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Sustainable New Construction — Lowering Embodied Energy from the Ground Up
Building a new home offers a unique opportunity to incorporate sustainability into its very foundation. While homeowners may prioritize energy-efficient systems to reduce operational energy, it’s crucial to address the often-overlooked aspect of embodied energy. This energy is locked into the materials used during construction and accounts for a significant portion of a building’s total carbon footprint.
In this article, we will explore strategies for reducing embodied energy in new construction, focusing on material choices, design practices, and innovative construction methods that contribute to a more sustainable home from day one.
Why Embodied Energy Matters in New Construction
When constructing a new building, embodied energy is the sum of all the energy required to extract, process, manufacture, and transport the materials used. This energy is “embedded” in the building from the start, and while operational energy can be optimized over time with energy-efficient technologies, embodied energy remains fixed. As much as 50% of a building’s total lifetime energy can come from its embodied energy, making it critical to address early in the planning process.
