Through the "Rukaru" platform developed by EBP Chile, the carbon footprint of 4 representative buildings at Parque Arauco was assessed, enabling the development of an emissions baseline by typology and the formulation of a mitigation strategy based on the results.

The construction industry has a significant impact on climate change, as it is responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions stem from various sources, such as the use of fossil fuels for transportation and energy generation, the production of building materials, and energy consumption in buildings and homes. According to the United Nations, construction and building operations account for 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions, making it one of the largest sources of emissions worldwide. Moreover, the demand for building construction and housing is expected to increase in the coming decades, posing serious consequences for the climate and the environment. Recognizing the substantial environmental impact of the construction sector, EBP Chile's climate change team developed the "Rukaru" platform. This platform allows for the assessment of the carbon footprint of infrastructure and buildings, considering their construction, operation, and closure stages. The tool utilizes the methodology outlined in standard EN15978, which defines guidelines and calculation methods to assess the environmental performance of buildings throughout their lifecycle.

The project involved the assessment of 4 Parque Arauco buildings in Chile, Colombia, and Peru. One building of multifamily typology, one retail brownfield typology, and two retail greenfield typologies were evaluated. The project was divided into two stages:

1. Carbon Footprint Diagnosis based on Life Cycle Analysis: Through "Rukaru," the carbon footprint was assessed throughout the life cycle of the 4 buildings, considering the stages of construction, operation, and closure. Based on the results obtained, an emissions baseline was developed, and a projection was made until 2030 based on Parque Arauco's historical infrastructure project portfolio.
2. Mitigation Measures to Advance to Net Zero: From the results obtained, opportunities for reducing embodied carbon (emissions generated during the production of construction materials and the construction phase) and operational carbon (emissions generated during the building's operational phase) were identified, leading to the development of a set of cost-effective mitigation measures. These measures were formalized in a Mitigation Plan using Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACC), allowing prioritization based on their abatement potential and cost of abatement.

Main results

• Retail greenfield: A total baseline of 1,290 [KgCO2e/m2] was estimated, where 480 [KgCO2e/m2] correspond to embodied carbon and 810 [KgCO2e/m2] to operational carbon.
• Retail Brownfield: A total baseline of 2,070 [KgCO2e/m2] was estimated, with 410 [KgCO2e/m2] corresponding to embodied carbon and 1,660 [KgCO2e/m2] to operational carbon.
• Multifamily: A total baseline of 840 [KgCO2e/m2] was estimated, where 490 [KgCO2e/m2] correspond to embodied carbon and 350 [KgCO2e/m2] to operational carbon.