Filling the Gap: Measuring Embodied Carbon in MEP Systems
Friday, October 23, 2026 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM · 1 hr. (US/Eastern)
Materials, Reuse & Embodied CarbonReuse & Embodied Carbon
Information
Recent research from MEP 2040 and the Carbon Leadership Forum shows that mechanical systems may represent >25% of buildings’ material emissions and >50% of whole life carbon emissions. While LCA methodology has been successfully applied to building structures, facades, and interiors, quantifying the upfront carbon impact of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems remains a significant hurdle. Though tools, such as “The Beginners Guide to MEP Embodied Carbon” are beginning to address these challenges, significant data gaps persist.
Illuminated by real-world case studies, this session will illustrate the challenges and opportunities of quantifying the embodied carbon associated with MEP systems. Trane, a major manufacturer of MEP equipment, will present their work to make EPD data more widely available across their global product portfolio, dealing with challenges such as the lack of sufficient product category rules and complex, highly configured products. Responding to the lack of available data today, an architect and a sustainability consultant will present two differing approaches to filling data gaps, one that prioritizes the ability for users to draw actionable conclusions relatively quickly and one that aims to fill data gaps as accurately as possible. KPF will present how an LCA workflow using available proxy data, scaling available EPDs, and substituting material quantities for equipment was used to make low-carbon design decisions on a high-rise commercial office building. SOCOTEC will present a case study that uses the CIBSE TM65 Methodology to fill in missing data when conducting LCAs of existing multi-family buildings in Boston that are considering varying levels of energy efficiency upgrades. The case study seeks to balance tradeoffs between embodied and operational carbon impacts across different renovation scopes. Though they differ in objective and outcome, data from all three approaches reveal carbon impact hotspots and potential reduction strategies at the building, systems, and product level.
Illuminated by real-world case studies, this session will illustrate the challenges and opportunities of quantifying the embodied carbon associated with MEP systems. Trane, a major manufacturer of MEP equipment, will present their work to make EPD data more widely available across their global product portfolio, dealing with challenges such as the lack of sufficient product category rules and complex, highly configured products. Responding to the lack of available data today, an architect and a sustainability consultant will present two differing approaches to filling data gaps, one that prioritizes the ability for users to draw actionable conclusions relatively quickly and one that aims to fill data gaps as accurately as possible. KPF will present how an LCA workflow using available proxy data, scaling available EPDs, and substituting material quantities for equipment was used to make low-carbon design decisions on a high-rise commercial office building. SOCOTEC will present a case study that uses the CIBSE TM65 Methodology to fill in missing data when conducting LCAs of existing multi-family buildings in Boston that are considering varying levels of energy efficiency upgrades. The case study seeks to balance tradeoffs between embodied and operational carbon impacts across different renovation scopes. Though they differ in objective and outcome, data from all three approaches reveal carbon impact hotspots and potential reduction strategies at the building, systems, and product level.
Learning Level
Advanced
Program
Track Session
Track
Materials, Reuse & Embodied Carbon
Learning Objective #1
Describe the impact of mechanical systems in buildings’ material emissions and whole life carbon emissions.
Learning Objective #2
Analyze persistent data gaps that prevent LCA methodology from being smoothly applied to MEP equipment, especially for large buildings and complex equipment.
Learning Objective #3
Assess differing approaches to filling data gaps in MEP LCA by using proxy data, expanding available EPDs, and implementing CIBSE TM65 Methodology.
Learning Objective #4
Describe the relative strengths of each method and apply these novel methods to MEP LCA in real-world scenarios.
