The rigorous quantification of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings is becoming an increasingly important requirement for designing effective policies, guiding investments and demonstrating the impact of decarbonisation measures. The guide developed by the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) proposes a standardised methodology for assessing emissions across the entire building lifecycle, from material production and construction through to operation, renovation and end-of-life.

The document structures the process into five stages: methodology design, data collection and calculation, results analysis, mitigation scenario modelling and stakeholder validation. In addition to establishing a baseline of emissions, the methodology enables the comparison of intervention scenarios with the business-as-usual scenario, the assessment of emissions-reduction potential, and the evaluation of the economic viability of different measures through cost-benefit analysis. The guide also highlights the importance of using internationally recognised standards, ensuring the availability of reliable data, and adapting methodologies to the national context to produce comparable results that support both public planning and access to climate finance and carbon markets.