publications/carbon-tool
• The RSSB Rail Carbon Tool is a web-based tool that allows you to calculate, assess, analyse, report and reduce your rail project carbon footprint
by evaluating low-carbon options using verified, centrally-available carbon factor data that draws on Defra and Bath ICE datasets
https://www.railindustrycarbon.com/
• Environment Agency Carbon Calculator: a free-to-download tool to calculate the carbon impact of different material and transport options in
your project www.ice.org.uk/knowledge-and-resources/best-practice/environment-agency-carbon-calculator-tool
• Hawkins\Brown: Emission Reduction Tool \. An open source Revit-based tool that enables design teams to quickly analyse and clearly
visualise the embodied carbon emissions of different building components and construction material options at any time during the design
process. https://www.hawkinsbrown.com/services/hbert
Introduction to relevant standards
PAS 2080: 2016
Management of carbon reduction
PAS2080: 2016

across infrastructure value chain

Determining baselines, establishing metrics and

setting targets

Selecting carbon emissions

quantification methodologies

Reporting at appropriate stages

& visibility of performance

Continual improvement of
management and performance
Environmental Product Declarations: EPDs
A summary of the
costs and
environmental
impacts from the
manufacture and
expected use of a
product
Environmental Product Declarations: EPDs
A summary of the
costs and
environmental
impacts from the
manufacture and
expected use of a
product
Business Reality
National Grid

“One idea that’s really worked is the start of a 5% carbon

weighting on our new construction projects.

We’re saying to our suppliers that if you can design a lower-

carbon solution you stand a better chance of winning our
business.”
National Grid Example

New electricity substation at Wimbledon

Smarter thinking on design and use of materials

Calculated carbon savings of 20% across the asset’s life, equivalent to about 39,000 tCO2

Saved £3 million in costs compared with the original design

“By having clear data on carbon emissions, we can use energy and resources more efficiently.
We’ve been able to prove the business case that lower carbon can equal lower cost”
Exercise 2: Calculate the carbon footprint of concrete
Use the data in the hand-out

Look at the conversion factors:

• Aggregates

• Cement

Calculate answers
Time: 10 mins
And the answers are…
• 67.7 kg CO2 per tonne

or

• 148.8 kg CO2 / m3
Carbon Reduction Actions – at Home
At home
• Keep an eye on the thermostat – wear a jumper in winter!
• Insulate your house: attic, walls, windows and doors
• Switch to a provider of renewable energy such as SSE Airtricity, OVO, Good Energy or Ecotricity
• Use your equipment as efficiently as possible – eco modes
Diet
• Eat less meat and dairy; try other options
• Reduce food waste – only buy and cook what you need
• If you can, compost any food waste you do make
Travel
• Work from home, if you can, even if only part of the week
• Get public transport as much as you can
• Use a more efficient car – better mpg, or hybrid or even EV!
• Drive more smoothly and maintain your car
• Fly less often – get the train where you can: New network of sleeper trains planned:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/jun/22/new-network-of-european-sleeper-overnight-trains-planned
At the shops
• Buy efficient equipment that can be maintained for a long lifetime, e.g. washing machine
• Don’t always buy the latest model – think of the materials and waste as well as carbon
• Resist fast fashion – put it in the wardrobe and the fashion will come around again in 25 years!
• Avoid unnecessary packaging wherever you can, and recycle as much as you can
The end of the training… for now…

…but the beginning of your carbon reduction plans!....

 Questions, Answers and Feedback

Questions, Answers and Feedback

Thank you!

James Cadman
• Lead Consultant at Action Sustainability
• james@actionsustainability.com
• www.actionsustainability.com
• @Action_Sustain