Dealing with Embodied Carbon in Irish Construction

Within KSN we promote the awareness of Green Building Products in the Irish Construction Industry. Trying to reduce the amount of Carbon in building products (Embodied Carbon) in Ireland is key to meeting Ireland’s carbon reduction targets. The long-term goal is to construct buildings in materials which have required zero carbon to create them.

The energy efficiency in the running of buildings has been well developed over the past 10 years and most people in the industry understand the ratings and terminology associated with energy certificates such as BER rating, Leed, etc. The next step for the industry to challenge is to reduce the amount of carbon in building construction and building products, Embodied Carbon and the Life Cycle Carbon of buildings. This is even more important now with our new buildings run efficiently, the larger proportion of carbon is mainly produced in the construction.

Embodied Carbon in Irish Construction

Reducing Embodied Carbon in Ireland’s Building

To reduce embodied carbon in Ireland’s building we need to learn how to measure and design buildings with products and methods of construction which enable us to tackle the embodied carbon element. This in turn provides a great opportunity to for all members of the development process to set targets, design and construct in innovative ways and with more sustainable products.
10 years ago, we looked at the operational ratings of our buildings. Now we need to benchmark and rate the embodied carbon in our buildings.

One of the leaders in tackling embodied carbon in buildings is the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC). IGBC are trying to promote awareness of embodied energy through CPD education, training in measurement of embodied carbon and creating a register of embodied energy in products in Ireland (Environmental Product Declarations – EPD).

As part of this we would like to make you aware of the IGBC EPD Campaign which is to promote measuring embodied carbon in construction materials and for product manufacturers to have their products certified with EPD’s. The campaign asks you to sign a declaration to promote EPD certification of building products. IGBC have a link to outline how to complete this with all information at :

Please see KSN’s EPD declaration which outlines our commitment in this regard. We therefore would appreciate it if you could commit to a form of this.
KSN_EPD_Commitment.pdf (ksnenergy.ie)

If you would like any assistance in this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For your information IGBC is a not-for-profit organisation with registered charity status. If you would like to join, you can do so at:
Membership – Irish Green Building Council (igbc.ie)