ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to view the somewhat abstract notion of carbon emissions in the built environment on a more understandable and human scale. Carbon emissions can be reduced at all scales, and changes to individual behaviour can make a significant difference. The client wanted to understand the scale of individual carbon emissions in relation to other site-generated emissions, such as operational, embodied, transport, etc. Frequency amplifies the impact of lifestyle choices and their carbon saving potential. The carbon difference between hot drinks options is relatively big, but the emissions of any of them compared with other sectors – like construction or cooling loads – are tiny. The key to successfully implementing the strategy is to find suitable, less carbon-intensive activities that are also personal and rewarding. In fact, the embodied carbon of households is seven times larger than the equivalent for a place of work.
