Author(s): Kaja K眉hl
This research uses a case study of two recently completed homes to demonstrate the potential for carbon storage in buildings with an increased use of biogenic materials, specifically as insulation. The built environment sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, responsible for at least 37% of global emissions. Much attention in the sector is focused on reducing the operational carbon of buildings 鈥� the emissions associated with heating, cooling and lighting. Recently, an increased focus on existing and emerging biogenic materials is the result of growing understanding of embodied carbon as a significant contributor to the sector鈥檚 emissions. Insulation 鈥� a building element used to reduce operational carbon 鈥� can also be an effective tool for lowering the embodied carbon of a building, when choosing insulation materials with a capacity to sequester and store carbon. Using BEAM (Building Emissions Accounting for Materials) to estimate upfront emissions (Life cycle analysis A1-A3) of different sce-narios for insulating the homes to passive house standards, the research compares the embodied carbon in biogenic insulation materials with expended upfront carbon in conventional materials. This paper then describes construction methods and characteristics for the built scenario 鈥� using hemp lime and wood fiber 鈥� and concludes with a call for scaling up the use of biogenic insulation as a tool to decarbonize buildings.
Volume Editors
Caryn Brause & Chris Flint Chatto