Lifecycle: Build
Carbon Trust services
Type of Resource
Guidance documentation
Source
Carbon Trust
What does it do?
Carbon Trust partners with businesses, organisations and governments around the world to help them lead the way to a more sustainable future. They can support with setting strategic direction, foot printing and target setting, energy systems and climate action plans and can help you navigate the risks and opportunities of climate change. Can offer the following services: Strategy and Advice, Measure and Evaluate (i.e. measure carbon footprint, resource efficiency etc.), innovate and deploy and Assurance and certification.
Why use it?
Awareness of how assessment and external assurance services can support major project delivery.
Accessibility
Website accessible to all. Required to contact Carbon Trust for services.
Target Audience
Usable by all
Difficulty Level
Beginner
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
BREEAM services
Type of Resource
Guidance website
Source
BREEAM
What does it do?
BREEAM is an international scheme that provides independent third party certification on the assessment of sustainability performance of individual buildings, communities and infrastructure projects. They provide an indicator of best practice on sustainable buildings across a broad range of social, economic and environmental impacts and issues using a balanced scorecard approach. Their website provides guidance on how BREEAM can support your business.
Why use it?
Understand how appropriate certification can provide the required sustainability assurance on your project.
Accessibility
Website accessible to all. Required to contact BREEAM for services.
Target Audience
Usable by all
Difficulty Level
Beginner
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction / Infrastructure
How to access it
Rating
CCaLC2 (Carbon Calculations over the life cycle of industrial activity)
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
University of Manchester
What does it do?
A software application tool for calculating the environmental and economic impacts of life-cycle carbon inventories along the whole supply chains. Allows users to estimate the financial cost and benefits of reducing the carbon footprint. Available to download for free and can be tailored for different applications (Windows, Android, Excel) and industrial sectors.
Why use it?
LCA and decision-support tools for calculating and reducing the carbon footprints of different industrial sectors across supply chains. Particularly effective during the design stage.
Accessibility
Fully accessible subject to download capability.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
3Pillars
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Earthshift Global
What does it do?
Online Return on Investment software that utilises a continually updated database of social and environmental costs and a range of other factors to compare investment opportunities on both a sustainability and profitability basis. Data can be easily inputted into an intuitive interface and provides dashboard views of results, including project views.
Why use it?
Gain an understanding of the anticpated environmental and economic performance of your business case and design.
Accessibility
30 day trial available.Pricing on licence costs available on website.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
Autocase
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Autocase
What does it do?
Used by Architects and designers to produce designs that combine life-cycle cost analysis and cost-benefit analysis of buildings and so allows users to quantify and attribute monetary values to financial, social, and environmental impacts of any project proposal. Requires minimum project-specific inputs and then Autocase pre-populates standard buildings and localised industry-validated data to measure the impacts of designs.
Why use it?
Triple bottom line cost benefit analysis software for buildings and infrastructure. Can show the financial, social and economic benefits of your designs to support the business case.
Accessibility
Free demo available, after which licence fee charges apply.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
SPeAR® (Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine)
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
ARUP
What does it do?
Decision support software tool that appraises infrastructure projects based on 21 social, environmental and economic indicators. Results are presented graphically on the unique SPeAR® diagram which shows a traffic light system indicating performance in each area.
Why use it?
During the design stage it can be used to compare and assess the pros and cons of various design options, identify key risk areas, guide decision-making and assess the implications of design changes. It can also be used to undertake evaluation upon project completion, and during operation, which can inform organisational learning and approaches to future projects.
Accessibility
Pre-Appraisal SPeAR is free. After which licence costs apply.
Target Audience
Usable by all
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Sector
Construction / Infrastructure
How to access it
Rating
Environment Agency carbon planning tool
Type of Resource
Excel tool
Source
Environment Agency
What does it do?
Excel based tool that assesses the final carbon impact of materials, transport options and the final footprint of an overall project within the construction sector. The tool was published by the Environment Agency in July 2012 and has been updated periodically thereafter. This tool allows you to compare and assess material and transport choices in your construction project.
Why use it?
Use the tool to assess different design options and continually assess performance to minimise the carbon impact on your project.
Accessibility
Required to contact Carbonplanningtool@environment-agency.gov.uk to gain access to the tool.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
BAMB buildings as materials bank
Type of Resource
Guidance website
Source
Build Up - The European portal for Energy Efficiency in Buildings
What does it do?
Funded by the EU project BAMB “Buildings as Material Banks”, gathers 15 partners from seven countries with the overall goal to foster a shift to a fully circular approach in the construction industry. Provides an overview of tools such as the "Materials Passports", “Reversible Building Design assessment” and “Circular Building Assessment” tool.
Why use it?
Background reading on best practice circular approaches in the construction industry.
Accessibility
Fully accessible
Target Audience
Usable by all
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
Impact Estimator for Buildings
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Athena Sustainable Materials Institute
What does it do?
Free software tool that will evaluate whole buildings and assemblies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. User is prompted to input the required information and the tool presents detailed results on the cradle-grave environmental impact. Includes the ability to add in alternative materials or processes to conduct design analysis and make improvements.
Why use it?
Free LCA tool to support decision making during the design and build phases of a major project.
Accessibility
Tools can be downloaded via website free of charge.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction