What is it about?
Analysis of Carbon Footprint in Building Materials: Case Study on Government Buildings in Pokhara Metropolitan CitySimple summaryThis study investigates the embodied carbon emissions in government buildings—those released not from their regular uses, but from the production and use of building materials, as termed "embodied carbon." From Pokhara Metropolitan City data, the study calculated the total embodied carbon and energy of such buildings. The result showed emissions of around 1281.56 metric tons of carbon and 12.5 million megajoules of embodied energy.The study also experimentally verified how emissions can be lowered with the usage of substitute building materials. AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete) blocks, hollow cement concrete blocks, and stabilized soil blocks all lowered emissions up to 5.56%.Interestingly, this research accounted for civil construction materials alone in the construction phase. It did not account for sanitary and electrical materials or operation, maintenance, and demolition emissions. These should be accounted for in future research to capture the entire building life cycle.With a focus on embodied carbon in construction, this research necessitates sustainable material choices to avoid emissions and facilitate climate-resilient development.
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Why is it important?
Nepal is moving through rapid urbanization and construction expansion, with Pokhara being one of the most rapidly urbanizing cities. The area of built-up land in Pokhara expanded from 5.1% in 2000 to 26% in 2018, which has resulted in increased carbon emissions because of construction activity. With this context in mind, Pokhara is a good case study for examining embodied carbon within government buildings. The construction industry is responsible for approximately 31% of CO₂ emissions worldwide, and it is projected to increase to 52% of CO₂ emissions by 2050. Buildings alone comprise 20–30% of carbon emissions while consuming large quantities of raw materials, water, and energy. Connecting this global issue and Pokhara’s urban growth highlights the significance of this study. Past literature has often estimated embodied carbon using average values based on building area/surface area. In contrast, this study uses published BoQ data from a sample of 25 government buildings to generate a more precise estimate of embodied carbon, contextually relevant, and practical findings for Nepal's built environment. The findings suggest that the top three contributors towards embodied carbon were cement, reinforcement (steel), and aluminum. Identifying these hotspot materials will help inform policymakers and engineers of alternative low-carbon materials such as AAC blocks, hollow concrete blocks, and soil-stabilized blocks. This would ultimately enhance Nepal's Climate Commitments and Sustainable Development Goals to support sustainable material selection for government building projects within a rapidly urbanizing landscape and advance the notion of green public procurement and reducing carbon emissions when constructing buildings.
Perspectives
This study contributes to the growing body of literature on embodied carbon emissions by focusing on government buildings in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal. While the study reveals major sources of emissions and shows the potential of alternative building materials, it also opens doors to broader implications. First of all, the study only accounted for civil construction materials during the construction stage. Future studies must include sanitary and electrical infrastructure, along with emissions during the full building life cycle—design and occupation through maintenance and teardown—for a comprehensive view.Second, carbon reduction will not only involve substituting materials but will equally target new building practices, recycling, and reuse. The integration of the use of renewable energy to manufacture materials and the promotion of circular economy practices could further reduce carbon intensity. Third, the findings have policy implications. They can be utilized in the development of green public procurement (GPP) systems for Nepal, guiding government ministries towards low-carbon building. They would be supported through international collaboration and benchmarking with other developing countries. Lastly, the study emphasizes the need to adopt multi-dimensional approaches that bring together technical, economic, and policy interventions in order to reduce embodied carbon and align with global sustainability and climate ambitions.
Prof. Madhav Prasad Koirala, PhD
Benwood-McMechen Library
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This page is a summary of: Examining Carbon Emissions in Building Materials: A Case Study of Government Buildings in Pokhara Metropolitan City, September 2023, Innovations Publication,
DOI: 10.54882/7420237411040.
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