Reducing embedded carbon in rural Ningbo: a lifecycle emission analysis and low-carbon strategy for farmhouses

Abstract

Currently, around 35% of China's population resides in rural areas. To advance the "30-60 carbon peak & carbon neutrality" goals, it is crucial to focus on the design and research of low-carbon construction and renovation of farmhouses. While previous studies on energy-saving retrofits have typically focused on energy-efficient building designs, they have often overlooked the embedded carbon emissions associated with construction. This oversight may reduce operational carbon emissions but fails to consider and optimize overall emissions from a lifecycle perspective.This study investigates the embedded carbon emissions of 19 farmhouse designs in Ningbo, selected from the "Ningbo City Traditional and Modern Farmhouse Ultra-Low Energy Design Common Atlas," compiled by the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Ningbo City in collaboration with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Using carbon emission factors from the "Standard for Building Carbon Emission Calculation GB/T 51366-2019," the study calculates the carbon emissions generated during the manufacturing and transportation of building materials for these buildings. A Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis was employed to assess the impact of variations in carbon emission factors on embedded emissions, leading to recommendations for reducing the carbon footprint of farmhouses. The findings reveal that carbon emissions from exterior wall materials have the most significant impact, followed by roof materials, while transportation distance and transportation-related carbon emission factors have relatively minor effects. In practical terms, the study recommends prioritizing the use of heavy diesel trucks (30-ton or 46-ton) for transporting building materials in rural areas to reduce transportation related carbon emissions. Additionally, future farmhouse designs should emphasize the
use of ultra-low energy building materials to achieve significant long-term reductions in carbon emissions. Policymakers should also focus on optimizing transportation
networks and infrastructure to improve the efficiency of heavy transport vehicles,
further reducing carbon emissions during the transportation phase.

Date of Award	15 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Nottingham
Supervisor	Zhiang Zhang (Supervisor) & Wu Deng (Supervisor)