Until recently it was believed that the embodied energy of a building was small in comparison to the energy used in sustaining the building over its lifespan. However, research has shown this belief is not always justified.

Whilst improving energy efficiency of the building envelope has resulted in reducing the operating energy of a home, embodied energy also needs to be considered.

With this in mind, work is underway for a life cycle assessment on the Jade 909 to determine the greenhouse gas impacts and breakeven point if no renewable energy was used (ie where operational savings off-set embodied energy).

This life cycle assessment will prove to be invaluable in determining the impact of embodied energy and the outcomes may influence the sustainable design process.