ICE Building Materials LCA

[edit / update model]
The 'boundaries' represented by each embodied CO2 factor are described in Discover as follows;

  • "Cradle to grave" - embodied CO2 from entire life cycle of material
  • "Cradle to gate" - embodied CO2 from resource extraction to factory gate
  • "Cradle to site" - embodied CO2 from resource extraction to final point of use (e.g. building site)
For reinforced concrete, see this related methodology.


How to use this category

Selecting an emissions scenario

To use this category, use drill-downs to specify the material, type and subtype.

Specifying activity data

Next, enter the quantity used using the mass profile item.

Results and calculation

The quantities returned represent embodied energy and CO2 emissions associated with the quantity specified. The following quantities are returned:

  • energy: embodied energy, in Megajoules
  • CO2: embodied CO2

Notes

Data ranges

Several embodied CO2 factors presented in ICE are specified as a range of values. In such cases, Discover provides the option of choosing minimum or maximum values.

Insulation plastics

Data for polystyrene- and polyethylene-based insulation materials are referenced from the 'plastics' category in ICE.

Derived CO2 factors

ICE contains many materials for which only embodied energy is specified. Only materials which include either (a) an explicit embodied CO2 factor, or (b) an embodied energy factor plus the associated energy fuel split (from which embodied CO2 can be derived) are included within Discover. The latter method was used to derive embodied CO2 factors for clay/limestone bricks and wood-wool reinforced concrete.

UIDLabel
3HD3PWGDSMPS aggregate
ZX3T7YMSGX2S aluminium, cast products, primary
BU8U7QYSM33O aluminium, cast products, secondary
8B0YLOE9GDXT aluminium, cast products, uk typical
L6OI6JTQ192Z aluminium, extruded, primary
FT4Q3R3EGJT0 aluminium, extruded, secondary
UBVF5SXFJ73W aluminium, extruded, uk typical
NDAOEJOUWP5D aluminium, general, primary
GXNC55RKQUVY aluminium, general, secondary
77PXXENNQP6Z aluminium, general, uk typical
KFTHA6Z7GANN aluminium, rolled, primary
V1V5HBDX1KA6 aluminium, rolled, secondary
NFK8QNAS81P2 aluminium, rolled, uk typical
SIE3E0UTIOWV asphalt, general
QWMLSV9F16OW asphalt, roads & pavements
GOSMH2NZSAQ6 brass, general
U3EYLU3BX87O brass, primary
6JCBP7BLKXHB brass, secondary
R1KEYRXKKTKB carpets, felt (hair & jute) underlay
MPUIRWNC56O1 carpets, general