Balcony Choice: Impact on Construction’s Carbon Dilemma

Although balconies only make up a small proportion of a building envelope; carbon reduction in balconies can help reduce overall heat loss and carbon footprint of a building. This will help the industry contribute to the UK Government’s goal to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050. But why are considering embodied carbon and carbon during occupancy in balconies so important? How can building stakeholders help reduce the carbon impact? In this CPD we explore the present industry challenges and provide a breakdown of each carbon type and explore why each is important; key considerations for that type; and provide practical steps for reduction of each; embodied; occupational; and operational. We also explore key considerations necessary when selecting suppliers to provide low-carbon balconies.