Renovation is one of our biggest levers for reducing embodied carbon in the built environment. But too often, carbon calculations are done after the design is nearly complete—limiting the potential to drive real impact.
To truly reduce emissions, we need to intervene earlier. That means making smarter material decisions during design, not just verifying totals at the end. And to do that, we need tools that show us not just what is, but what good looks like.
Introducing the Renovation Materials Selector
We built the Renovation Materials Selector to solve this problem. It allows designers, architects, and consultants to:
- 📊 Compare A1–A3 embodied carbon emissions across product types
- 📉 Identify what “good” performance looks like (e.g. 25th percentile values)
- 🔍 Explore emission ranges by product category—like external doors, windows, and more
- 🛠️ Use structured, digitised data directly in design workflows
For example, when selecting external doors, the median A1–A3 emissions are 142.79 kgCO2e/kg. But a good benchmark target—defined by the 25th percentile—is just 66.06 kgCO2e/kg. Knowing this upfront can drive better decisions from the start.
Why materials matter in renovation
Materials are responsible for a significant share of the embodied carbon in renovation projects—particularly when replacing elements like windows, doors, or flooring. Each choice has a measurable footprint.
Yet in many projects, design teams lack benchmarks or visibility into lower-carbon options. Without clear guidance, the opportunity to reduce emissions gets missed.
Built with the 2050 Materials API
This tool was built using the 2050 Materials API—which makes it simple to integrate high-quality, verified materials data into your own platforms, dashboards, and internal design tools.
From carbon benchmarks to EPD metadata, the API delivers structured, granular material data where it matters most—in your design process.
Start designing low-carbon renovations today
The Renovation Materials Selector is just one example of how data can empower climate-positive design.
✅ Identify better materials early
✅ Define realistic, data-backed targets
✅ Build tools that make sustainability actionable
🚀 Want to see the API in action?
👉 Book an API demo with our team
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