Operational energy is only half the carbon story. Embodied carbon is the emissions locked into a building before anyone switches the lights on: making materials, transporting them, constructing the building, and eventually maintaining, replacing and demolishing it.
QuinnRoss Energy helps you measure it, reduce it and report it, so you can meet planning and BREEAM requirements without the headaches or the delays.
What is embodied carbon?
Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas emissions released across a building’s life cycle, excluding the energy used to run it day to day. It covers:
- Product stage (A1 to A3):
Extracting, processing and manufacturing materials such as concrete, steel, timber and glazing
- Construction stage (A4 to A5):
Transport to site and the construction process itself
- Use stage (B1 to B5):
Maintenance, repair, refurbishment and replacement of components
- End of life (C1 to C4):
Demolition, waste processing and disposal
- Beyond the building life (D):
The benefits of reuse and recycling
Together with operational carbon, this makes up a building’s whole life carbon. As operational emissions fall, embodied carbon is becoming the bigger share, and the one planners, investors and clients are asking about most.
Our embodied carbon services
- Whole life carbon assessments
A full assessment across the building’s life cycle, following recognised standards and methodology. We prepare reports for planning submissions, including London Plan whole life carbon requirements.
- Life cycle assessments (LCA)
A detailed analysis of the environmental impact of your building elements and materials, including LCAs to support BREEAM Mat 01.
- Early-stage embodied carbon modelling
Quick, design-stage comparisons of structure, façade and material options, while changes are still cheap to make. We show you what drives the carbon, and which swaps actually make a difference.
- Embodied carbon reduction strategies
Practical, commercially sensible recommendations: lower-carbon materials, design efficiency, reuse and refurbishment over demolition, and smarter specification. We keep an eye on cost and programme, not just the carbon number.
- Planning and BREEAM reporting
Clear, submission-ready reports that give planners and assessors what they need first time, with post-construction updates where your local authority requires them.
Why embodied carbon matters to you
- Planning:
Many local authorities, and the London Plan for referable schemes, now expect whole life carbon reporting. Missing or weak assessments can hold up your application.
- BREEAM:
LCA is built into the materials credits, and getting it right early protects your target rating.
- ESG and investors:
Occupiers, funders and portfolio owners increasingly want credible carbon data for every asset.
- Cost:
Design changes made early cost far less than fixes late in the programme. Carbon reduction and cost saving often go hand in hand, especially with efficient structural design.
How we work
Send us your plans.
Drawings, specification and any material quantities you have.
We scope and quote.
Fast, fixed-fee, with no jargon.
We model and report.
You get clear results, hotspots and options.
We help you reduce it.
Practical recommendations, and we liaise with planners and assessors for you.
From concept design through to final handover, we act as an extension to your team.
Who we help
Developers and contractors, architects, M&E and structural engineers, housebuilders, landlords and local authorities. Whether it’s a single building or a whole portfolio, we’ll tailor the assessment to what you actually need.
Why QuinnRoss Energy?
- Qualified and accredited consultants
- Experience across 560+ construction projects and 51 local authorities
- Plain-English advice, delivered to your deadline and budget
- One team for energy statements, BREEAM, SAP/SBEM and embodied carbon, so your reports line up
We Practise What We Advise
QuinnRoss is committed to Net Zero by 2050, and we publish our progress openly.
Since our 2020 baseline, we’ve cut our reported emissions by 37.1%, from 88.28 to 55.54 tCO2e, and we’re targeting a 50% reduction by 2030.
- 37.1% reduction since 2020
- 50% reduction target by 2030
- Net Zero by 2050
Frequently asked questions
Q: What’s the difference between embodied carbon and operational carbon?
Operational carbon comes from running a building (heating, cooling, lighting). Embodied carbon comes from creating, maintaining and disposing of it. Whole life carbon combines both.
Q: Do I need an embodied carbon assessment for planning?
It depends on your local authority and scheme size. In London, referable schemes must submit a whole life carbon assessment. Many other councils are following. Send us your project details and we’ll confirm what you need.
Q: When should I start?
As early as possible. Material and structural decisions made at concept stage have the biggest effect on embodied carbon, and are the cheapest to change.
Q: Is an LCA the same as a whole life carbon assessment?
They’re closely related. An LCA assesses environmental impact, and a whole life carbon assessment focuses specifically on carbon across all life cycle stages, following a prescribed format for planning.
Q: Can you help me reduce embodied carbon, not just measure it?
Yes. We identify the biggest carbon hotspots and give you practical options with their impact on cost and programme.
Let’s talk about your project
Not sure what your scheme needs? Contact us for a free, no obligation chat.
