Understanding the Two Sides of Carbon
As buildings move toward electrification and higher performance, it’s becoming essential to consider not only the carbon produced during building operation but also the carbon embedded in the mechanical and electrical systems themselves. Operational carbon comes from the energy a building uses for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and hot water. Embodied carbon, on the other hand, is tied to the materials, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and eventual replacement of MEP equipment and distribution systems. Because many mechanical and electrical components have relatively short lifespans, their embodied carbon accumulates over multiple replacement cycles, making them a meaningful contributor to a building’s long-term footprint.
Why Embodied Carbon Matters More Than Before
This shift in attention matters because as operational carbon decreases, especially in all-electric and highly efficient buildings, embodied carbon becomes a larger share of total emissions. Refrigerants, metals, and complex systems can carry significant carbon impacts even before they are ever turned on. As a result, selecting equipment based solely on operational efficiency may overlook the carbon cost associated with producing and replacing that equipment over time.
Design Strategies That Reduce Carbon
Lowering embodied carbon in MEP systems starts with thoughtful design. Right-sizing equipment, choosing systems that use lower-impact materials, minimizing refrigerant volume, and planning for durable, maintainable installations can all reduce the carbon associated with building systems across their lifecycle. Early design decisions are especially important to ensure operational savings are not offset by the carbon required to manufacture and replace complex equipment.
Moving Toward Whole-Lifecycle Carbon Thinking
A truly low-carbon building looks beyond day-to-day energy use and considers the full lifecycle of its MEP systems. By evaluating both embodied and operational carbon together, building owners and design teams can make decisions that result in more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready buildings.
