Recent studies highlight the significant environmental benefits of extending building lifespans.
Paired with a 20% reduction in building size, this approach could decrease carbon emissions from these structures by up to two-thirds, according to the study Urban Embodied Carbon Assessment: Methodology and Insights from Analyzing Over a Million Buildings in Chicago by Slavash Ghorbany and Ming Hu. This research underscores how design strategies focused on longevity and appropriate sizing can mitigate both embodied and operational carbon emissions, which are key contributors to the building sector’s climate impact.
Understanding Embodied and Operational Carbon
Buildings produce carbon emissions throughout their life cycle—from material extraction and construction (embodied carbon) to energy usage during occupancy (operational carbon). While operational emissions can be reduced through efficiency upgrades, embodied carbon is fixed at construction, making it vital to address early on. Embodied carbon accounts for nearly half of the sector’s emissions, and as buildings become more energy-efficient, these upfront emissions become increasingly significant.
The study emphasizes that extending building lifespans postpones the need for new construction, cutting emissions tied to material production, transport, and waste associated with demolition. Combined with a reduction in building size, this strategy aligns building scale with real needs while minimizing environmental impact.
Recent research emphasizes the potential environmental benefits of increasing the average lifespan of buildings.
Environmental Benefits of Extended Building Lifespans
Extending building lifespans brings both environmental and economic gains. Reducing demolition and reconstruction frequency lowers the demand for high-carbon materials, such as concrete and steel. Cement production alone contributes almost 8% of global emissions, so extending a building’s life dilutes its carbon impact over more years, substantially reducing annual emissions.
Moreover, prioritizing durability encourages better-quality construction, supporting the use of sustainable materials and techniques. A longer lifespan lessens the environmental impact of renovations and repairs, reducing waste and resource use.
The Impact of Right-Sizing: A 20% Reduction in Building Size
Right-sizing buildings by 20% amplifies these advantages. Smaller buildings require fewer resources for construction and consume less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting, lowering operational emissions across the structure’s lifespan. By leveraging modular designs and multifunctional spaces, architects and planners can create compact yet functional and comfortable spaces.
Smaller buildings also benefit developers financially, as construction and maintenance costs generally decrease with size. As regulations increasingly promote low-carbon building practices, these cost savings align well with environmental goals.
Complementary Strategies: Adaptive Reuse and Efficient Design
Extending building lifespans and downsizing are part of a larger movement toward sustainable construction. Adaptive reuse—repurposing buildings for new uses—avoids demolition, preserving embodied carbon while often maintaining cultural value. Whole-building life cycle assessments (WBLCA) also guide sustainable design, allowing designers to select low-emission materials and efficient structural systems.
Advances in materials also support this movement. For instance, using mass timber instead of steel can reduce embodied carbon, as timber stores carbon throughout its life. Carbon capture and innovative alternatives like clinker-free cement could further cut emissions from major building materials.
Preparing for a Low-Carbon Future
Industry leaders and policymakers increasingly recognize the need to address embodied carbon. Certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and the Living Building Challenge now incorporate whole-building assessments to support sustainable practices. Some regions are implementing carbon taxes and procurement policies that encourage low-emission designs.
Extending building lifespan and reducing size align with these trends, preparing developers for stricter emissions regulations. These strategies contribute to global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C by reducing emissions locked within the built environment.
The study demonstrates that extending lifespans to 75 or 80 years and downsizing buildings by 20% could reduce emissions by two-thirds, showing how thoughtful design can address both embodied and operational carbon. As construction expands worldwide, adopting these practices will be crucial to meeting climate goals and creating resilient urban spaces.
SiteMap® Supports Building Remodels
By adopting longer lifespans and right-sizing, the building industry sets a powerful example for sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and future generations. GPRS supports remodels and renovations through comprehensive subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction and project management services.
All this accurate, field-verified data is at your fingertips 24/7 thanks to SiteMap® (patent pending), our facility and project management application that provides existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.
Securely accessible via any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap® allows you and your team to eliminate the mistakes caused by miscommunications.
GPRS’ SiteMap® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap® demos.