We use cookies to ensure we gve you the best experience on our website, You can find out about our cookies and how to disable cookies in our Privacy Policy. Ifyou continue to use this website without disabling cookies, we will assume you are happy to receive them. Close. Designing Buildings Wiki Share your construction industry knowledge wow designingbuidings.co.uk Last edited 11 Dec 2018 Cradle-to-grave ‘The term ‘cradle-to-grave' isan approach to defining tho boundaries of an embodied enorgy assessment which involves measuring or estimating the total energy consumed in through the entire life-cycle ofa product (such as a building, or its individual components). This may Include gas energy, electricity, ol, and so on, but can also include features that may not be as ‘easy to quantity, such as water use and ecological impact ‘The boundaries ofthe assessment in terms of ‘eradle-to-grave' extend from the extraction of the resources required to create the product (‘cradle’) trough its use phase, tos ultimate disposal (grave! -in other words the total amount of embodied energy thatthe product ‘consumes’ during is ful if cycle. Acradle-to-grave assessment can help develop a holistic view of a project and its embodied energy, butt can be dificult to estimate accurately, [Embodied energy consumption can be dvided ino the folowing categories: 1B Initial embodied energy (cradle’) Energy needed to produce the product (including extraction, processing, manufacturing, transporting, assembly, and so on) © Recurring embodied energy: Maintenance and refurbishment during its Ife-cyce, |B Demolition energy (‘grave’): Demoltion ane disposal of the product and the energy required itis important to note that a cradle-to-grave assessment of embodied energy excludes the energy required to actually operate the product, such as the energy required to heat, cool, light or power a building ‘Other boundaries used forthe assessment of embodied energy include ‘radle-to-gate’, and ‘radle-to-radle Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki Carbon footprint Design ie, Embodied energy End of lite potential Eneray certificates. Energy related products regulations. Fitness for purpose. Funeton, Lite cycle, Lite cycle assessment IHBC pe MARBLE CHINA SU Featured articles and news ‘An introduction to stoneStructures atthe end oftheir design life. Sustainable materials. Utilising fe cycle costing and life cycle assessment. Where does embodied carbon analysis stop? From alabaster to travertine — how many types 60 you know? Free BRE guide to indoor lighting bre Cease nen Comoepres imran iat Ene boce ters) ee brereust Well-designed lighting helps maintain a healthy physiological and psychological balance, Making BREEAM contractually enforceable Transfering the risk for obtaining the target BREEAM rating The 5 whys A simple but effective way to determine the root cause of an issue.‘Smart connected HVAC BSRIA report suggest the European market will ouble to 415 millon Euros by 2023. Wellmade builings ‘Why a wollboing strategy is vital for property managers ‘An ECA briefing for members about the ‘commercial implications of leaving the EU. Practical completion