Introduction – Charting a Course Toward Net-Zero MEP Systems

As part of Syska’s firmwide commitment to the MEP 2040 Challenge, our High-Performance Solutions team was honored to participate in the Whole Life Carbon Pilot Program, led by MEP 2040 and the Carbon Leadership Forum. Over the course of five months, we applied the methodologies outlined in the Beginner’s Guide to MEP Embodied Carbon to benchmark San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1 modernization project—the third-busiest airport in California.

The study provided a unique opportunity to quantify and visualize whole-life carbon impacts across all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems—and, more importantly, to identify tangible strategies for reducing them. So, let’s grab our boarding passes and take off on this carbon-mapping journey.

Printing Our Boarding Pass – Initial Project Scoping

Every trip begins with a boarding pass. In this stage, we define the project’s boundaries, assess available data, and determine which MEP systems fall within the study scope. The goal is to establish a consistent baseline and understand what information we “need to pack” before departure.

Packing Our Bags – A1–A3 Product Stage (Cradle-to-Gate)

Here we take inventory of all in-scope MEP components - piping, ductwork, insulation, air-handling units, switchgear, lighting, and more. Each material represents a “packed item,” contributing to the overall weight of our carbon footprint.

By substituting lower-impact materials (for instance, low-GWP refrigerants, or HDPE over steel piping), we can “lighten our luggage.” Once fully packed, we gain our first glimpse into the cradle-to-gate embodied carbon profile of the Terminal 1 systems.

Traveling to the Airport – A4 Transport Emissions

Next, we consider how our baggage travels. Stage A4 captures the emissions associated with transporting materials and components from the factory gate to the project site. The distance traveled, weight of goods, and mode of transport—truck, ship, or air—each influence this stage’s carbon intensity. Even seemingly minor logistics choices can have measurable impacts when multiplied across a project of this scale.

Going Through Security – A5.3 Construction Waste and Waste Management

At the security checkpoint, we shed what we don’t need. Similarly, Stage A5.3 accounts for on-site waste generation and waste management for MEP components. Trimming excess material ordering, improving prefabrication accuracy, and recycling insulation and wiring waste can dramatically reduce emissions at this stage.

Waiting at the Gate – Upfront Carbon Reflection

Once the early stages are complete, we pause to reflect. What have we learned from our packing and planning? Are there opportunities to optimize future designs—perhaps through standardized product EPDs, low-carbon specifications, or better supplier engagement? This reflection ensures that each project builds upon the last, steadily improving the industry’s carbon literacy.

Taking Off and In the Air – Stage B (In-Use Carbon)

After we take off, the journey shifts from embodied to operational carbon—covering the emissions associated with energy use, water use, refrigerant leakage, and maintenance or replacement cycles.

For large campuses like airports, the in-use phase often represents the majority of life-cycle emissions, underscoring the importance of all-electric, high-efficiency system design. Strategies such as heat recovery, smart controls, and thermal energy storage (Syska’s Decarb in 4D framework) extend the impact of efficient design far beyond the initial build.

Landing and Traveling to Our Final Destination – Stage C (End-of-Life)

On the final leg, we “deplane” our systems - examining the carbon implications of transport (C2) and end-of-life disposal (C4). This includes evaluating material recyclability and component reuse potential, both of which can substantially offset embodied emissions.

Arrival Reflections: Lessons from the Flight

The MEP 2040 Whole Life Carbon Pilot demonstrated the immense value of integrating embodied carbon analysis into early design phases. For Syska, it reaffirmed three guiding principles:

• Measure early and often: Whole-life carbon accounting enables smarter trade-offs and transparent reporting.
• Collaborate broadly: Decarbonization depends on teamwork across owners, architects, contractors, and manufacturers.
• Design for tomorrow: Electrification, modularity, and heat-recovery integration are key to achieving net zero MEP systems.

This pilot represents not just a technical milestone, but a shift in practice – creating a replicable framework for all MEP 2040 signatories to benchmark and reduce carbon. Syska continues to help shape this future through our leadership role in the MEP 2040 Data Analysis & Reporting Working Group, where we translate pilot data into actionable insights that guide design innovation across the industry.

At Syska, our commitment to MEP 2040 reflects a larger vision – to design the high-performance, low-carbon systems that enable communities and campuses to thrive for generations to come.