Reducing Embodied Carbon Whitepaper Promotional Video

Wall Systems Evaluated - The four wall systems compared were a Kingspan insulated metal panel (IMP) system insulated with a QuadCore® insulation core, an IMP insulated with mineral fiber, insulated concrete, and tilt-up concrete. Each building design shares several common elements across the four buildings but varies per the requirements of each wall system in areas such as structural members and associated foundations.
While the shared elements accounted for the vast majority of the mass of the buildings, the primary aim of this study was to compare wall envelopes and quantify the environmental impacts of wall system selection. The Life-Cycle Analysis was done using Tally LCA Software as provided by KieranTimberlake.
Purpose of Assessment - The purpose of the study is to understand the embodied environmental impact, in particular embodied carbon, of a building constructed using Kingspan products compared to the same building constructed with normative materials.
Assessment Scope and System Boundary - The study examines four variations of a 150,000-square-foot warehouse in Philadelphia, PA, to determine the environmental impacts of structure, envelope, and interior assemblies over a 60-year building life. The analysis accounts for the full cradle-to-grave life cycle of the whole building for each of the four options studied across all life cycle stages. The stages include material manufacturing, maintenance and replacement, and eventual end of life.