Low-carbon design refers to architectural and engineering strategies that aim to minimize carbon emissions across a building’s lifecycle. This includes reducing embodied carbon (from materials and construction) and operational carbon (from energy use during occupancy) through thoughtful planning, materials selection, systems design, and performance optimization.
The built environment is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Low-carbon design helps mitigate climate change by addressing emissions at the source—before a building is even built. It also positions projects for regulatory compliance, environmental certifications, and long-term energy savings.
Project teams use low-carbon design to reduce emissions in everything from housing and offices to civic infrastructure. For example, selecting low-impact materials, right-sizing HVAC systems, and integrating on-site renewables can significantly lower both upfront and operational emissions.
While low-carbon design strategies are highly impactful, they can be limited by:
Low-carbon design is about making smarter choices—from the materials you pick to the systems you install—to shrink a building’s carbon footprint before and after it’s built.
The D.TO platform helps architects make low-carbon design decisions early in the workflow. By evaluating material choices, energy strategies, and embodied carbon within the design environment, D.TO provides actionable insights without slowing down your process. It empowers teams to minimize carbon impact from concept to construction.
