Discover a free new tool to help housing professionals assess and reduce upfront embodied carbon during the earliest stages of low-rise housing design
Woodknowledge Wales is proud to announce the launch of the Early Stage Embodied Carbon Tool (ESECT), a pioneering resource developed under the Home-Grown Homes Project. This user-friendly, web-based tool is designed to assist housing professionals in assessing and reducing embodied carbon emissions at the earliest stages of low-rise housing design.
Embodied carbon—greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes—can account for up to 50-70% of a building’s total emissions over its lifecycle. Addressing these emissions during the design phase is crucial, as decisions made at this stage significantly influence a building’s carbon footprint.
ESECT offers a practical solution by enabling designers, housing associations, and local authorities to evaluate material choices and building systems before planning permission is sought. By providing insights into the carbon implications of various design options, the tool supports informed decision-making aimed at minimizing environmental impact.
The development of ESECT was a collaborative effort involving the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and the Good Homes Alliance. It was introduced to the public during a free online webinar hosted by Woodknowledge Wales, where attendees learned how to integrate the tool into their design processes to achieve lower carbon outcomes.
“Embodied carbon is a major contributor to total emissions, yet remains challenging to address. This session introduces the ESECT tool—a practical resource for designers and developers to better understand and apply embodied carbon knowledge. Participants will gain tools, insights, and a supportive network to help identify solutions early in the design process and cut carbon from the start.” Dr. Diana Waldron, Head of Built Environment, Woodknowledge Wales
ESECT is part of a suite of tools developed through the Home-Grown Homes Project, which aims to promote the use of Welsh timber and sustainable building practices in the housing sector. By facilitating early-stage carbon assessments, ESECT contributes to the project’s broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of new housing developments in Wales.
