BRE4281-Construction

Engineering
Management
Green Labelling Schemes for
Construction Materials
Dr. Yongtao TAN and Dr. Ann YU
Department of Building & Real
Estate
The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University

1
 Lecture Outline

o Background
o Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in Building Sector
o Overseas / Local Green Labelling Schemes
o Carbon Footprint of Building

2
 Background

 What is green labelling scheme?

o An independent, non-profit and voluntary scheme

o Sets environmental standards and presents the certification of environmentally
preferable products
o Both goods and services
o Sectors: food/ retail/ energy/ manufacturing/ building and construction

3
 Background

 Why HK needs green labelling schemes for buildings?

o A main consumer of basic resources

o A major producer of solid waste & pollutions

Buildings in Hong Kong

89% of the total electricity consumption
Over 60% of the total GHG emission from electricity generation

o Demanding for sustainable building and construction

4
 Background

 Environmental Impacts (7 categories) of Buildings

Abiotic Depletion (ADP) Ozone Layer Depletion Potential

(ODP)

Acidification Potential (AP) Photochemical Ozone Creation

Potential (POCP)
Eutrophication Potential (EP) Radioactive Radiation (RAD)

Global Warming Potential(GWP

100 years)

5
Background

 Environmental Impacts (7 categories) of Buildings

6 (Source: Koroneos, et al., 2007)

Background

 Environmental Impacts (7 categories) of Buildings

7 (Source: Koroneos, et al., 2007)

Background

 Global Warming Potential

o Bangladesh during extreme floods

o By 2050 one-fifth in south part of Bangladesh will go under the sea level; at
least 2-million people will lose their habitations

8
 Background

 Global Warming Potential

o Maldives – on average 1.2 meter above sea level

o Facing the destiny as 'climate refugees'
o Sent climate SOS with undersea cabinet

9
 Ecolabelling

Definition Objectives
 "Ecolabelling" is a voluntary method of  Protecting the environment
environmental performance certification  Encouraging environmentally sound
and labelling that is practised around the
innovation and leadership
world. An "ecolabel" is a label which
 Building consumer awareness of
identifies overall, proven environmental
preference of a product or service within a environmental issues
specific product/service category.
 In many instances, such labelling has taken
the form of ecolabels awarded to products
approved by an ecolabelling program
operated at a national or regional (i.e.
multi-countries) level. These internationally
recognised programs form the
membership of GEN (Global Ecolabelling
Network).

10
 Ecolabelling  

Voluntary Environmental Performance Labelling -- ISO Definitions 

a voluntary, multiple-criteria based, third party program that awards a
license that authorises the use of environmental labels on products
  TYPE I    indicating overall environmental preferability of a product within a
particular product category based on life cycle considerations. Examples:
Japanese Eco-Mark, Canadian Environmental Choice
      
informative environmental self-declaration claims.
 
  TYPE II Examples: Recyclable content, Biodegradable
      
voluntary programs that provide quantified environmental data of a
product, under pre-set categories of parameters set by a qualified third
  TYPE III   party and based on life cycle assessment, and verified by that or another
qualified third party.
Examples: Eco-Leaf, Korean Environmental Declaration of Products

11 Source: http://www.globalecolabelling.net/docs/documents/intro_to_ecolabelling.pdf
 Ecolabelling  

Comparison of the Three Types of Labels and Declarations

Criteria Areas / Metrics: Life Cycle Consideration:

Type I multiple Type I yes
Type II single Type II no
Type III multiple Type III yes

Selectivity: Third Party Verification/Certification:

Type I yes Type I yes
Type II no Type II preferred
Type III no Type III yes

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 Ecolabelling
Guiding Principles for Ecolabelling
Voluntary participation
Compliance to environmental and other relevant legislation
Consideration of "fitness for purpose" and level of overall performance
Based on sound scientific and engineering principles
Criteria must distinguish leadership
Criteria must be credible, relevant, attainable, and measurable/verifiable
Independence
Open and accountable process
Flexibility
Consistency with ISO 14020 and ISO 14024 guiding principles (or other appropriate
documents)

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 Ecolabelling
Major Participants

14
Global Ecolabelling Network (2004)
 Ecolabelling

Measuring Success

Improvement in environmental quality of certified products

Industry participation

Consumer recognition and demand

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Global Ecolabelling Network (2004)
Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

1. Green Building Rating System

Aim:

Measure the “Greenness” of building through

the assessment of various environmental
impacts

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Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

1. Green Building Rating System

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Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

1. Green Building Rating System

Environmental performance criteria

Site Management Energy efficiency

Air & Atmosphere Materials

Indoor Environmental
Water
Quality

Transport Global Warming

Waste & Pollution Ecology

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Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

1. Green Building Rating System

Certification & Levels of award

BEAM Plus BREEAM LEED Green Star

Platinum Outstanding Platinum ****** (World leadership)

Gold Excellent Gold ***** (Australian excellence)

Silver Very good Silver **** (Best practice)

Bronze Good Certified ***

Pass **

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Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

1. Green Building Rating System

BEAM Plus
 Scope: New & Existing Buildings, Interiors and
Neigbourhood
 Assessment Criteria:
o Management
o Site Aspects
o Materials and Waste Aspects
o Energy Use
o Water Use
o IEQ
o Innovations and Additions

 Level of award:
o Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze
 AP: BEAM Pro
20 https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/index.aspx
Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

2. Carbon Labelling Scheme

Aim:
o Measure and label the carbon footprint of

products;

o Identify the opportunities of carbon reduction

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Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

2. Carbon Labelling Scheme

o Sectors: food/ retail/ energy/ manufacturing/

building and construction

22
Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

23
Categories of Green Labelling Scheme in
Building Industry

3. Green Building Labelling Scheme

Aim:

o Assess the environmental impacts of

building products and identify the

opportunities of impact mitigation

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 Overseas Green Labelling Schemes

o Green Building Material Labelling Scheme, Taiwan

o Environmental Labelling Program, China

o Environment Association Certification Criteria, Japan

o Singapore Green Building Product Certification Scheme, Singapore

o Singapore Green Label, Singapore

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 Overseas Green Labelling Schemes

o Greener Product Certification Seal, US

o European EcoLabel, EU

o Environmental Profiles Certification Scheme, UK

o Good Environmental Choice, Australia

o Environmental Choice, New Zealand

o Blue Angel, Germany

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes

Carbon Labelling Scheme, CIC

Green Building Product Labelling Scheme, HKGBC

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes

CIC Carbon Labelling Scheme

 Scope:

o 3 materials: Cement, Structural Steel/Reinforcing Bar, Ready-mixed Concrete

 Assessment criteria:
o CFP

 Level of award: A ~ E

 AP: Certified Carbon Auditor

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes
CIC Carbon Labelling Scheme
Assessment method

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes
CIC Carbon Labelling Scheme

Procedures

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes
CIC Carbon Labelling Scheme

CIC Carbon Label (Sample)

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes

HKGBC GREEN PRODUCT ACCREDITATION AND STANDARDS (HK G-PASS)

Scope: 15 building product categories

- Extruded Aluminium Product
- Glazing
- Panel Board
- Ceramic Tile Assessment criteria:
- Stone (Natural / Artificial) All assessment criteria are divided into two scoring
- Furniture types: “Core Criteria” and “Non-core Criteria” based
- Plant-based Fibre Composite on the significance of the criteria with reference to Life
- Paint & Coating Cycle Consideration.
- Wall Covering Level of ratings
- Adhesive & Sealant
- Chiller
- CFL
- LED Lighting
- Electronic Ballast
32 - Cable & Wire AP: Certified Scheme Verifier (CSV)
 Local Green Labelling Schemes

HKGBC GREEN PRODUCT ACCREDITATION AND STANDARDS (HK G-PASS)

Certification process

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 Local Green Labelling Schemes

 Voluntary Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme, EMSD

 Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme, EMSD

 Green Label Scheme, HK Green Council

 Hong Kong Eco-label, HKFEP

34
 Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP)
labelling scheme
 The Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) labelling scheme is jointly

administered by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and TÜV

SÜD PSB Pte Ltd (TÜV SÜD PSB).

 It is the first and only dedicated labelling scheme for green building

products in Singapore.

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 Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP)
labelling scheme

Key features of the SGBP Benefits of certification

 A holistic and comprehensive  Possess a competitive edge in the
approach to building product rating industry
 Relevant assessment criteria drafted  Proven sustainability performance
by the industry, for the industry  Ready acceptance by the industry
 Certified products accrue additional  Enhance global access
points under the BCA Green Mark
 Wider industry exposure and
Scheme
awareness
 Adheres to ISO14024 Type I
 Rating level differentiates your
Environmental Labelling Programme
requirements products in the market
 Accredited under Singapore
Accreditation Council (SAC) to
ISO/IEC 17065 requirements

36
 Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP)
labelling scheme
Assessment criteria:
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Resource Efficiency
Health and Environmental Protection
Other Green Features

Rating levels:

37
 Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP)
labelling scheme
SGBP Product Classifications

38
 What are Carbon Footprints?

Let’s look at a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Dwkh46MZuIc

A carbon footprint is the amount greenhouse gases - primarily

CO2 (carbon dioxide) – released into the atmosphere by a
particular human activity within a time frame. It is usually
measured as tons of CO2 emitted.

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

What are the main causes of carbon footprint?

Carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases are caused by the burning of
fossil fuels in the environment. ... The more electricity we use, there is more
fuel consumption for electricity production, leading to further increase in carbon
dioxide.

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Why carbon emissions of building sector are important?

 Climate Change

 The Kyoto Protocol

 90% of electricity consumption in Hong Kong

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

What are 5 ways to reduce your carbon footprint?

1. learn the 5 R's: refuse, reduce, reuse, rot, recycle: Going zero
waste is a great step towards combating climate change. ...
2. bike more and drive less: ...
3. conserve water and protect our waterways: ...
4. eat seasonally, locally, and more plants: ...
5. switch to sustainable, clean energy: …

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Carbon Footprint of Building

HK’s target

 Kyoto Protocol 1997

 The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali 2007

 G8 Summit in Italy 2009

Copenhagen Commitment 2009

China, 2009: Reduce carbon intensity by 40-45% by 2020/2005

Hong Kong, 2010: Reduce carbon intensity by 50-60% by 2020/2005
China, 2015: Reduce carbon intensity by 60-65% by 2030/2005
Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015, http://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/ClimateChangeEng.pdf

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

Six GHGs:

 Carbon dioxide (CO2)

 Methane (CH4)
 Nitrous oxide (N2O)
 Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
 Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
 Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

 Global warming potentials (GWP)

Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a
greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere up to a specific time horizon,
relative to carbon dioxide.

 CO2 equivalents (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide equivalent is a measure used to compare the emissions

from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming
potential. For example, the global warming potential for methane over
100 years is 21.
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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

Global warming potentials (GWP)

GHGs GWP100
CO2 1
CH4 25
NO2 298
HFCs 124-14800
PFCs 7390-12200
SF6 22800

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Calculate the impacts of GHGs

What is the CO2 equivalents of 100 tons of steel?

GHGs Amount(kg) GWP Impact (kgCO2e)

CO2 10 1 10

CH4 1 25 25

NO2 0.5 298 149

Total 184

Emission factor of steel = 1.84 kg CO2e/ton

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

 Initial emissions

o Embodied emissions of materials

o Construction emissions

 Operational emissions

 Renovation emissions

 End-life emissions

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

Initial emissions

Activity Share of CO2e

Emissions

Planning and design ≈ 0

Site investigation ≈ 0

Construction ≈ 18%

Embodied emissions of
≈ 82%
construction materials

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

 Operational emissions

Energy Consumption:

o Lighting
o Space heating / cooling
o Water heating
o Pumps
o Ventilation fans
o Misc. equipment

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 Carbon Footprint of Building

51
Source: Ng et al., 2013
 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

 Renovation emissions & End-life emissions

o Reuse
o Demolished

52
 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

Life-cycle stage Carbon Emissions %

Embodied 10 ~ 25
Operational 75 ~ 90
Renovation & End-life <1

53
 Carbon Footprint of Building

LC Carbon Emissions (in different stage)

Potential of Reducing Emissions during Building Life Cycle

(Source: Fieldson et al., 2009)
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 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

Embodied energy =? Embodied carbon /

Embodied carbon emissions /
Embodied GHG emissions
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.

Embodied carbon refers to carbon dioxide emitted during the

manufacture, transport and construction of building materials, together with
end of life emissions. So for example, if you are specifying concrete on a
project then carbon will have been emitted making that concrete.

55 Product Carbon Footprint vs. Embodied Carbon

 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

- describes the total GHG emissions caused directly and

indirectly by a person, organization, event or product

- measured in the units of kg or tonnes of CO2e (Carbon

Trust, 2007)

56
 Carbon Footprint of Building

Some basic Terms

Boundary and “cradle-to-site”

- From raw material acquisition to transport to the construction

site.
(PAS2050, 2011)

57
 Carbon Footprint of Building

Why building materials should be carbon labelled?

o GWP has become a global threat

o Construction industry consumes 40% of materials
o Emits significant amounts of GHGs

Select low-carbon materials

=
Reduce building carbon footprint

58
What Construction Materials are Carbon-intensive?

Ranking Materials
1 Concrete
2 Reinforcing Bars
3 Cast Iron
4 Ceramic Tiles
5 Aluminium
6 Glass
7 Brick and Blockwork
8 Structural Steel
9 Paint
10 Copper

(Source: CIC, 2011)

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What Construction Materials are Environmental
Unfriendly?45

Ranking Materials
1 Aluminium Paint (Timber Paint)
2 Copper
3 Aluminium
4 Wood Preventative Paint
5 Synthetic Paint
6 Chromium Brass
7 Alkali Resisting Primer Paint
8 Polysulphide Sealant
9 Silicone Sealant
10 Zinc Chromate Paint

(Source: Housing Authority, 2005)

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 An agenda for the future
 Raising consumer awareness

 Benchmarking

 Standardization

 Simulation technologies in carbon labelling

Wu, P., Xia, B., Peinaar,J. and Zhao,X.B. (2014). The past, present and future of carbon
labelling for construction materials- A review, Building and Environment 77, pp.160-168.

Zero Carbon Buildings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR9ZSNny0xg

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 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Headquarters
 13-story Class A office building
 277,500 square feet
 Houses over 900 employees
 Approximately 40% of project construction work performed by
San Francisco residents
 Project Completion Date: June, 2012
 Construction costs: $146.5 million
 Total project costs (includes moving, design, permitting, etc.):
$201.6 million
 $3.7 billion in ratepayer savings ($500M in 2011
dollars) over the 100-year building lifespan
 The building is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification
 Smart Building: Pioneering Sustainable Design & Construction
https://www.facebook.com/SFGovTV/posts/491135867593408

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 References

o Wu, P., Xia, B., Peinaar,J. and Zhao,X.B. (2014). The past, present and future of carbon labelling for
construction materials- A review, Building and Environment 77, pp.160-168.
o NG, S.T., CHEN, Y. and WONG, J. M.W. (2013). Variability of building environmental assessment tools
on evaluating carbon emissions. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 38, 131-141.
o Construction Industry Council (CIC), Hong Kong (2011). Research on Establishing a Hong Kong Based
Carbon Labelling Framework for Construction Materials: Review Report. Submitted by Department of
Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong.
o Fieldson, R., Rai, D., and Sodagar, B. (2009). Towards a framework for early estimation of lifecycle
carbon footprint of buildings in the UK. Construction Information Quarterly, 11(2), pp 66-75. ISSN
1469-4891.
o Koroneos, C., Dompros, A. and Loizidou, M. (2007). Life cycle assessment of an office building in
Greece
o Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) (2005). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
Study of Building Materials and Components: Final Report.
o Global Ecolabelling Network (2004). Introduction To Ecolabelling, Global Ecolabelling Network (Gen)
63 Information Paper, Retrieved from:
http://www.globalecolabelling.net/docs/documents/intro_to_ecolabelling.pdf
 Thank You !

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