Whole-Life Carbon & Embodied Carbon Reviews
REFEA helps project teams understand and reduce the carbon impact of their developments - before the first brick is laid.
REFEA is a joint initiative by JMS Engineers and GC Robertson, promoting sustainability through smarter reuse and practical design in structural and civil engineering across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and the wider East Anglia region.
Engineering insight to reduce emissions at every stage of your project
REFEA helps project teams understand and reduce the carbon impact of their developments - before the first brick is laid.
Through structural and civil engineering analysis, we provide practical, measurable ways to lower embodied and operational carbon across a building’s full lifecycle.
We work with developers, architects, and planning consultants to deliver carbon reviews that support compliance with LETI, RIBA 2030, BREEAM, and local sustainability policies across East Anglia.
What Is Whole-Life Carbon?
Whole-life carbon (WLC) combines the embodied carbon from materials and construction with the operational carbon used during the building’s life. REFEA helps identify carbon hotspots, compare design options, and guide decisions that reduce total emissions without compromising on cost or performance.
Our Carbon Review Services Include:
Embodied carbon calculations for structural and civil design options
Coordination with design teams to align structure and energy strategies
Material comparison and carbon reduction advice (e.g. steel vs. timber)
Design guidance to reduce emissions in substructure and drainage systems
Why Work With REFEA engineers?
Our engineers understand carbon not just as a number - but as a consequence of design. By embedding carbon thinking into structural and civil decisions early on, we support smarter material use, simplified detailing, and lower-impact infrastructure.
We assess the viability of retaining or repurposing existing structural elements, helping reduce demolition waste and embodied carbon.
We design integrated SuDS strategies that manage surface water naturally, reduce flood risk, and support biodiversity.
Our engineers design structures using low-carbon materials, optimised steel/concrete usage, and efficient detailing to minimise environmental impact.
We provide structural and civil input into retrofit schemes - ensuring existing assets can be adapted and extended rather than replaced.
We work alongside design teams to evaluate carbon impacts across the project lifecycle and propose meaningful reductions at the design stage.
Sustainable Design Services
Our civil and structural engineering services support low-carbon construction, resource efficiency, and long-term resilience.
Focus Areas
REFEA’s work is guided by six core principles that drive sustainable structural and civil engineering - turning practical design decisions into low-carbon outcomes across East Anglia.
Reuse First
Prioritising existing structures and materials to reduce waste and embodied carbon.
Early Design Collaboration
Involving engineers early to embed sustainability from concept to construction.
Low-Carbon Materials
Specifying materials with lower embodied carbon and designing for material efficiency.
Circular Design Thinking
Designing for adaptability, longevity, and future reuse from the outset.
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Integrated Drainage Solutions
Embedding SuDS into civil engineering for sustainable, climate-resilient developments.
Practical Sustainability
Delivering buildable, cost-conscious solutions that meet real environmental targets.
Sustainable
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As structural engineers, we have a unique opportunity to influence how the built environment responds to the climate crisis. Reuse isn't just about saving materials - it's about rethinking value, preserving what works, and designing with long-term resilience in mind. Through REFEA, we hope to make reuse a more practical and achievable option on projects across East Anglia by sharing knowledge, highlighting viable approaches, and supporting early-stage design decisions.
Mark Weston
Structural Engineer, JMS Engineers
Knowledge is key to sustainable change. Explore our latest insights and technical resources:
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Path to a Low-Carbon Built Environment
The built environment contributes nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, much of it through construction and materials. In East Anglia, reducing embodied carbon is critical to meeting sustainability goals. By reusing structures, designing efficiently, and integrating low-impact civil solutions, we can reshape how the region builds - and lead the way towards a net zero future.