> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.betterbuilding.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.betterbuilding.io/user-guide/workflows/carbon/carbon-faqs/embodied-energy-introduction.md).

# Embodied Energy - Introduction

Building envelope selection is primarily a structural, aesthetic and/or performance consideration but also has an environmental impact. It is becoming increasingly important to select materials with the least negative environmental effects. The life-cycle assessment approach can be used to determine the environmental impacts of material selection, where material contents, production methods, energy requirements, and waste are analysed to identify the real cost of material, reflecting the total amount of its environmental impact. The International Standards Organization specifies methods for the life-cycle analysis (ISO, 2006).

Life-cycle analysis is the energy required to extract, process, transport, install, recycle, or dispose of the material. The embodied energy is commonly measured in megajoules (MJ) per unit of mass (kg) or volume (m³) of the material.

There are numerous factors to consider when determining a material’s embodied energy. The table below includes the energy required for mining or harvesting the raw materials, shipping and transporting them to the manufacturing facility, processing the raw materials into the building products, and shipping them to the construction site. Disposal and recycling when the building is demolished must also be considered.

The calculation is complex and involves many project-specific variables and assumptions: How close to the project site are the points of extraction and manufacture? What will be the means of shipping? How long is the building expected to last? These and other questions may be unanswerable.

| **Material**                     | **Embodied energy (MJ/kg)** |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Aluminium                        | 226                         |
| Cast virgin                      | 25                          |
| Cast recycled (33%)              | 214                         |
| Extruded virgin                  | 34                          |
| Extruded recycled (33%)          | 217                         |
| Rolled virgin                    | 28                          |
| Rolled recycled (33%)            | 226                         |
| Brick                            | 3.0                         |
| **Cement**                       |                             |
| Portland                         | 0.95                        |
| Fly ash (6–20%)                  | 0.89 to 0.76                |
| Fly ash (21–35%)                 | 0.75 to 0.62                |
| Mortar                           | 0.22                        |
| **Concrete**                     |                             |
| General                          | 1.0                         |
| Fly ash (15%)                    | 0.97                        |
| Fly ash (30%)                    | 0.89                        |
| Precast                          | 1.5                         |
| **Glazing**                      |                             |
| Primary                          | 15                          |
| Toughened                        | 24                          |
| **Insulation**                   |                             |
| Mineral wool                     | 17                          |
| Polystyrene                      | 87                          |
| Polyurethane                     | 102                         |
| Fibreboard                       | 20                          |
| Glazing fibre reinforced polymer | 100                         |
| Polycarbonate                    | 113                         |
| Paint                            | 70                          |
| **Steel**                        |                             |
| Virgin                           | 35                          |
| Recycled                         | 95                          |
| Stainless                        | 7                           |
| **Stone**                        |                             |
| Granite                          | 11                          |
| Limestone                        | 1.5                         |
| Marble                           | 2.0                         |
| Sandstone                        | 1.0                         |
| Slate                            | 0.1 to 1.0                  |
| **Wood**                         |                             |
| General                          | 10                          |
| Glue laminated                   | 12                          |
| MDF                              | 11                          |
| OSB                              | 15                          |
| Plywood                          | 15                          |
| **PV panels**                    |                             |
| Monocrystalline                  | 4,750                       |
| Polycrystalline                  | 4,070                       |
| Thin film                        | 1,305                       |


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