D-CARB
Good early design decisions can reduce whole-life carbon by up to 40%. D-CARB ensures these decisions are informed and aligned with best practice from the outset.
Make Every Decision Count
D-CARB was created to help design teams reduce whole-life carbon at the point where the greatest impact can be made: the earliest stages of design. The tool, developed by Head of Research, Catherine Sinclair, turns leading research into a practical resource for everyday design.
Shaped by Research, Built for Designers
D-CARB supports architects, engineers, and clients. It sits within Revit and provides immediate whole-life carbon analysis, allowing users to test options, compare materials and assess carbon implications as their design evolves.
Why Early Carbon Decisions Matter
Whole-life carbon is locked in long before a building is constructed. Choices made during concept and feasibility stages influence material use, structural solutions, and operational performance for decades. D-CARB supports this stage of the process by bringing clarity where uncertainty is usually highest. With carbon insight available from the start, design teams can explore alternatives with confidence and avoid the hidden carbon costs that often emerge later.
How D-CARB works
Download
Available to download for free, we simply ask for a few contact details.
Install
Integrate directly into Revit in minutes.
Design
Make informed early-stage decisions that reduce whole-life carbon.
Export
Generate a summary report to evidence your impact.
Developed Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership
D-CARB reflects three years of research and collaboration. As part of her Knowledge Transfer Partnership with SPACE Architects, Northumbria University, and Innovate UK, Catherine focused on finding ways to embed whole-life carbon considerations into everyday design practice. Her research showed that designers needed a tool that matched the pace of early-stage decision-making, translated research into accessible guidance, and enabled carbon reduction to become part of the creative process. Catherine now leads research at SPACE Architects, continuing to refine D-CARB with real project data and feedback from design teams across the industry.
Made for Collaboration
Decarbonising the built environment depends on shared tools, shared understanding, and shared responsibility. D-CARB is open access for this reason. It is available to everyone, without barriers, so that early carbon insight becomes a common foundation that helps teams across the industry reduce emissions.
You will receive the plug-in package, a user guide, and supporting notes.
We welcome feedback from all users as the tool continues to evolve.
Research
We learn from what’s been done and pursue what’s possible
