As the building industry increasingly focuses on reducing operational carbon through energy efficiency and electrification, a quieter but equally important challenge is emerging: embodied carbon.

What is Embodied Carbon?

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the manufacturing, transport, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. Unlike operational carbon, which occurs during a building’s use phase, embodied carbon is front-loaded and is present before a building is even occupied.

As building envelopes become more efficient and net-zero operations become the goal, what remains is the embodied carbon, which can account for up to half of a building’s total emissions over its lifecycle.

Why the Building Industry is Paying Attention

Organizations like the Carbon Leadership Forum and MEP 2040 are pushing for increased transparency and reporting on embodied carbon. Tools like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are becoming essential in project planning. Owners, architects, and policymakers are increasingly asking: What is the carbon footprint of the materials we use—and how can we reduce it?

While building materials such as steel, concrete, and insulation have made notable progress in carbon transparency, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems lag due to the inherent complexity of their materials and components. However, incorporating MEP systems into embodied carbon analysis is critical, as they represent for a substantial portion of a building’s carbon footprint, particularly through metals, refrigerants, and other high-impact elements.

The industry increasingly views this as an opportunity to address environmental impacts that extend beyond operations. Because geothermal systems serve the MEP infrastructure, they play a key role in this broader decarbonization effort.

Professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for AIA 2030, the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for SE 2050, and now MEP 2040, have formally committed to the challenge of achieving net zero embodied carbon in the built environment.

Geothermal's Role in Reducing Embodied Carbon

Geothermal or Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems are increasingly seen as a decarbonization HVAC solution due to their operational efficiency and carbon-free heating and cooling. However, one factor left out of the analysis is their embodied carbon.

While the drilling process and HDPE looping contribute significantly to the system’s embodied emissions, GSHPs can still present a lower overall carbon footprint compared to traditional HVAC system, particularly variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, which rely on large volumes of high-GWP refrigerants and have shorter equipment lifespans. Geothermal systems offer several embodied carbon advantages, including:

• • Less refrigerant use, compared to VRF systems

• • Longer equipment lifespan, lowering replacement frequency
  • Single-material components, potential making carbon accounting more feasible

That said, challenges remain, such as limited EPDs for GSHP components and a lack of standardized methods. Yet, these gaps present opportunities for industry leadership, material innovation, and collective collaboration.

Getting Involved: Industry Initiatives Leading the Way

Quantifying embodied carbon can feel like a daunting task, but many professionals and organizations are already leading the way. Among them is MEP 2040, a coalition of engineers, architects, and building owners committed to addressing whole-life carbon in buildings. Through a growing network of signatories and quarterly forums, MEP 2040 is fostering a community dedicated to achieving net-zero embodied carbon.

Published this Earth Day, their latest initiative, the Beginner’s Guide to MEP Embodied Carbon, is an open-source resource designed to help designers quantify the embodied carbon of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems as part of a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA).

Brightcore Energy is proud to have contributed to this effort by supporting the development of guideline content related to ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), specifically for phases A1–A3 (product stage) and A5.2 (construction installation). These contributions help designers account for the full scope of materials and processes involved in GSHP installations, promoting transparency and consistency in carbon reporting.

Looking Ahead: Next Steps for the Industry

As the saying goes, we can’t manage what we don’t measure. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provide powerful insights into the hidden emissions embedded in building systems and materials. The work of MEP 2040 and its contributors represents a significant step forward, offering tools and guidance to help industry professionals make informed decisions that align with their carbon goals.

This movement also creates opportunities to innovate, improve, and optimize existing systems and processes, ensuring that sustainability goals are met without compromising performance or reliability.

Going forward, continued collaboration with geothermal-focused organizations and manufacturers is essential. Their engagement ensures that GSHPs are accurately reflected in embodied carbon studies and that the systems remain part of the broader solution to decarbonizing buildings at scale.