Report

Embodied Energy calculation of a residence

and identifying alternate materials with low
embodied energy.

Submitted by-
Sakshi Agarkar
MSA-1230500164
SPA, Vijayawada
 G+1 Bungalow taken for embodied energy calculation

Ground Floor Plan

Location - Pune, Maharashtra

Built up area - 1080 sq.m.

Structure - G+1 Load bearing

First Floor Plan

North East Elevation

 Section 1

Section 2

Embodied energy calculation of bungalow

Embodied energy is the sum of all the energy required to produce any goods or
services, considered as if that energy was incorporated or 'embodied' in the product
itself. (MJ or GJ)

The embodied energy (EEtp) of a material is calculated as

EEtp = Qtp × Ip (ee)

Where
Qtp = total mass of the material (kg)
Mass (Qtp) = Volume (m3 ) X Material Density (kg/ m3 )
Ip = embodied energy factor of the material (MJ/kg)
 Embodied energy calculation

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp × Ip
Ip(ee) (ee)
MJ/kg

Foundation Local 86.46 2800 242088 0.55 1,33,148.4

Basalt cu.m. kg/m3
stone
Masonry

Foundation PCC Bed 16.22 2200 35,684 0.87 31,045.08

cu.m. kg/m3

Walls Common 161.25 1760 2,83,800 4.4 12,48,720

Bricks cu.m. kg/m3

Flooring Vitrified 950 sq..m. 24 kg/m2 22,800 8.2 1,86,960

(ground + ceramic
first floor) floor tiles
(10mm thk)

Slab (roof & RCC 142.5 2500 3,56,250 30 1,06,87,500

ground floor) cu.m. kg/m3

Lintel RCC 3.28 cu.m. 2500 8,200 30 2,46,000

kg/m3

Door Laminated 0.75 cu.m. 600 450 18 8100

Plywood kg/m3
(30mm thk)

Window Float glass 0.47 cu.m. 2500 1,175 17 19975

(6mm thk) kg/m3

Window Timber 150.m. 3.2 kg/m 480 63 30,240

frame

Plaster Gypsum 1075 sq.m. 4 kg/m2 4,300 1.3 5,590

plaster

Paint Solvent 0.17 cu.m. 1200 204 91.1 18,584.4

based paint kg/m3

TOTAL 1,26,15,862.88
Percentage of embodied energy of materials in bungalow
STRUCTURE MATERIAL EMBODIED ENERGY PERCENTAGE OF
(MJ) EMBODIED ENERGY
(%)

Foundation Local Basalt stone 1,33,148.4 1.055

Masonry

Foundation PCC Bed 31,045.08 0.246

Walls Common 12,48,720 9.89

Bricks

Flooring Vitrified ceramic floor 1,86,960 1.48

tiles
(10mm thk)

Slab RCC 1,06,87,500 84.71

Lintel RCC 2,46,000 1.94

Door Laminated 8100 0.064

Plywood
(30mm thk)

Window Float glass 19975 0.158

(6mm thk)

Window frame Timber 30,240 0.239

Plaster Gypsum 5,590 0.044

plaster

Paint Solvent based paint 18,584.4 0.147

TOTAL 1,26,15,862.88 100%

Total built up area of bungalow - 1080 sq.m.

Total embodied energy - 1,26,15,862.88 MJ

Therefore, Embodied energy per sq.m.of built up area is - 11,681.35 MJ

Percentage of embodied energy of materials in bungalow

0.239 %
Alternate wall materials with low embodied energy

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY
FACTOR (MJ)
Ip(ee) MJ/kg EEtp = Qtp ×
Ip (ee)

Base case Common 161.25 1760 2,83,800 4.4 12,48,720

Walls Bricks cu.m. kg/m3

Case 1 Dense 161.25 2200 3,54,750 1.3 4,61,175

Walls concrete cu.m. kg/m3
blocks

Case 2 Fly ash 161.25 1760 2,83,800 0.83 2,35,554

Walls blocks cu.m. kg/m3

Case 3 OPC 161.25 2000 3,22,500 0.7 2,25,750

Walls Stabilized cu.m. kg/m3
soil blocks
Case 4 PFA 161.25 2000 3,22,500 0.11 35,475
Walls Stabilized cu.m. kg/m3
soil blocks
Case 5 Light wt. 161.25 1097 1,76,891.2 3.6 6,36,808.32
Walls Concrete cu.m. kg/m3
blocks

Case 4 -

PFA Stabilized soil blocks. PFA

(pulverized fuel ash)/fly ash cement
(also known as pozzolana).

These blocks have the lowest

embodied energy factor.

They can be used as an alternative

material for wall to lower the embodied
energy.

PFA Stabilized soil blocks show 97.15%

reduction in embodied energy than
common bricks.
 Alternate floor materials with low embodied energy

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp × Ip
Ip(ee) (ee)
MJ/kg

Base case Vitrified 950 sq..m. 24 kg/m2 22,800 8.2 1,86,960

Flooring ceramic floor
tiles
(10mm thk)

Case 1 Cement-based 950 sq..m. 50 kg/m2 47,500 4.6 2,18,500

Flooring terrazzo tile

Case 2 Glazed 950 sq..m. 18 kg/m2 17,100 7.8 1,33,380

Flooring ceramic floor
tiles

Case 3 Stone floor 950 sq..m. 65 kg/m2 61,750 0.44 27,170

Flooring tiles

Case 3 -

Stone floor tiles have the lowest embodied energy factor.

They can be used as an alternative material for flooring to lower the embodied energy in the
structure.

Stone floor tiles show 85.46% reduction in embodied energy than Vitrified ceramic floor
tiles
Alternate Door materials with low embodied energy

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp ×
Ip(ee) Ip (ee)
MJ/kg

Base case Laminated 0.75 cu.m. 600 450 18 8100

Door Plywood kg/m3
(30mm thk)

Case 1 Fiber 0.75 cu.m. 1700 1275 4.3 5482.5

Door cement kg/m3
board

Case 2 Particle 0.75 cu.m. 710 532.5 12 6390

Door chip board kg/m3

Case 1 -

Fiber cement board have the lowest embodied energy factor.

They can be used as an alternative material for door to lower the embodied energy in the
structure.

Fiber cement board show 32.31% reduction in embodied energy than Laminated
Plywood.
Alternate Roofing materials with low embodied energy

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp ×
Ip(ee) Ip (ee)
MJ/kg

Base case RCC 71 cu.m. 2500 1,77,500 30 53,25,000

Roof kg/m3

Case 1 Precast 71 cu.m. 2200 1,56,200 2.6 4,06,120

Roof concrete kg/m3
panels

Case 2 Asphalt 500 15 7,500 11 82,500

Roof shingles sq.m. kg/m2

Case 3 Ferroceme 500 86 43,000 2.3 98,900

Roof nt roof sq.m. kg/m2
panel

Case 4 Clay roof 500 54 27,000 7.5 2,02,500

Roof tile sq.m. kg/m2

Case 2 -

Asphalt shingles have the lowest embodied energy factor.

They can be used as an alternative material for roof to lower the embodied energy in the
structure.

Asphalt shingles show 98.45% reduction in embodied energy than RCC roof slab.
Alternate Paints with low embodied energy

STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED

Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp ×
Ip(ee) Ip (ee)
MJ/kg

Base case Solvent 0.17 cu.m. 1200 204 91.1 18,584.4

Paint based paint kg/m3

Case 1 Water 0.17 cu.m. 1200 204 51 10,404

Paint based paint kg/m3

Case 2 Mud finish 0.17 cu.m. 1000 170 1.1 187

Paint kg/m3

Case 2 -

Mud finish has the lowest embodied energy factor.

It can be used as an alternative material for wall finish/coat to lower the embodied energy in
the structure.

Mud finish shows 98.99% reduction in embodied energy than Solvent based paints
Alternate Window Frame materials with low embodied
energy
STRUCTURE MATERIAL QUANTITY DENSITY MASS EMBODIED EMBODIED
Qtp (kg) ENERGY ENERGY (MJ)
FACTOR EEtp = Qtp ×
Ip(ee) Ip (ee)
MJ/kg

Base case Timber 150.m. 3.2 kg/m 480 63 30,240

Window
frame

Case 1 Upvc 150.m. 2.8 kg/m 420 61 25,620

Window
frame

Case 2 Steel 150.m. 2.7 kg/m 405 51 20,655

Window
frame

Case 2 -

Steel window frame has the lowest embodied energy factor.

It can be used as an alternative material for window frame to lower the embodied energy
in the structure.

Steel window frame shows 31.69% reduction in embodied energy than Timber frame.
Overall reduction in percentage of embodied energy due to
use of alternate building materials with lowest embodied
energy factor

STRUCTURE CONVENTIONAL ALTERNATE % OF

MATERIAL MATERIAL WITH REDUCTION IN
LOWEST EMBODIED
EMBODIED ENERGY THAN
ENERGY FACTOR CONVENTIONAL
MATERIAL

WALL Common brick PFA Stabilized 97.15 %

soil blocks.

ROOF RCC Asphalt shingles 98.45 %

DOOR Plywood Fiber cement board 32.31 %

WINDOW FRAME Timber Steel 31.69 %

PAINT/ WALL FINISH Solvent based paint Mud finish 98.99 %

FLOOR Vitrified ceramic tiles Stone floor tiles 85.46 %

This report shows that how different construction materials affect the embodied
energy of the structure.

It is very important to know, understand and make use of alternate building

materials that have low embodied energy.

Use of low embodied energy materials aligns with sustainable construction

practices by minimizing resource depletion, reducing environmental impacts, and
promoting long-term efficiency in the built environment.
Thank you!