Abstract
As modern buildings become more energy efficient and more advanced in terms of integrated technical systems, the embodied emissions in these systems are receiving more attention. A recent advancement is the emergence, both within FME ZEN and other national research initiatives, of generic and comprehensive data sets for embodied emissions in ventilation systems, for which there has been a general lack, hindering a full understanding of their contribution to total building emissions. Initial studies applying the new databases indicate that the contribution from ventilation systems to building construction emissions is in the range of 5-10%, and likely higher when accounting for replacement and lifetime emissions. The contribution to lifetime emissions is heavily dependent on lifetime assumptions for components and ventilation systems, for which there is very little empirical evidence. The main part of the embodied emissions is found to be related to ductwork and air handling units. With increased attention to environmental impacts in general, the industry itself expects a significant increase in the number of available product EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) both as a response to market expectations and as a proactive measure for expected legislation.