Carbon Calculator
Business Case
Problem Statement
Sustainability requirements demand:
- Tracking embodied carbon
- Comparing material options
- Meeting carbon targets
- Reporting emissions
Solution
Calculate and track embodied carbon for construction materials using standard emission factors.
Technical Implementation
import pandas as pd
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional
from dataclasses import dataclass
from enum import Enum
class MaterialCategory(Enum):
CONCRETE = "concrete"
STEEL = "steel"
ALUMINUM = "aluminum"
TIMBER = "timber"
BRICK = "brick"
GLASS = "glass"
INSULATION = "insulation"
PLASTIC = "plastic"
COPPER = "copper"
OTHER = "other"
@dataclass
class CarbonFactor:
material: str
category: MaterialCategory
ec_factor: float # kgCO2e per unit
unit: str
source: str
@dataclass
class MaterialInput:
material_code: str
material_name: str
quantity: float
unit: str
category: MaterialCategory
@dataclass
class CarbonResult:
material_code: str
material_name: str
quantity: float
unit: str
ec_factor: float
embodied_carbon: float # kgCO2e
category: str
# Embodied carbon factors (kgCO2e per unit)
CARBON_FACTORS = {
# Concrete
'concrete_c20': CarbonFactor('Concrete C20', MaterialCategory.CONCRETE, 240, 'm3', 'ICE Database'),
'concrete_c30': CarbonFactor('Concrete C30', MaterialCategory.CONCRETE, 290, 'm3', 'ICE Database'),
'concrete_c40': CarbonFactor('Concrete C40', MaterialCategory.CONCRETE, 350, 'm3', 'ICE Database'),
'concrete_c50': CarbonFactor('Concrete C50', MaterialCategory.CONCRETE, 410, 'm3', 'ICE Database'),
# Steel
'steel_rebar': CarbonFactor('Rebar', MaterialCategory.STEEL, 1.99, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'steel_section': CarbonFactor('Steel Section', MaterialCategory.STEEL, 1.55, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'steel_sheet': CarbonFactor('Steel Sheet', MaterialCategory.STEEL, 2.03, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'steel_stainless': CarbonFactor('Stainless Steel', MaterialCategory.STEEL, 6.15, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
# Aluminum
'aluminum_general': CarbonFactor('Aluminum General', MaterialCategory.ALUMINUM, 9.16, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'aluminum_recycled': CarbonFactor('Aluminum Recycled', MaterialCategory.ALUMINUM, 1.81, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
# Timber
'timber_softwood': CarbonFactor('Softwood Timber', MaterialCategory.TIMBER, 0.31, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'timber_hardwood': CarbonFactor('Hardwood Timber', MaterialCategory.TIMBER, 0.46, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'timber_glulam': CarbonFactor('Glulam', MaterialCategory.TIMBER, 0.51, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'timber_clt': CarbonFactor('CLT', MaterialCategory.TIMBER, 0.44, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'timber_plywood': CarbonFactor('Plywood', MaterialCategory.TIMBER, 0.65, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
# Masonry
'brick_common': CarbonFactor('Common Brick', MaterialCategory.BRICK, 0.24, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'block_concrete': CarbonFactor('Concrete Block', MaterialCategory.BRICK, 0.10, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
# Glass
'glass_float': CarbonFactor('Float Glass', MaterialCategory.GLASS, 1.44, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'glass_double': CarbonFactor('Double Glazing', MaterialCategory.GLASS, 35.0, 'm2', 'ICE Database'),
# Insulation
'insul_mineral': CarbonFactor('Mineral Wool', MaterialCategory.INSULATION, 1.28, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'insul_eps': CarbonFactor('EPS', MaterialCategory.INSULATION, 3.29, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'insul_xps': CarbonFactor('XPS', MaterialCategory.INSULATION, 3.29, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
# Other
'copper_pipe': CarbonFactor('Copper Pipe', MaterialCategory.COPPER, 2.71, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
'pvc_pipe': CarbonFactor('PVC Pipe', MaterialCategory.PLASTIC, 3.10, 'kg', 'ICE Database'),
}
class CarbonCalculator:
"""Calculate embodied carbon for construction."""
def __init__(self, project_name: str):
self.project_name = project_name
self.materials: List[MaterialInput] = []
self.results: List[CarbonResult] = []
self.custom_factors: Dict[str, CarbonFactor] = {}
def add_custom_factor(self,
code: str,
name: str,
category: MaterialCategory,
ec_factor: float,
unit: str,
source: str = "Custom"):
"""Add custom carbon factor."""
self.custom_factors[code] = CarbonFactor(
material=name,
category=category,
ec_factor=ec_factor,
unit=unit,
source=source
)
def get_factor(self, material_code: str) -> Optional[CarbonFactor]:
"""Get carbon factor for material."""
# Check custom first
if material_code in self.custom_factors:
return self.custom_factors[material_code]
# Check standard factors
code_lower = material_code.lower().replace('-', '_').replace(' ', '_')
return CARBON_FACTORS.get(code_lower)
def add_material(self,
material_code: str,
material_name: str,
quantity: float,
unit: str,
category: MaterialCategory = MaterialCategory.OTHER):
"""Add material to calculation."""
self.materials.append(MaterialInput(
material_code=material_code,
material_name=material_name,
quantity=quantity,
unit=unit,
category=category
))
def calculate(self) -> List[CarbonResult]:
"""Calculate embodied carbon for all materials."""
self.results = []
for mat in self.materials:
factor = self.get_factor(mat.material_code)
if factor:
# Check unit compatibility
if factor.unit == mat.unit:
ec = mat.quantity * factor.ec_factor
else:
# Assume conversion needed - simplified
ec = mat.quantity * factor.ec_factor
else:
# Use default factor based on category
default_factors = {
MaterialCategory.CONCRETE: 300,
MaterialCategory.STEEL: 1.8,
MaterialCategory.ALUMINUM: 9.0,
MaterialCategory.TIMBER: 0.4,
MaterialCategory.BRICK: 0.2,
MaterialCategory.GLASS: 1.5,
MaterialCategory.INSULATION: 2.0,
MaterialCategory.OTHER: 1.0
}
ec_factor = default_factors.get(mat.category, 1.0)
ec = mat.quantity * ec_factor
self.results.append(CarbonResult(
material_code=mat.material_code,
material_name=mat.material_name,
quantity=mat.quantity,
unit=mat.unit,
ec_factor=factor.ec_factor if factor else 0,
embodied_carbon=round(ec, 2),
category=mat.category.value
))
return self.results
def get_total_carbon(self) -> float:
"""Get total embodied carbon (kgCO2e)."""
return sum(r.embodied_carbon for r in self.results)
def get_carbon_by_category(self) -> Dict[str, float]:
"""Get carbon breakdown by category."""
by_category = {}
for r in self.results:
if r.category not in by_category:
by_category[r.category] = 0
by_category[r.category] += r.embodied_carbon
return {k: round(v, 2) for k, v in by_category.items()}
def compare_alternatives(self,
original_code: str,
original_qty: float,
alternative_code: str,
alternative_qt