A data tool for evaluating material and construction waste has been upgraded to offer as-built carbon data reporting too.
Qflow has integrated its platform with Building Transparency’s Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3); a move it claims will enable construction teams to track and report its carbon data in real time.
The collaboration connects on-site material quantity data with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to deliver accurate, real-time calculations of embodied carbon during the construction process.
Stacy Smedley, executive director of Building Transparency, said: “Industry-wide collaboration is critical if we are to make meaningful progress toward decarbonising the built environment sector.
“Partnering with Qflow is a natural fit for us as we endeavour to support the development of tools that drive embodied carbon reduction. This integration and its ability to measure as-built carbon impacts will be hugely influential for teams as they look to set carbon reduction goals for their projects and measure their progress.”
In recent years, says Qflow, the construction industry has made “strides” in using EC3 and similar tools to estimate the embodied carbon of new building designs. These assessments are crucial for identifying opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of new structures.
However, the “game is changing”, Qflow adds. The focus is now shifting towards accurately measuring the as-built carbon impact of buildings, providing what is said to be a true reflection of the carbon footprint from construction through to completion.
One of the significant challenges in this area has been capturing precise data on the actual materials used on-site, which is where Qflow is said to come in. The platform allows construction teams to capture material data by simply photographing delivery receipts or tickets.
Now, with the direct integration of Qflow into EC3, it is claimed that construction teams can “seamlessly transfer” this data to calculate the as-built embodied carbon impact throughout a project’s lifecycle.
Jade Cohen, chief product officer at Qflow, said: “This integration is a game-changer for the construction industry, bridging the critical gap between designed and as-built carbon data. We are thrilled to partner with Building Transparency to provide the industry with greater access to vital material and environmental data.”
Main image: Jade Cohen, chief product officer, Qflow
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