PHribbon & Carbon Calculation

Easy to use software to help with PHPP calculations

The UK version of PHribbon is developed exclusively for the AECB and works as a plugin to PHPP.

AECB PHribbon makes using PHPP quicker, easier and it uses the existing information beyond just energy.

PHribbon enables you to build the PHPP faster, and CO₂ calculations benefit designers, consultants and clients by making the modelling an easier, quicker process. The latest version of PHribbon gives the carbon impact of materials before they are selected and the impact of substitution of materials can be quickly seen.

This AECB software contributes something that has not been done before. There are embodied carbon calculations and tools elsewhere in the market but PHribbon integrates these calculations into the PHPP software as you work.

AECB PHribbon Features

Extend PHPP

Embodied CO₂ and Whole Life Carbon – This starts with calculating Embodied CO₂ and then continues to calculate Whole Life Carbon for 50 or 60 years, through a series of guided input dialogs. See below for further details.
- There is a training course available to learn about this feature in depth.
Energy of Variants – Adds a “Graphs” tab to display graphs with variants broken down by building element: walls, roof, etc. for reporting and demonstrating the effects of design and material choices to clients.
Daylighting Factor (add on module, sold separately) – Helps plan optimal window sizes by creating a new daylighting spreadsheet from the PHPP and fills it out with the information available in the PHPP.
- This exports window information to a daylight factor spreadsheet by Mark Siddall of LEAP. It helps you plan window sizes which give enough daylight without over-provision. Good windows have 5x the heat loss of a good wall so it is important not to over size them.

Build PHPP

Climate – Easier selection of climate region, shows what counties are in what region, you only need to know the county that the building is in.

Orientation – Gives a simple way to work out bearings of each wall, draws outline of building as a crosscheck (if you have entered wall lengths)

Check PHPP – Takes you to each part of your PHPP and questions values. You can stop and correct something straight away, list what needs attention and change what to check.

Windows – Enters different window styles quickly, in mm or m, calculates the d-reveal, and enters the other info.

D Reveal – Enters the d-reveal where there is cover.

Retrofit Costs & Managing Data

Simple costs – Calculates retrofit costs and savings using Net Present Value.
- Links to rates of master PHribbon list, allowing you to update results automatically if you change the rates in the master list.
Variants – Adds retrofit costs for each variant, each variant is a separately costed option.
Step-by-Step – Adds retrofit costs for retrofits completed in a series of steps, ‘incremental retrofit’.

U-Values – Create a library of up to 150 constructions from your existing files, with the click of a button.
λ Values – Enters λ (lambda) values from a library and links to some BBA certificates, add your own entries or custom lists.
Thermal Bridges – Includes a thermal bridge library for around 70 of the most common domestic thermal bridges.
Summarise PHPPs – Helps you make a list of results for recent PHPPs just by selecting the file name.
- You can select a whole series of file names at once in a block.
- Useful to summarise a large development where you have many individual PHPPs for different blocks.
Unprotect/Protect Sheets – ‘Unprotect sheet’ unprotects the current sheet if you want to add notes.
- ‘Protect sheets’ protects all the sheets in the PHPP, while still allowing you to use the “+” to unhide rows or columns
Costs – You can modify standard costs, or typical options.

PHribbon and Carbon Calculations

Input Process

Works out quantities from PHPP using the U-value and Area tabs, and you can also use the extra large U-value calcs. PHribbon v6.08 onwards can also correct those external areas so that volume of materials is accurate for the layer.

Built-in library of almost 900 entries, mainly from EPDs, containing the Whole Life info for stages A-D including sequestration for timber/natural materials.

60 year Reference Study Period (which can be changed to 50 for Ireland).

Matches materials automatically and allows you to adjust the choice where necessary. You can also filter the list to show just the UK/Ireland or Europe.

Remembers materials so that when you select them again it remembers the EPD you chose last time.

Density of some materials can be adjusted, for example mineral fibre insulation if installed at a different density.

100% FSC/PEFC certified wood is assumed (affects the sequestration calculation), or if it is not, you can give the % that is.

Examples of the input process, main menu and buttons 1, 2 and 4:

Outputs

Up to 12 options can be graphed/compared (only first 4 shown below).

Fully transparent calculation.

Coloured “heat map” results, the output table is coloured by value to make it easy to see where the CO₂ is coming from.

Whole Life Carbon CO₂ graph shows operational and embodied CO_2.

EmbodR results tab gives RIBA 2030 Challenge, LETI, and an estimate of UKNZCBS laid out on printable pages.

WLCA uncertainty factor is set up for you to help you calculate it – this improves your result by reducing the percentage that has to be added.

Examples of the CO₂ heatmap results:

Examples of Whole Life Carbon CO₂ graphs:

Minimum requirements:

Windows PC, or a Mac with a PC emulator (Parallels, VMware)
Microsoft Excel from a current version of office, or within last 5 years
Dropbox or Sharepoint for us to send you updates
PHPP version 10, though most of it will also work on older PHPP v9 files

PHribbon is written to align with the RICS 2^nd Edition (2023) Professional Statement on Whole Life Carbon. This is based on EN 15978 and is required by RIBA, CIBSE and IStructE. It is suitable for the RIBA 2030 Challenge v2, LETI and has initial estimates for the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (UKNZCBS). There are also some local authorities that require Embodied Carbon calculations, such as London (London Plan 2021), South Hams (Totnes).

PHribbon calculates Whole Life Carbon, which combines the embodied CO₂ from materials with the operational CO₂from running the building. It is cradle to grave, covering stages A-C (and most module D info) :

Module A, A1-A3 Manufacture including A4 Transport to site and A5 Construction including A5.1 Pre-construction demolition and A5.3 Construction waste.
Module B, Use of the building including B4 Replacement
Module C, End of Life of the building including RICS estimates where this info is missing
Module D1 where info is provided in the EPD (RICS est for missing info is not yet implemented) and Module D2 calculation of exports from PV or other renewables.

The AECB Carbon Calculator works in a similar way except that it doesn’t link to PHPP and only calculates Embodied Carbon. This also means that it can’t give full RIBA or LETI results, only the embodied part.

Dispay the effect of material and design choices to clients

Display graphs with variants broken down by building element: walls, roof, etc. for reporting and demonstrating the effects of design and material choices to clients.

(see examples of results above)

Guided input screens make the data entry process clear and efficient

Don’t worry about having to enter lots of data into excel cells, guided input screens help you to select all the necessary details, which are then added to the spreadsheet for you.

(See examples above)

Compatible with EasyPH and DesignPH

All the major parts of PHribbon work with EasyPH and DesignPH, such as Embodied carbon, U-Values, Windows and Orientation.

Add-Ons

There are two add-ons available (in the AECB Shop) to enhance the PHribbon package: Daylight Factor and Costings.

Watch this introduction to the AECB PHribbon software to see how it can assist with your calculations

PHribbon designer Tim Martel explains the benefits of using the software

“It’s good to start using it at an early design stage when you are considering what materials you might use. As you build your Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) energy model it calculates the embodied CO₂ and can offer alternatives. Additionally, as it is working in PHPP, the energy calculation is already in there, and that is used by PHribbon to work out the operational CO₂.

You can be working in one package while you revise your ideas. If you have finished your calculations and want to go back to adjust material areas or thicknesses in PHPP, those changes automatically feed through to the PHribbon side because the links are formulas.

To get feedback at that early stage is useful and it is where you have most flexibility about making decisions.”

Further information, Installation Guide and Licence Agreement

PHribbon will be continually updated to allow for developments in PHPP, building regulations and other standards. To allow us to keep your copy of PHribbon updated we will charge an annual recurring subscription fee to fund these developments. The subscription fee will enable you to automatically receive all updates and fixes as they are released.

The first year’s subscription is included in the purchase price.

PHribbon consists of three parts: Build PHPP and Embodied CO₂and an annual subscription fee to enable software developments and upgrades.

The total package price is £250 ex VAT for non members and this includes a £70 ex VAT purchase of an annual recurring subscription fee. The subscription fee will be payable annually on the purchase anniversary.

The AECB members price is £200 ex VAT which includes a discounted subscription fee at £50 ex VAT also payable annually.

The price of the software includes a user guide.

Your payment confirmation email will ask for a security code which you get from a downloaded spreadsheet. Pressing the button in that spreadsheet just reads a unique code on your computer, it makes no changes whatsoever. If you change your computer in the future a new Licence Key will be sent to you free of charge.

Software will be distributed by Dropbox to enable updates to be sent to you automatically. Once you have the software, copy it from the Dropbox to your own folder. Enter the licence key at the top of the Install tab then follow the instructions below it. You will also need to enable macros, there are instructions about how to do this safely in the User Guide. (Macros are already part of PHPP v9.6 variants version written by the Passivhaus Institute.)

By using this software you agree to these terms :

Users may not redistribute the PHribbon spreadsheet, or repackage it free of charge or otherwise.
The software has been rigorously tested and great care has been taken to ensure there are no errors, however not every situation in which PHPP can be used can be foreseen, therefore checks for costs are still recommended. Any mistakes found will be corrected free of charge and all users updated. The user is responsible for checking the figures, especially in circumstances where they are critical. In extreme circumstances the maximum compensation will be a refund of the price paid for the software. By using this software you agree that no legal claim can be made against the AECB nor Tim Martel.
Costs provided are indicative only and are the best information available to the author. By their very nature they are variable according to location, supplier and quantity. They serve only as a starting point and can be updated at any time either for one project (i.e. changing the figure in the costs tab in the PHPP) or by changing the master table for all future projects in the PHribbon spreadsheet.

Microsoft have had the facility to add custom buttons on a ribbon (toolbar) in Excel for some time. Tim Martel and the AECB have teamed up to create one for PHPP which speeds up common tasks and extends what PHPP can do. No special PHPP is needed. It is designed for PHPP v10 and most buttons (apart from windows and d-reveal) are also compatible with earlier versions of PHPP: 9.6, 9.3, 9.1 and 8.5. You can also use it with PHPPs created by designPH.

Watch this demo video to find out more

Learn how to use PHribbon to perform detailed embodied and operational carbon calculations

Live, online, interactive teaching, with lots of opportunity to practice using the PHribbon software and ask questions.

Bundle discounts are available when purchasing the PHribbon software with the training course. See the course page, Price section, for more details.

Looking for a practitioner who can carry out the carbon calculations for your project?

We have a list of AECB Endorsed PHribbon Users for carrying out whole life carbon calculations. These are graduates who have passed our PHribbon training course