The biggest environmental impact of data centres is in their use of power and water for cooling, but they are also heavy in terms of embedded carbon.

In contrast, the built scheme used P-DfMA, worked to minimise the size of the basement and decarbonised the MEP services using heat pumps..The results showed that the upfront carbon (the carbon used on day one to manufacture the materials, transport them to site, and to install them) was reduced by.

between the BaU scheme and the as-built performance of the P-DfMA scheme.This is a significant improvement which can be attributed to both the use of DfMA and the low carbon specification of materials..Embodied carbon comparisons.

The breakdown on a whole life basis (the embodied carbon both on day one and ongoing across the next 60 years, accounting for any maintenance and repairs and what happens when the building or components are at their end of life), shows the superstructure, external wall including curtain walling, and MEP to be the predominant contributors to the whole life carbon.These are the main areas where lessons can be learned on how to reduce embodied carbon.. As-built embodied carbon analysis.

There is a perception across the construction industry that operational carbon is more significant than embodied carbon.

Our results show that operational carbon is expected to account for around a third of whole life carbon over the next 60 years (decarbonisation of the electricity grid is not currently accounted for).As a result, it becomes technically and financially feasible to offset any carbon emission through the use of building mounted, renewable technologies.

This means that for certain types of residential buildings, it is possible to achieve net zero operational carbon without the need for a PPA.For non-residential buildings however a PPA is still necessary.

Due to low energy demand, any price increases associated with PPA or offsetting, achieving net zero carbon becomes affordable..This is in contrast to a UK Part L1a compliant building, which in order to become net zero would require a PV array larger than the area available on its roof.