LEBR
TAIWAN'S LOW EMBODIED CARBON BUILDING RATING SYSTEM
What is LEBR?
The Low Embodied-Carbon Building Rating System (LEBR) is Taiwan’s framework for evaluating and recognizing buildings that reduce embodied carbon in construction.
Unlike operational carbon, which comes from energy use during building operation, embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with materials, manufacturing, transportation, and construction. LEBR provides a structured approach to assessing these impacts and encouraging lower-carbon design and material strategies.
As carbon regulations and market expectations continue to evolve, LEBR helps project teams demonstrate leadership in low-carbon construction and more sustainable building delivery.
LEBR Assessment Scope
LEBR focuses on reducing the carbon impact of buildings through design, material selection, and construction strategies.
Embodied Carbon Assessment
The system evaluates the carbon emissions associated with key building materials and construction components, helping project teams understand where the largest impacts occur and where reductions can be achieved.
This typically includes consideration of:
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Structural systems
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Façade and envelope materials
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Major construction materials
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Material quantities and specifications
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Product-related carbon data
Low-Carbon Design Strategies
LEBR encourages project teams to adopt practical strategies that reduce embodied carbon without compromising performance, constructability, or project goals.
These strategies may include:
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Material optimization and quantity reduction
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Selection of lower-carbon materials
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Efficient structural and envelope design
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Use of products with verified environmental data
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Early-stage carbon-informed design decisions
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the building’s embodied carbon across the full product and construction lifecycle, covering Modules A to C in accordance with international LCA standards. By assessing impacts across these lifecycle stages, the LCA provides a comprehensive understanding of the building’s embodied carbon and identifies opportunities to reduce emissions throughout the project lifecycle.
LEBR, TBERS, and EEWH
Addressing Whole-Building Sustainability
In Taiwan, LEBR, TBERS, and EEWH address different aspects of building sustainability and are often applied together to support comprehensive building performance strategies.
LEBR (Low Embodied-Carbon Building Rating System) focuses on reducing embodied carbon, evaluating emissions associated with construction materials, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life impacts.
TBERS (Taiwan Building Energy Rating System) evaluates operational energy performance, benchmarking how efficiently buildings consume energy during operation.
EEWH (Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction, and Health) provides a broader green building framework, assessing sustainability across multiple categories including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials, ecology, and indoor environmental quality.
RCI frequently integrates LEBR, TBERS, and EEWH strategies during project development, helping project teams reduce embodied carbon, improve operational energy performance, and achieve recognized green building certification. This integrated approach supports more comprehensive sustainability outcomes across the entire building lifecycle.
Why Pursue LEBR?
As the industry shifts toward whole-life carbon thinking, embodied carbon is becoming a critical part of sustainable building performance.
Projects that pursue LEBR benefit from:
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Clear evaluation of embodied carbon impacts
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Support for lower-carbon design and material decisions
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Alignment with carbon reduction goals and ESG strategies
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Improved transparency in construction-related emissions
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Recognition of leadership in low-carbon building delivery
LEBR helps project teams move beyond operational efficiency and address the carbon impact of construction itself.
RCI’s LEBR Advisory Services
RCI supports project teams in assessing and reducing embodied carbon as part of the LEBR framework.
Our services include:
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Embodied carbon studies and baseline assessments
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Low-carbon material and design strategy development
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Structural and envelope carbon optimization
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Life cycle assessment support for building materials and systems
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Documentation preparation and submission support
We work with architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers to develop practical low-carbon strategies that align with certification requirements and project realities.
