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Technical guideFree to read2026

Best Practices for Data Center LCAs

iMasons Climate Accord (Infrastructure Masons) · iMasons Climate Accord

Guidance from the iMasons Climate Accord Materials and Equipment Working Groups on using life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure and reduce embodied carbon in data center construction.

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Overview

This document is a 2026 guide from the iMasons Climate Accord (iCA) Materials and Equipment Working Groups on using life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure and reduce embodied carbon in data center construction. The guide focuses on Scope 3 Category 1 (purchased goods and services), which it identifies as the most significant and actionable source of embodied carbon in data center construction.

The recommended approach is to run LCAs early and iteratively, with consistent scoping and transparent assumptions. Whole-building assessment boundaries should not stop at the building envelope; they should include structural, electrical, cooling and site utility systems. Both cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave assessments are useful, depending on goals, data availability and design phase.

For data accuracy a sliding scale is proposed: early decisions are supported by generic data and refined as primary supplier data (EPDs) becomes available. Recommended practices also include standardised reporting for benchmarking and cross-party collaboration. The guide is a methodological framework and gives no specific numerical result; related standards include EN 15978, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

Key points

  1. Scope 3 Category 1 (purchased goods and services) is the most significant and actionable source of embodied carbon in data center construction.
  2. Whole-building LCA boundaries should include structural, electrical, cooling and site utility systems, not just the building envelope.
  3. Both cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave assessments are useful depending on goals, data availability and design phase.
  4. A sliding scale of data accuracy supports early decisions, refined as primary supplier data (EPDs) becomes available.
  5. Recommended practices: early and iterative LCA, consistent scoping, standardised reporting for benchmarking, cross-party collaboration.
  6. Related standards: EN 15978, ISO 14040, ISO 14044.
  7. Freely available source.

Using it in design

  • Run an embodied-carbon estimate from the BOM at each design stage.
  • Label each line by data quality: generic, TM65 proxy or EPD.
  • Include MEP equipment, not only structure.
  • Export results in a consistent format for benchmarking across projects.

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Who should read it

Designers, sustainability consultants and procurement teams calculating and reducing embodied carbon in data center construction.

Related standards

  • EN 15978
  • ISO 14040
  • ISO 14044

Publication details

Authors
iMasons Climate Accord
Publisher
iMasons Climate Accord (Infrastructure Masons)
Year
2026
Document language
English
Source type
Industry body
Access
Free to read
Licence
Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation

iMasons Climate Accord (2026). Best Practices for Data Center LCAs. iMasons Climate Accord (Infrastructure Masons). https://climateaccord.org/publications/best-practices-for-data-center-lcas/

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