Embodied Energy Ranking for Building Materials Per NBC India

Embodied energy refers to the total energy consumed during the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and construction phases of a material. The National Building Code of India (NBC) provides guidelines, and understanding material energy consumption is crucial for sustainable construction practices.

Material Embodied Energy Comparison

Materials have varying embodied energy levels due to their production processes. Generally:

• Fly-ash Bricks: Typically have very low embodied energy as they utilize industrial waste (fly ash) and require less firing energy compared to traditional clay bricks.
• Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF): Involves processing wood fibres with binders and resins, requiring moderate energy input.
• Float Glass: Manufacturing requires high temperatures and significant energy for melting raw materials like sand, soda ash, and limestone.
• Aluminium: Primary aluminium production is extremely energy-intensive, primarily due to the electrolytic reduction process. Recycled aluminium requires significantly less energy but still more than most other common building materials.

Correct Material Sequence

Based on typical embodied energy values and NBC guidelines, the increasing order is:

Fly-ash Bricks < Medium Density Fibreboard < Float Glass < Aluminium