What does GWP mean?

What does GWP mean?

GWP stands for Global Warming Potential. It is a measure used to compare the impact that different greenhouse gases have on global warming, relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Carbon dioxide has a GWP of 1. Other gases, such as methane and certain refrigerants, have a higher GWP because they can contribute significantly more to global warming over a specified period. GWP is commonly expressed over a 100-year timeframe, known as GWP100.

Why is GWP important in construction?

GWP is increasingly important when assessing the environmental impact of construction products. Materials and products can have an associated embodied carbon impact resulting from the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, transport, installation, use and end-of-life treatment.

For insulation, sealants, foams and other construction products, the GWP associated with the materials used can therefore be an important consideration when comparing products. A product with a lower GWP can have a lower contribution to climate change, although the overall environmental impact should be considered alongside factors such as product performance, durability, energy efficiency and service life.

What is GWP in kg CO₂e?

GWP is often reported as kg CO₂ equivalent (kg CO₂e). This expresses the climate-warming effect of different greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of CO₂. For example, if a product has a reported GWP of 10 kg CO₂e, its greenhouse-gas impact is expressed as equivalent to 10 kg of CO₂ over the specified assessment period.

When comparing construction products, it is important to check that the GWP figures are based on the same assessment methodology, life-cycle stage and reference period. This ensures that comparisons are meaningful.

Global warming potential (GWP) is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide.

All Dacatie Cavity Closers have a Global warming potential of Zero