Embodied energy refers to energy used in producing and transporting building materials and construction.

• A. Energy used during building operation
• B. Energy generated by on-site renewables
• C. Energy used in producing and transporting building materials and construction
• D. Total energy of the universe

Answer: (C)

Embodied energy is the energy required to produce and transport building materials and to carry out the construction process. This captures the energy invested before the building even starts operating, including mining, manufacturing, and shipping materials, plus on-site construction energy. It’s different from the energy the building uses once it’s in operation, which is called operational or operating energy. It also isn’t about energy produced on-site by renewables, which relates to energy supply during operation, and it isn’t the total energy of the universe. So describing embodied energy as the energy used in producing and transporting building materials and construction aligns exactly with its meaning. For example, the energy needed to manufacture cement and steel and to move them to the site contributes to embodied energy.