The Structural Carbon Tool - version 3

Author: Elliott Wood

Date published

20 January 2025

Price
Free
The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
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The Structural Carbon Tool - version 3

Tag
Author
Elliott Wood
Date published
20 January 2025
Price
Free
Guidance
Author

Elliott Wood

Date published

20 January 2025

Author

Elliott Wood

Price

Free

Use this tool to help you quickly estimate the embodied carbon in your structures.

Version 3 of The Structural Carbon Tool is aligned with the IStructE guide ‘How to calculate embodied carbon’ 3rd edition. An overview of the edits made to this edition of the guide will be available soon.

Please use the tool with Microsoft Excel 2016 or a newer version.

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 1 Introduction

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 1.1 Introduction to version 3

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 2 Project info sheet

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 2.1 Project info sheet – version 3

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 3 Scheme input sheets

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 3.1 Scheme input sheets – version 3

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 4 Comparison sheet

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 5 Lifecycle material data

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 5.1 Lifecycle material data

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 6 Custom data

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 6.1 Custom data – version 3

The Structural carbon tool user guide Video 7 Example uses

The structural engineer’s first priority in the climate emergency is to minimise carbon emissions. This can be done by minimising the use of new material as far as possible.

The Structural Carbon Tool has been created to help practising structural engineers make quantitative decisions as to how best to do this. The tool enables the user to:

  • Estimate the amount of carbon in different parts of the design
  • Identify carbon hotspots and opportunities to target for material reduction
  • Understand rough differences between different structural options
  • Communicate decision-making impacts with the design team

The Structural Carbon Tool is an open-source Excel-based carbon estimator. It has been developed by Elliott Wood Partnership Ltd in conjunction with The Institution of Structural Engineers.

It is aligned with the IStructE guide ‘How to calculate embodied carbon 3rd edition’, and is therefore aligned with BS EN 15978, BS EN 15804 and the RICS professional statement Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment. The tool also uses the SCORS rating system proposed in 2020 by the Institution’s Climate Emergency Task Group.

Please note that the Excel file contains macros. If you are having difficulties downloading it, then it may have been blocked by your firewall due to these macros. Please speak to your company’s IT department before contacting the Institution.
 

In partnership with

The Institution has worked alongside Elliott Wood to align the tool with the IStructE guide ‘How to calculate embodied carbon’ and other existing guidance as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Related resources and events

Guidance
<h4>Design for zero</h4>

Design for zero

This guide explains why overdesign is so prevalent, its impact on material consumption and CO2 emissions, and provides five key actions you can take now, to reduce the carbon your projects produce. 

Date – 29 October 2021
Author – J J Orr, M Cooke, T J Ibell, C Smith & N Watson
Price – £24.95
Training
<h4>Embodied carbon basics for structural engineers on-demand course</h4>

Embodied carbon basics for structural engineers on-demand course

Learn how to undertake embodied carbon calculations for every project and aspect of structural design. 

Date – 15 December 2021
Author – Various
Price – £0.00 - £215 + VAT

Additional information

Format:
Excel Spreadsheet
Publisher:
Elliott Wood

Tags

Guidance Suitable for students Climate change Best practice Carbon