Design Strategies for Low Embodied Carbon and Low Embodied Energy Buildings: Principles and Examples

Abstract

The paper is based on recent work within IEA EBC Annex 57. It describes building design strategies for reduction of embodied energy and embodied carbon emissions and presents them on five examples of design optimizations of building elements, subsystems and whole buildings. The first example shows environmental optimization of curtain wall façade elements leading to utilization of bio-based materials. The second example present a family house, which has been rebuilt form foundations, whilst some of the original materials were reused in the new structure. The third example presents an optimized subtle structural system made of ultra high performance concrete. The fourth example presents a case study of variant designs of structural system of a residential house in Prague. The last example shows an alternative design of a family passive house in Prague, based on hybrid construction of light prefabricated concrete elements and timber-based external walls.