INDICATE is a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) funded project to trial the national LCA calculator for Embodied Carbon and advise on benchmark possible A-G rating range in kg/CO2/m2 (similar to BER A-G rating for Primary Energy).  The national INDICATE project will enable an acceleration in integration of Whole Life Carbon (WLC) into regulation, public procurement, and industry. It will support the creation of an LCA-assessment methodology approach, data infrastructure and agreed methodology. As part of the project 30-50 validated LCAs will be conducted and the development of an open access online platform will ensure the data is easy to interrogate, analyse and use by industry, policy makers and researchers.

Having completed our 1st Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we are proud to have been recognised as INDICATE Champions – and look forward to continuing collaboration with IGBC and UCD.

The RIAI Climate Challenge sets a target for embodied carbon to be <800 kg CO2e/m2.

Some early learnings below:

• GGBS content in concrete has significant benefit
• External work  within curtilage including 50% of any shared boundaries are to be  included in the scope
• Use of product specific Environmental Product Declarations ( EPDs)  are critical to achieve the accuracy of the environmental impact

Simon Keogh – Senior Architect and Sustainability Co- Lead, COADY Architects

Luise Volschenk – Associate Director, COADY Architects

Dr Oliver Kinnane, Head of School. Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. University College Dublin

Marion Jammet, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Irish Green Building Council

Donal O’Donohue, Director, COADY Architects

Irish Green Building Council (igbc.ie)