EMBODIED ENERGY OF VARIOUS MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES - DATA AND SUMMARY - 1

Values in the data pages with reference were calculated from data of raw materials collected from various sources (see hereafter).
Values in the other pages were calculated from data of raw materials collected from various sources.
STONES AND AGGREGATES
Energy Quantity / Unit
Details
Country KgCO2/m3
3
5
3
India
2.899
0.0204
MJ/Kg
29.58 MJ/m
( r = 1,450 Kg/m )
River sand
3
2
3
India
56.056 0.2200 MJ/Kg
572.00 MJ/m
Crushed stone aggregate
(granite stone r = 2,600 Kg/m )
3
4
3
UK
41.600 0.3000 MJ/Kg
780.00 MJ/m
Crushed stone, gravel / chipping
(granite stone r = 2,600 Kg/m )
3
7
3
UK
197.890 0.7899 MJ/Kg
2030.00 MJ/m
Stone (local)
(r = 2,570 Kg/m )
3
4
3
UK
125.000 0.8550 MJ/Kg
2137.50 MJ/m
Lime Stone
(r = 2,500 Kg/m )
3
6
3
NZ
125.000 0.0400 MJ/Kg
104.00 MJ/m
Virgin rock
( r = 2600 Kg/m )
5
3
3
India
1.033 0.0081 MJ/Kg
Soil from site*, extracted by hand
10.54 MJ/m
( r = 1,300 Kg/m )
3
5
3
India
2.837 0.0223 MJ/Kg
28.95 MJ/m
Soil from site*, extracted with machine
( r = 1,300 Kg/m )
3
5
3
India
2.899 0.0228 MJ/Kg
29.58 MJ/m
Soil by truck, extracted with machine
Transported on 50Km (r = 1,300 Kg/m )
Note:Note: River sand is considered with the same values as for the soil dug wih a machine and transported over 50 Km.
Items

Items
Cement
Lime 1

Items
2

Timber (sawn)
Timber, soft wood air dried (rough sawn)6
Timber, soft wood air dried (dressed) 6
Timber, hard wood air dried (rough sawn)6
Timber, hard wood air dried (dressed)6
Plywood 7
Particle board 7

BINDERS
Details
Average embodied energy,Bag 50Kg
(Bag 50 Kg)

WOOD BASED MATERIALS

Details
Country KgCO2/Kg
India
0.490
3
NZ
0.029
( r = 550 Kg/m )
3
NZ
0.114
( r = 550 Kg/m )
3
NZ
0.049
( r = 850 Kg/m )
3
NZ
0.176
( r = 850 Kg/m )
Canada
1.019
Canada
0.784
METALS
Details

Items
2

Aluminium
Copper 2
Galvanized Steel (Sheet or Wire) 1
Steel 1
Steel Wire 4
GI Chicken Mesh 5 (3 wide, , 22 gauge)
5
GI Chicken Mesh (4 wide, , 22 gauge)

Country KgCO2/Kg
India
0.412
India
0.552

2,600 Kg/m
8,930 Kg/m3
7,860 Kg/m3
7,860 Kg/m3
7,860 Kg/m3
0.355 Kg/m2 = 0.323 Kg/m
2
0.475 Kg/m = 0.430 Kg/m

Energy Quantity / Unit

4.20 MJ/Kg
210.00 MJ/bag
5.63 MJ/Kg
281.50 MJ/bag

Energy Quantity / Unit

3
2.50 MJ/Kg 1,380.00 MJ/m
3
0.30 MJ/Kg
165.00 MJ/m
3
1.16 MJ/Kg
638.00 MJ/m
3
0.50 MJ/Kg
425.00 MJ/m
3
1.80 MJ/Kg 1,530.00 MJ/m
3
10.40 MJ/Kg 5,720.00 MJ/m
8.00 MJ/Kg 4,400.00 MJ/m3

Energy Quantity / Unit

Country KgCO2/Kg
3
India
25.480 260.00 MJ/Kg
676,000 MJ/m
India
10.976 112.00 MJ/Kg 1,000,160 MJ/m3
3
India
4.978 50.80 MJ/Kg
399,288 MJ/m
3
India
4.116 42.00 MJ/Kg
330,120 MJ/m
3
UK
2.830 36.00 MJ/Kg
282,960 MJ/m
India
5.390 55.00 MJ/Kg
17.77 MJ/m
23.65 MJ/m
India
5.390 55.00 MJ/Kg

BUILDING UNITS
Energy Quantity / Unit
Details
Country KgCO2/m3
3
1&5
23
x
10.5
x
7
cm
Delivered
at
100
Km
India
285.915
4.932 MJ/unit 2,965.59 MJ/m
Wire cut Fired Brick
5
22 x 10.5 x 6.5 cm - Delivered at 30 Km
India
517.287 7.926 MJ/unit 5,278.45 MJ/m3
Country Fired Brick
3
5
4% cement (24 x 24 x 9 cm) Prod. site
India
42.026 2.223 MJ/unit
428.84 MJ/m
Compressed stabilised Earth Block
3
5
5% cement (24 x 24 x 9 cm) Prod. Hand
India
49.488 49.488 MJ/unit
504.99 MJ/m
Compressed stabilised Earth Block
3
5
5% cement (24 x 24 x 9 cm) Prod. Mach.
India
51.846 2.743 MJ/unit
529.05 MJ/m
Compressed stabilised Earth Block
3
5
6 % cement (24 x 24 x 9 cm) Prod. site
India
58.094 3.073 MJ/unit
592.80 MJ/m
Compressed stabilised Earth Block
3
8 % cement (24 x 24 x 9 cm) Prod. site
India
79.865 4.225 MJ/unit
814.96 MJ/m
Compressed stabilised Earth Block 5
(< 0.2 MJ/Kg)
India
0.200 MJ/Kg
Adobe 2
Notes: - CSEB = Compressed Stabilised Earth Block
- Energy values for CSEB integrate the energy for transporting materials: 150 Km for cement and 20 Km for sand.
Items

DATA AND SUMMARY - 2

The energy of transportation for cement, steel, sand and aggregates which are integrated in the calculations are based on the distances of the
suppliers around Auroville, as indicated in the footnotes of the tables.
MORTARS AND CONCRETE
Energy Quantity & Unit
Items
Details
Country KgCO2/m3
3
5
1 cement: 2 sand
India
339.452
3,463.79 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 2)
3
5
1 cement: 2.5 sand
India
283.510
2,892.96 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 2.5)
3
5
1 cement: 3 sand
India
238.757
2,436.30 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 3)
3
5
1 cement: 4 sand
India
178.341
1,819.81 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 4)
3
5
1 cement: 5 sand
India
144.776
1,477.31 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar(CSM 1: 5)
3
5
1 cement: 6 sand
India
120.162
1,226.15 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 6)
3
5
1 cement: 8 sand
India
91.073
929.31 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 8)
3
5
1 cement: 10 sand
India
73.843
753.50 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 10)
3
5
1 cement: 12 sand
India
61.983
632.48 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 12)
3
5
1 cement: 16 sand
India
47.439
484.07 MJ/m
Cement sand mortar (CSM 1: 16)
3
5
1 cement: 1 soil: 3 sand
India
178.321
1,819.60 MJ/m
Stabilised earth sand mortar(SEM 1:1:3)
3
5 1 cement: 6 soil: 3 sand
India
82.068
837.43 MJ/m
Stabilised earth sand mortar(SEM 1: 6: 3)
3
5
1 cement: 3 soil: 6 sand
India
82.095
837.71 MJ/m
Stabilised earth sand mortar(SEM 1:3:6)
3
5 1 cement: 4 soil: 8 sand
India
61.957
632.21 MJ/m
Stabilised earth sand mortar(SEM 1: 4: 8)
3
5
1 cement: 6 soil: 6 sand
India
61.943
632.07 MJ/m
Stabilised earth sand mortar(SEM 1:6:6)
3
5
1 cement:1.5 sand: 3 Chips or 1/2"
India
217.801
2,222.45 MJ/m
Plain cement concrete (PCC 1: 1.5: 3)
3
5
1 cement: 2 sand: 4 gravel 1/2"
India
191.503
1,954.11 MJ/m
Plain cement concrete (PCC 1: 2: 4)
3
5
1 cement: 3 sand: 6 gravel 1/2"
India
153.015
1,561.38 MJ/m
Plain cement concrete (PCC 1: 3: 6)
3
5
1 cement: 4 sand: 8 gravel 1/2"
India
124.882
1,274.30 MJ/m
Plain cement concrete (PCC 1: 4: 8)
3
5
1 cement: 2 soil: 3 sand: 4 gravel 1/2"
India
121.274
1,237.49 MJ/m
Plain earth concrete (PEC 1: 2: 3: 4)
3
5
1 cement: 2 soil: 4 sand: 8 gravel 1"
India
114.282
1,166.14 MJ/m
Plain earth concrete (PEC 1: 2: 4: 8 (1")
3
5
1 cement: 2 soil: 4 sand: 8 gravel 1.5"
India
98.871
1,008.89 MJ/m
Plain earth concrete (PEC 1:2:4:8 (1.5")
3
3
Notes: Densities of materials = r Mortars (CSM & SEM) = 2,000 Kg/m - r Concrete (PCC & PEC) = 2,200 Kg/m
All energy values for mortars & concrete integrate the energy for transporting materials: cement = 150Km, sand = 20Km, gravel = 40Km

Items
9

CSEB wall
Wire cut fired bricks wall 9
Country fired bricks wall 9
Concrete blocks wall 9

VARIOUS TYPES OF WALLS

Energy Quantity & Unit
Details
Country KgCO2/m3
23 cm thick with 5% cement CSEB
India
46.870 110.0 MJ/m2
478.26 MJ/m3
2
23 cm thick
India
229.810 539.0 MJ/m
2345.00 MJ/m3
2
23 cm thick
India
706.286 1,657.0 MJ/m
7207.00 MJ/m3
2
1175.00 MJ/m3
20 cm thick
India
115.150 235.0 MJ/m
OTHER MATERIALS
Details

Items
Asphalt road 4
Bitumen 4
Ceramic Tiles 1
2
Glass
4
Paint
Plastics, General 2
Plastics, Polystyrene 4
Plastics, Nylon 7
Powered fired brick (Surkhi) 2
PVC 2
Rubber 4
Sanitary ware 2
Stoneware 2
4
Straw

(r = 1,750 Kg/m3)
3
(r = 2,600 Kg/m )

(Thermoformed expanded)

(Synthetic)

Country KgCO2/Kg
UK
134.000
UK
4.380
India
0.245
India
2.528
UK
6.100
India
7.350
UK
3.400
UK
5.500
India
0.157
India
11.270
UK
4.250
India
3.714
India
1.636
UK
0.010

DATA AND SUMMARY - 3

BUILDING COMPONENTS

Energy Quantity / Unit

2
2,672.00 MJ/m
Kg CO2/m2
44.70 MJ/Kg
3
2.50 MJ/Kg 4,375.00 MJ/m
3
15.90 MJ/Kg 41,340.00 MJ/m
80.00 MJ/Kg
75.00 MJ/Kg
3
109.20 MJ/Kg 3,518.00 MJ/m
120.50 MJ/Kg
1.60 MJ/Kg
115.00 MJ/Kg
120.00 MJ/Kg
37.90 MJ/Kg
16.70 MJ/Kg
0.24 MJ/Kg
31.00 MJ/m3

Items
1

Stabilised Mud Brick Filler Slab

Mangalore Tile Roof 1
1
Micro concrete Tile Roof
5
Country Fired Brick Wall 22 cm
5
Wire Cut Brick Wall 22 cm
5
Stabilised Rammed Earth Foundations
5
CSEB Masonry Wall 24 cm (B 240)
5
CSEB Masonry Wall 11.5 cm (1/2 B 240)
5
CSEB Masonry Vault, 7 cm (only shell)
5
CSEB Masonry Vault, 11.5 cm(only shell)
5
CSEB Masonry Vault, 7 cm + ring beam
5
CSEB Masonry Vault 11.5cm + ring beam
RCC Slab (PCC 1: 2: 4)

RCC Slab (PCC 1: 1.5: 3)

RCC Beam 23 x 20 cm (PCC 1: 2: 4)

RCC Column 20 (PCC 1: 2: 4) 5

Details
Country KgCO2/m2
Span 3.6 m
India
57.820
Span 3.6 m
India
22.246
Span 3.6 m
India
15.484
Mortar and pointing with CSM 1: 4
India
109.743
Mortar and pointing with CSM 1: 4
India
63.285
5% cement (500 l soil: 200 l sand, 1 bag)
India
53.762
Mortar and pointing with SEM 1: 4: 8
India
13.704
Mortar and pointing with SEM 1: 4: 8
India
6.898
4.031
6 m span, 6 m long, 7 cm thick
India
6m span, 6m long, 11.5 cm thick
India
11.696
6 m span, 6 m long, 7 cm thick
India
48.697
6 m span, 6 m long, 11.5 cm thick
India
67.270
6 x 6 m, 15 cm thick, PCC 1: 2: 4, top mat
India
74.447
10@ 20cm, bot mat 12@ 20cm
6 x 6 m, 15 cm thick, PCC 1: 1.5: 3, top
India
78.589
mat 10@ 20cm, bot mat 12@ 20 cm

Energy Quantity & Unit

2
590.00 MJ/m
2
227.00 MJ/m
2
158.00 MJ/m
2
3
5,090.13 MJ/m
1,119.8 MJ/m
2
3
2,935.28 MJ/m
645.76 MJ/m
3
548.59 MJ/m
2
3
582.64 MJ/m
139.83 MJ/m
2
3
612.09 MJ/m
70.39 MJ/m
2
3
587.63 MJ/m
41.13 MJ/m
2
3
1,037.80 MJ/m
119.35 MJ/m
2
496.91 MJ/m
7,098.70 MJ/m3
2
686.43 MJ/m
5,968.94 MJ/m3
759.66 MJ/m2

5,064.41

801.93 MJ/m2

5,346.17

210TS top, 212TS bot, stirrups @ 25

India

24.246 Kg CO2/m

5 12 TS, stirrups 6 @ 20 c/c

India

28.923
6.421
4.843
10.100
7.576
16.880
21.217
20.508
22.893
17.791
25.261

DATA AND SUMMARY - 4

TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIALS

MJ/m3

247.40 MJ/m

295.13
Kg CO2/m
65.52
Kg
CO
/m
India
2
Composite ring beam 240, 4/4 size blocks 2 8 TS + stirrups 6 MS @ 25 c/c
5 1 12 TS
49.42
Kg
CO
/m
India
2
Composite ring beam 240, 1/2 size blocks
5
103.06
Kg
CO
/m
India
2
Composite beam 240 single height 4/4 B. 2 12 TS + stirrups 6 MS @ 25 c/c
77.31
Kg CO2/m
India
Composite beam 240 single height 1/2 B.5 1 16 TS
5 top 28TS bot 212TS, stirrups6@25
172.24
/m
Kg
CO
India
2
Composite beam 240 double height 4/4 B.
216.50
Kg CO2/m
India
Composite beam 240 double height 4/4 B.5 top 212TS bot 212TS stirrups6@25
5
209.26
/m
Kg
CO
top 210TS bot 212TS stirrups6@25
India
2
Composite beam 240 triple height 4/4 B.
5
233.60
/m
Kg
CO
top 212TS bot 212TS stirrups6@25
India
2
Composite beam 240 triple height 4/4 B.
5
181.54
Kg
CO
/m
3 12 TS, stirrups 6 @ 20 c/c
India
2
Composite Column 240
5
257.77
/m
Kg
CO
4 12 TS, stirrups 6 @ 20 c/c
India
2
Composite Column 290
2
5
1 cement: 2 sand, 3 layers
India
13.201 134.70 MJ/m
FC door (12 mm thick, 1: 2 - 3 layers)
2
1 cement: 2.5 sand, 3 layers
India
12.202 124.51 MJ/m
FC door (12 mm thick, 1: 2.5 - 3 layers)5
2
1 cement: 2 sand, 4 layers
India
15.016 153.23 MJ/m
FC door (12 mm thick, 1: 2 - 4 layers) 5
2
1 cement: 2.5 sand, 4 layers
India
14.018 143.04 MJ/m
FC door (12 mm thick, 1: 2.5 - 4 layers)5
2
1 cement: 2 sand, 2 layers
India
16.536 168.74 MJ/m
FC panel (25 mm thick, 1: 2 - 2 layers)5
2
1 cement: 2.5 sand, 2 layers
India
14.656 149.56 MJ/m
FC panel (25 mm thick,1: 2.5 - 2 layers)5
2
India
16.850 171.94 MJ/m
FC panel (25 mm thick, 1: 2.5 - 3 layers)5 1 cement: 2.5 sand, 3 layers
2
1 cement: 3 sand, 2 layers
India
13.153 134.21 MJ/m
FC panel (25 mm thick, 1: 3 - 2 layers)5
34.54
3.385 Kg CO2/m
U shape 24 x 10 / 10 cm
India
FC gutter (15mm CSM 1: 3 - 1 layer) 5
5
39.40
3.861
/m
Kg
CO
U
shape
27
x
20
/
10
cm
India
2
FC gutter (15mm CSM 1: 3 - 1 layer)
5
43.24
4.237
/m
Kg
CO
U
shape
27
x
20
/
20
cm
India
2
FC gutter (15mm CSM 1: 3 - 1 layer)
5
39.27
3.849
/m
Kg
CO
U
shape
36.5
x
10
/
10
cm
India
2
FC gutter (15mm CSM 1: 3 - 1 layer)
2
5
1cement: 2.5 sand, top 18, bot 212
India
257.02
40.301 411.23 MJ/m
FC channel semicircular(62.5/30 round)
2
5
1cement: 2.5 sand, top 28, bot 212
India
283.27
44.417 453.23 MJ/m
FC channel semicircular (62.5/30 flat)
2
5
1Ce: 2.5 Sa, top 28, bot 212
India
313.51
40.965 418.01 MJ/m
FC channel, Interlocking (75/35 cm)
2
5
1 Ce: 2.5 Sa, top 210TS, bot 212
India
557.42
72.836 743.22 MJ/m
FC channel, U shape (75/35 cm)
2
5
Semicircular top round, CSM 1: 2.5
India
18.138 185.08 MJ/m
FC channel roof not filled (6m span)
2
5
India
25.229 257.44 MJ/m
FC channel floor / roof filled flat (6m span) Semicircular top round, CSM 1: 2.5
2
5
Semicircular top flat, CSM 1: 2.5
India
19.826 202.31 MJ/m
FC channel roof not filled (6m span)
2
5
India
26.835 273.82 MJ/m
FC channel floor /roof filled flat (6m span) Semicircular top flat, CSM 1: 2.5
Notes: - FC = Ferrocement Chicken mesh = 1/2", 22 gauge X layers = Nos. layers of chicken mesh Ce = cement Sa = sand
- All energy values for building components integrate the energy for transporting materials: cement and steel = 150 Km, sand = 20Km
gravel = 40Km
10
5

MJ/m

MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m

MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m
MJ/m

Items
Diesel consumption for truck on site
3
5
m /12Tons)
Diesel consumption for truck on road
m3/12Tons) 5
5
Diesel consumption for excavator

Energy Quantity / Unit

Details
Country KgCO2/Kg
(8 For moving materials on site ~500m
India
6.578 KgCO2/hour
67.13 MJ/h
= 15 litres / 8h
(8 For road driving with 12Tons
=3
India
1.169 KgCO2/Km
11.93 MJ/Km
Km / litre
JCB excavator = 6 Litres / hour
India
21.050 KgCO2/hour
214.80 MJ/h
FUEL COMBUSTION
Details
Inferior combustion power
Inferior combustion power
Inferior combustion power
Casuarinas wood at 15 % mh

Items

Country KgCO2/Kg
Energy Quantity / Unit
France
3.156
KgCO
32.20 MJ/litre
2/litre
Petrol
5
France
3.508
KgCO
/litre
35.80 MJ/litre
2
Diesel
5
France
2.479
KgCO
/litre
25.30 MJ/litre
2
GPL
15.00 MJ/Kg
India
1.584 KgCO2/litre
Wood combustion 5
India
0.984 KgCO2/day
10.04 MJ/day
Human energy
Note of human energy: It is normally not counted as it generates livelihood. But if it has to be taken, it would be food value: 300 Kcal / h.
5

CARBON EMISSION
About 0.098 tonnes of CO2 are produced per gigajoule of embodied energy =
Carbon (C) = 12 Gr/molecule

0.098 Kg of CO2 per MJ of embodied energy 8

CO2 = 12 + (16 x 2) = 44 Gr/molecule

Oxygen (O)= 16 gr/molecule

Conversion Carbon / CO2 C = 0.27273 CO2
5

Wood combustion : 1 Kg of wood contains ~440 gr. of carbon 1 Kg of carbon burnt emits 3.6 Kg of CO2
1 Kg of wood burnt emits 1.584 Kg of CO2 5
NOTES
The Joule (J) is the SI unit of energy measuring heat, electricity and mechanical work. It was named after English physicist James Prescott Joule.
The kilowatt hour (KWh) is a unit of energy. Energy delivered by electric utilities is usually expressed and charged for in kWh.
Note that the KWh is the product of power in kilowatts multiplied by time in hours. It is not kW/h.
The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a unit of energy used in the power, steam generation, heating and air conditioning industries.
18
MJ = Mega Joule
1 Joule = 1Newton Metre = 1Watt second
1 Joule = 6.2415 10 eV (electronvolts)
4

1
Joule
=
0.239
Calories
GJ = Giga Joule
1 Joule = 2.7778 10 Watt Hour
7

1
Calorie
=
4.184
Joules
Mega = 1 million = 106
1 Joule = 2.7778 10 KWh
4
1 Kilowatt Hour (KWh) = 3.6 MJ
Giga = thousand million = 109
1 Joule = 9.4782 10 BTU
WEIGHT OF STEEL (Kg / m)
4 MS = 0.099 - 6 MS = 0.222 - 8 TS= 0.395 - 10 TS = 0.617 - 12 TS = 0.888 - 16 TS = 1.579 - 20 TS = 2.468
SOURCES
1

Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies BV Venkatarama Reddy, KS Jagadish
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, 2001

Comparative analysis of embodied energy rates for walling elements in India PS Chani, Najamuddin, SK Kaushik, 2003
50 years Energy in Building Materials Building Materials in India
4
Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) Prof. Geoff Hammond, Craig Jones Bath University, 2006
5
Calculations from embodied energy of raw materials Satprem Mani, Auroville Earth Institute, 2008
6
Energy embodied in Building Materials, Updated New Zealand coefficients and their significance - G. Baird, Andrew Alcorn, Phil Haslami 1997
7
http://www.canadianarchitect.com/asf/perspectives_sustainibility/measures_of_sustainablity/measures_of_sustainablity_embodied.htm
8
http://www.cmit.csiro.au/brochures/tech/embodied/
9
Energy in Building Materials: Final Report Development Alternatives & BMTPC, New Delhi 1995
3

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