In or out?: The role of embodied carbon in building services in residential building consents
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Authors
Birchmore, Roger
Wood, L.
Grey, Michael
Kestle, Linda
Wood, L.
Grey, Michael
Kestle, Linda
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2025-12
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Conference Contribution - Oral Presentation
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New Zealand
domestic architecture
housing
embodied energy
carbon footprint
domestic architecture
housing
embodied energy
carbon footprint
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Birchmore, R., Wood, L., Grey, M., & Kestle, L. (2025, December, 1-5). In or out?: The role of embodied carbon in building services in residential building consents [Paper presentation]. ITP Rangahau & Research Symposium 2025 + OPSITARA 2025, New Zealand.
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/7152
Abstract
New Zealand’s drive to zero carbon by 2050 includes ambitious reduction targets for the construction industry. Previously, operational energy was the focus of these targets, and resulted in steadily increasing standards embedded in business-as-usual prqacties, that have the potential to reduce operational carbon. Embodied carbon is a much more recent consideration. The Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has developed a methodology for whole-of-life embodied carbon, but the developmental nature means that this is not yet part of the Building Code. It proposes that building services are an optional inclusion, with uncertainty about the contribution to the embodied carbon footprint. Internationally, manufacturers are increasingly publishing the embodied carbon of individual pieces of building services equipment. However, the cost of producing a full Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) can be a barrier, and questions remain about even the broad accuracy of some of this data. This research outlines multiple case-studies that estimate the contribution of Electrical, Plumbing Drainage, and HVAC services across specific life cycle stages. The range of answers found can be used to guide thinking on suitable whole-house targets for use in the building consent process. Building services in a single building type is shown to vary between 5% and 21% of the total building whole-of-life embodied carbon, depending upon the Functional Units, LCA scope, and the base building’s embodied carbon. Proposed calculation and reporting protocols use existing Building Code mechanisms of Verification Methods and Approved Solutions for designers and other practitioners.The range in the Findings underlines the importance of incorporating an agreed detailed assessment methodology for application to a wider building stock.
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