1. Scope

Keywords

Rationale

This standard practice provides a consistent and transparent method for evaluating the impacts of passive building products on a building’s operational carbon footprint. Although several industry white papers have explored these benefits, no standardized approach currently exists for quantifying the operational carbon reductions attributable to such products. Establishing a uniform method will support better-informed decisions in product specification, building design, and sustainability assessments. Additionally, a wide range of passive building materials, products, and systems may benefit from such analysis. These include, but are not limited to, thermal insulation, highly reflective interior surfaces that enhance lighting efficiency, sunshades that reduce solar heat gain, and phase change materials that passively moderate indoor temperatures. By offering a structured framework to quantify and compare their carbon impacts in the use phase, this practice quantifies the reduction in operational energy associated with these products. These results can then be incorporated into holistic carbon management strategies and whole building life cycle assessments.