Embodied energy refers to the total energy required for the entire lifecycle of a building, from extracting and processing raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, replacement, and eventual disposal or recycling. There are three main types of embodied energy: initial embodied energy for the initial construction; recurring embodied energy for maintenance and refurbishment over the lifetime of the building; and demolition energy for dismantling and disposal at the end of the building's life. Calculating embodied energy involves determining the amount of non-renewable energy used per unit of building material or component. Reducing embodied energy helps lower the overall environmental impact of buildings through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies for lowering embodied energy include designing for longevity, reusing and

1. EMBODIED
ENERGY
SUBMITTED BY:
IQBAL AZAM
BA/AR/1601/011

2. Embodied energy is the energy
consumed by all of the processes
associated with the production of a
building, from the mining and
processing of natural resources to
manufacturing, transport and product
delivery.
INTRODUCTION
Embodied energy includes:
• Extraction of raw materials
• Transportation to factory
• Manufacture of product / components
• Assembly of product / system
• Transportation to site / point of sale
• Installation / construction
• Maintenance
• Replacement
• Disposal / re-purposing / recycling

3. •Initial embodied energy
•Recurring embodied energy
•Demolition energy
Initial embodied energy:
Initial embodied energy is the total energy that is consumed to extract raw materials,
manufacture and transport products and components, and construct a building.
TYPES OF EMBODIED ENERGY
Raw material Transports Manufacturing
Cons. siteManufacturing Transports

4. Recurring embodied energy:
The energy needed to refurbish and maintain the building over its lifetime.
Building Maintenance Till building life
Demolition energy:
The energy necessary to demolish and dispose of the
building at the end of its life.
Demolition Transport
Dispose
Reuse
or

5. Calculation of Embodied energy:
Embodied energy is measured as the
quantity of non-renewable energy per
unit of building material, component or
system. It is expressed in megajoules (MJ)
or gigajoules (GJ) per unit weight (kg or
tonne) or area (m2) but the process
of calculating embodied energy is
complex and involves numerous sources
of data.

6. Consuming energy results in the
production of greenhouse gas
emissions. Excess amounts of
greenhouse gases lead to global
warming and damage the
environment, therefore embodied
energy can be considered a
measure of the overall
environmental impact of building
materials
EMBODIED ENERGY IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
GUIDELINE FOR REDUCING THE EMBODIED ENERGY
•Design for long life and adaptability, using durable low maintenance materials.
•Modify or refurbish instead of demolishing or adding.
•Ensure construction wastes are reused or recycled.
•Use locally sourced materials to reduce transport.
•Select materials that can be reused or recycled easily at the end of their lives using
existing recycling systems
•specifying standard sizes of materials
•Give preference to materials that have been manufactured using renewable energy
sources.

7. REUSE AND RECYCLING
Reuse of building materials commonly saves about 95% of embodied energy that
would otherwise be wasted. However, some materials such as bricks and roof tiles may
be damaged when reused.

8. EXAMPLE OF EMBODIED ENERGY CALCULATION REALIZATION APARTMENT BUILT BY THE
AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUE
According to AVEI Mother Earth gave us two challenges:
How to build with earth on a large scale, while respecting Nature?
How to realize architecture full of light, suppleness, simplicity, imagination and beauty with a
heavy and formless mud?
•Initial embodied energy for realization is almost 4 times less than a conventional building.
•Low emission for construction and use

9. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR LOW EMBODIED ENERGY
•Compressed Stabilized Earth Block (CSEB )and
stabilized earth from foundation to roof
•Wind energy
•Rainwater harvesting
•Water treatment plant
•Earth tunnel for natural air condition
•Filler slab
Earthen pot as filler material in roof
Earth tunnel for natural air condition