There is lot of opportunity in the design phase in offsetting a building effectively. Our professionals at Co₂nsensus have worked out research to share you with some tips. These tips are to improve basic design of your building and make it carbon free and sustainable throughout its life cycle period. These tips are as follows:

In the design phase there lie great opportunities of carbon reduction. According to Andrea Charlson, senior engineer of advanced technology at Arup, in the design phase is when building details could be improved, alternative layouts could be compared, and materials could be best selected to use lesser material. As soon as design phase progresses, these opportunities start disappearing and so it is better to start early, according to the engineer.
Co2nsensus works closely on how modern technology works. Based on this knowledge, we propose few basic considerations to improve the design of a building. Very firstly is HVAC consideration which is 40 percent of all carbon emissions from a building. We propose efficient heating ventilation and conditions systems for a building with efficient maintenance operations to lower the impact from its root. Then Co₂nsensus would propose continuous insulation (continuous across all structure members) which directly cut emissions and provides water, vapour, thermal and air control in one layer of a system. Continuous insulation means simplifying construction to its best. Then renewable energy, lighting, recycled content usage, water usage and location remain further important considerations to improve the lasting of the structure.
During the early planning, building’s life cycle assessment (LCA) also remains a crucial task. LCA from the beginning means analysing flows (water, energy, material and waste) of the building right away for knowing collective environmental impact later.
LCA of material means a set of life cycle inventory data. Manufacturers reveal such information in form of environmental product declarations which should be used to calculate building’s material carbon footprint or total carbon impact.

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