Glossary.
In the New Zealand construction industry, understanding the terminology and acronyms related to upfront and embodied carbon is essential for assessing and reducing the environmental impact of buildings. Below is a list of key terms and their definitions:
Definitions
Embodied Carbon: The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the entire lifecycle of a building, excluding operational energy use.
Upfront Embodied Carbon: Emissions resulting from the extraction, manufacturing, and transportation of materials used in the construction of a building, as well as emissions from the construction process itself.
Whole-of-Life Embodied Carbon: The total emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the entire lifecycle of a building, including upfront embodied carbon, use stage embodied carbon, and end-of-life embodied carbon, but excluding operational carbon.
Operational Carbon: Emissions associated with the energy used to operate a building, including heating, cooling, lighting, and powering appliances.
End-of-Life Embodied Carbon: Emissions resulting from the deconstruction, demolition, and disposal of building materials at the end of a building's life.
Carbon Neutral: Achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by balancing the amount of carbon emitted with an equivalent amount of carbon offset or sequestered.
Net Zero Carbon: A state where the total carbon emissions associated with a building's lifecycle are reduced to zero, typically through a combination of reducing emissions and offsetting remaining emissions.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A systematic method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or building throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.
Building for Climate Change (BfCC): A programme by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in New Zealand aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the building and construction sector.
New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC): An organization that promotes sustainable building practices in New Zealand, including the development of methodologies and tools for assessing embodied carbon.
Embodied Carbon Calculator: A tool developed by NZGBC to standardize the measurement of embodied carbon in buildings, assisting designers and builders in assessing and reducing emissions.
ISO 14067:2018: An international standard providing guidelines for quantifying and communicating the carbon footprint of products, including buildings.
EN 15978:2011: A European standard for the assessment of the environmental performance of buildings, focusing on the calculation of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP): A New Zealand government initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions across public sector organizations, including those involved in building construction.
These terms and acronyms are integral to understanding and managing the carbon footprint of buildings in New Zealand, guiding industry professionals toward more sustainable construction practices.
Acronyms
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GWP – Global Warming Potential
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GWP100 – Global Warming Potential over a 100-year time horizon
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GWP-f (GWPF) – GWP-fossil
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GWP-b (GWPB) – GWP-biogenic
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GWP-l (GWPL, GWP-LULUC, GWPLULUC) – GWP-land use and land use change
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GWP-s (GWPS) – GWP-stored
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GWP-total – Total Global Warming Potential
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CFP – Carbon Footprint of Product
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EPD – Environmental Product Declaration
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LCA – Life Cycle Assessment
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PCR – Product Category Rules
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WLCA – Whole Life Carbon Assessment
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ISO – International Organization for Standardization
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CEN – European Committee for Standardization
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NZGBC – New Zealand Green Building Council
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MBIE – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
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BRANZ – Building Research Association of New Zealand
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EN 15804 – European Standard for Environmental Product Declarations
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EN 15978 – European Standard for the Sustainability Assessment of Buildings
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ISO 14067 – International Standard for Carbon Footprint of Products
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ISO 14040 & ISO 14044 – International Standards for Life Cycle Assessment
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FSC – Forest Stewardship Council
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PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
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NZIQS – New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors
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GFA – Gross Floor Area
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GIA – Gross Internal Area
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EWA – External Works Area
