Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment

This fact sheet provides guidance for designers and specifiers on reducing embodied carbon in the built environment through strategic design, material substitution, and specification.

• Buildings are responsible for at least 39% of annual global energy-related carbon emissions, with at least 25% of those emissions stemming from embodied carbon, which refers to emissions linked to construction and building materials.
• Designers can lower embodied carbon through three primary methods: whole-building design, specification, and one-for-one material substitution. The most impactful and cost-effective reductions occur early in the design phase before major decisions are finalized.
• The document outlines five key strategies for reducing embodied carbon: collaborative design involving stakeholders and developers; effective design focusing on adaptive reuse and previously developed sites; efficient design to simplify footprints and reduce structural loads; low-carbon design prioritizing natural materials and reducing high-embodied-carbon materials like steel and concrete; and designing for longevity through flexible reuse and deconstruction.

APA

RMI (n.d.). Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Designers.pdf

Chicago

RMI. Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment. n.d. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Designers.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Designers.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmindreducing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment}}, institution = {RMI}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Designers.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }