DMA2: Embodied Carbon Measurement & Disclosure
Maximum Score
5 points
Input Method
Assessment Portal
Prefill
Not eligible
Scoring method
Static
Validation
Evidence is manually validated
Does the entity measure the embodied carbon emissions of its development projects?
Assessment Instructions
Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?
This indicator assesses whether the entity measures the embodied carbon emissions of its development projects. Embodied carbon is an increasingly important sustainability issue that accounts for the carbon emissions throughout the whole life cycle of a building, excluding operational emissions (module B6). Assessment of the embodied carbon emissions is essential to understanding a project’s total carbon impact.
Input: How do I complete this indicator?
Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options.
Life cycle stages and building layers included in the scope: Select the options that apply to all measurements reported across the indicator.
Percentage of projects: Provide the percentage of all projects for which embodied carbon was measured during the reporting year. The numerator is the floor area of the projects for which the applicable requirements are in place. The denominator is the total floor area of all projects reported in DR1.
Note: The following sub-questions require participants to report quantitative embodied carbon metrics related to development projects completed during the reporting year, as well as the scope of what is included in the measurement:
Does the entity measure the embodied carbon of its new construction projects completed during the year?
Does the entity measure the embodied carbon of its major renovation projects completed during the year?
Portfolios without development projects completed during the reporting year should select the "Not Applicable" option.
Terminology
Modules A1-A3
A1-A3 (also referred to as ‘cradle to gate’) cover the carbon emissions released during extraction, processing, manufacture (including prefabrication of components or elements) and transportation of materials between these processes, until the product leaves the factory gates to be taken to site. Note that biogenic carbon sequestered in the products used should not be included in the assessment of the upfront carbon.
Module A4
A4 covers the carbon emissions released from the transport of materials or products from the factory gate to the construction site.
Module A5
A5 covers carbon emissions due to activities on site (site huts, machinery use etc.) and the production, transportation and end of life processing of materials wasted on site.
Disclosure
The act of making information or data readily accessible and available to all interested individuals and institutions. Disclosure does not need to be public, but must be external to the reporting entity and cannot be an internal and/or ad hoc communication within the participating entity.
Embodied carbon
Refers to emissions that arise from producing, procuring and installing the materials and components that make up a structure. It may also include the lifetime emissions from maintenance, repair, replacement and ultimately demolition and disposal.
Substructure
A substructure is the underlying foundation or supporting structure of a building. The substructure is below ground level and it transfers the load of the building into the sub-soil.
Superstructure
The superstructure is the portion of the building that is above ground. The superstructure of a building consists of wall, roofs, pillars or columns, doors, windows etc.
Finishes
Refers to decor within a building. The three main types of finishes include wall finishes, floor finishes and ceiling finishes. Examples of a finishes are the use of paint, or cladding.
Envelope
The envelope is the outer elements of a building, including walls, windows, roofs, and floors, including those in contact with earth.
Building services (MEP)
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering, are the three technical disciplines that encompass the systems that allow building interiors to be suitable for human use and occupancy. Examples include air conditioning systems, water supply & drainage systems, fire fighting systems, electrical power and lighting systems.
Furniture and appliances
Furniture includes movable articles or items that are used to make a room or building suitable for living or working in, such as tables, chairs, or desks. Appliances are devices or pieces of equipment designed to perform a specific task.
Validation: What evidence is required?
Evidence
The evidence provided will be subject to manual validation.
The evidence must sufficiently support the disclosure of the entity's embodied carbon emissions from its development projects. To be accepted, the evidence must:
Include a quantitative number representing total/absolute embodied carbon emissions that relates to the current or previous reporting year.
Demonstrate that the number reflects the entire portfolio (not just a project or a few). It must refer to the portion of the portfolio indicated in the indicator
Specify which projects or floor area(s) were included and align with the entity's selected stages & building layers.
Confirm that the embodied carbon data was officially disclosed to the entity's stakeholders
Examples of appropriate evidence include, but are not limited to:
Fund-level output from lifecycle assessment tools (e.g., One Click LCA, Vizcab, Madaster, eTool & Tally)
Consultant reports or technical memos that contain the methodology used, calculation results, etc.
Relevant sections of design or development sustainability reports that clearly present embodied carbon values for the development projects completed or attributed
If a hyperlink is provided, ensure that it is not outdated and that the relevant page can be accessed within two steps.
Scoring
Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?
The scoring of this indicator is equal ot the sum of points assigned to each selected sub-option:
Percentage number: The percentage of projects for which embodied carbon was measured is used as a multiplier of the available 3 points.
Disclosure: The disclosure of embodied carbon is scored 2 points and is subject to manual validation.
Evidence: The evidence is manually validated and assigned a multiplier, according to the table below. The evidence must support the validation requirements.
If any requirements are not met, the evidence may be partially accepted or not accepted, depending on the level of alignment with the requirements.
Accepted
2/2
Partially Accepted
1/2
Not Accepted
0
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GRESB require the embodied carbon disclosure to be made public?
No. GRESB defines disclosure as:
The act of making information or data readily accessible and available to all interested individuals and institutions. Disclosure must be shared externally. It cannot be an internal and/or ad hoc communication within the participating entity.
"Externally" does not necessarily mean public — GRESB does not require participants to publish embodied carbon emissions information on their website to fulfill this indicator's requirements.
Will the entity lose points if none of the portfolio's development projects were completed during the reporting year?
Three points of DMA2 are allocated to the input under the following sentence:
"Percentage of projects for which embodied carbon was measured the year:___%"
Two points are allocated to the input under:
"Has the entity disclosed the embodied carbon emissions of its development projects?"
Neither of these questions requires the entity to complete development projects during the reporting year. The questions that do refer specifically to projects completed during the reporting year include a 'Not applicable' option that doesn't have a scoring impact.
A typical approach to upfront carbon measurement follows these stages:
During the planning phase: an initial embodied carbon estimate can be calculated for the entire project. This is typically used as a static benchmark to compare the estimated and the actual final upfront carbon footprint.
During the final plans & design phase: developers can recalibrate the estimated impact and compare it to their initial projection. At this stage, it is possible to identify alternative efficiency measures at the lowest possible cost.
During construction: as the developer procures materials, they can update the embodied carbon calculation to incorporate both estimated and actual data.
As-built phase: after completion of the construction and procurement of all materials, the entity calculates a final embodied carbon figure. This value is then compared to the initial static benchmark and will illustrate the entity's efforts to decrease the footprint throughout construction.
This is aligned with the LEVEL(S) framework.
Therefore, for every ongoing or completed development project in the reporting year, it is appropriate to have an embodied carbon value associated with the project upon completion.
References
CDP Climate Change 2020 Questionnaire, C-CN6.6b/C-RE6.6b, C-CN6.6c/C-RE6.6c
RICS, 2017, Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment
The Institution of Structural Engineers, 2020, How to calculate embodied carbon
World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 2020, The Building System Carbon Framework
World Green Building Council, 2019, Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront Report
BS EN 15978:2011 - Sustainability of construction works. Assessment of environmental performance of buildings. Calculation method
ASHRAE
Get Support: Solution Providers
GRESB Solution Providers are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process.
The organizations below deliver commercially available solutions designed to help drive improvement for this indicator. Engagement is managed directly between the reporting entity and the Solution Provider.
GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance.
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