Proposed New ASHRAE Standard Addresses the Embodied Carbon of MEP

Standard 240P, being Developed Jointly by ASHRAE and the ICC, will Accelerate Decarbonization with a Whole-life Carbon Approach.


Heating pipes. Credit: Pieter de KnijffPexels

ASHRAE and the International Code Council (ICC) are jointly developing a new standard, ASHRAE Standard 240P, expected by 2025. ASHRAE standards, widely adopted in the building industry, lacked focus on embodied carbon until now.

Standard 240P, “Evaluating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Carbon Emissions in Building Design, Construction and Operation,” introduces a whole-life carbon approach, covering operational and embodied carbon emissions for buildings and building systems. It includes guidelines for calculating and reporting the embodied carbon of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, addressing a significant portion of a building’s embodied carbon.

The standard calls for a standardized approach to GHG accounting, promoting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and is expected to drive demand for low-carbon building materials. Currently in the proposal stage, the standard aims for publication by 2025, with public consultation and industry collaboration in its development process.

One Click LCA’s MEP Carbon Tool can assist in calculating MEP whole-life carbon.

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