Can Off-Site Construction Techniques Help Reduce Carbon?

As climate change intensifies, builders are exploring ways to reduce their carbon footprint. According to New Civil Engineer, citing a report from Supply Chain Sustainability School, one way to reduce carbon emissions is by using off-site construction methods. Because time on site is limited, off-site techniques optimize both logistics and the use of materials, ultimately cutting down on emissions. In fact, the study found off-site projects can lower energy-use emissions by 30% and transport emissions by 60% compared with conventional construction methods. 

Designing for manufacture and assembly, rather than fabrication onsite, can encourage optimal use of materials, bringing about emissions savings in this “product” stage. In an example from the residential sector, life cycle assessments of two Tide Construction modular developments found embodied carbon savings of 41% and 45% against conventional benchmarks, attributed to efficiencies in design enabled by the offsite system. Material use can also be more easily controlled in the factory environment, with less waste and damage to materials.

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