What is Carbon Designer 3D?
Carbon Designer 3D is One Click LCA's early design tool for estimating and reducing a building's carbon impacts before detailed design data exists. You generate a building in minutes, see it in 3D, and get life-cycle results for embodied carbon and, in supported regions, operational energy.
Use it to:
Compare structural systems, building shapes and material options at concept stage
Set an early carbon baseline before design decisions are locked in
Carry your early design into a full project LCA without remodeling it
New to the tool? Start with the Carbon Designer 3D Mini Course on One Click LCA Academy.
What's new
Date | Update |
July 2026 | IFC import (Beta): import an IFC model and Carbon Designer 3D generates a simplified model for early-stage analysis. See Carbon Designer 3D: Import an IFC model (Beta). |
June 2026 | Operational energy: estimate operational energy use and carbon alongside embodied carbon, based on predefined energy scenarios you can adjust. Available for supported reference buildings in Norway, Finland, Ireland and the UK. See Carbon Designer 3D: Calculate operational energy and carbon. |
For earlier updates, see the One Click LCA release notes.
Create a model in five steps
In your project, click Carbon Designer 3D and select the compatible tool you want to use. Then click Create a design to start from scratch.
Step 1: Create a design
Enter the basic information for your building, then click Next.
Design name: a clear, descriptive name.
Reference building: the regional baseline your design starts from. It sets the default constructions, environmental data and, where available, the energy scenario. See Carbon Designer 3D: Reference buildings and data sources.
Building type: the main use of the building.
Calculation period: the timeframe for your analysis.
Step 2: Select the scope
Define what the assessment includes.
Scope: the building parts or elements to include.
Building structure: the primary structural system.
Optional details: piling length (visual only), secant piling walls or soil stabilization.
If an energy scenario exists for your reference building and building type, it is assigned automatically in this step.
Step 3: Select the shape
Choose how to define the building's shape.
Method | How it works | Learn more |
Predefined shape | Enter gross floor area (GFA), the number of above-ground floors and any underground floors (heated or unheated). Shapes include L- and E-shapes; the E-shape can be adjusted into F, U or T configurations. | This article |
Free Drawing | Draw a floor plan and Carbon Designer 3D generates the 3D model. | |
Generate shapes with AI | Generate several optimized building massings from your site and design constraints. | |
Import an IFC model (Beta) | Import an IFC file and Carbon Designer 3D builds a simplified model from it. |
Select the type of shape to work with
Step 4: Generate the geometry
Adjust and review your building in 3D.
Adjust dimensions: change the editable parameters to see how geometry and carbon footprint respond.
Explore the model: click and drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and use the transparency bar to see inside.
When you are happy with the shape, click Calculate areas. Refine the structure or dimensions and recalculate if needed, then click Submit to generate your first results. Once areas are calculated and the model is submitted, dimensions can no longer be changed.
Example of adjusting length dimensions to create an F-shaped building.
Note on floor areas: changing dimensions does not update the gross internal floor area (GIFA). Areas such as foundations and ground slabs stay based on the GFA you entered in Step 3. To keep them aligned, either return to Step 3 and adjust the GFA, or adjust GIFA and the affected building part areas manually.
Step 5: Apply a template
If a template is available, apply it to prefill data for specific building parts. Power Pack users can use both public and private templates. See Carbon Designer 3D: Private templates.
Review and refine your results
Your first design appears on the Carbon Designer 3D main page as your baseline.
What the results include
Results cover the material-related life-cycle stages of the LCA tool you selected. For most tools this means A1–A3 (material production), A4 (transport), A5 (site waste), B4–B5 (replacements) and C2–C4 (end of life). Some tools have a narrower scope; for example, Klimatdeklaration covers A1–A5 only.
Where an energy scenario is available, Carbon Designer 3D also calculates operational energy use (B6) and shows it in a separate Energy table. Stages that need other inputs, such as demolition (C1), operational water use (B7) and site operations, are not included.
To check your tool's exact scope, open Results from the design's Input data dropdown.
Carbon Designer 3D uses the same calculation method as your LCA tool, so the same inputs give the same results. Small differences (under 2%) can occur in specific scenarios and in deprecated or Beta tools. A Carbon Designer 3D design saved as a regular design gives nearly identical results until either one is edited.
Explore the results
View the carbon footprint by element, material or classification.
Click Carbon view to color the 3D model by embodied carbon intensity.
Adjust building elements
Show alternative resources: see materials that are not used by default.
Replace elements: swap entire constructions, such as a floor slab.
Adjust quantities: change amounts or percentages of materials.
Add resources: click Add resources to include your own materials or constructions.
To edit a single construction, right-click it and select Edit construction. You can add or remove materials, change quantities and units, and rename it or update its description. Click Save to refresh your results.
Compare and save designs
Compare design options
To explore alternatives, copy your baseline and change it. Click the three dots on the 3D model or in the building elements list and select copy. You can compare up to four designs side by side to see how each change affects the results.
Save to your project
Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the 3D model and choose either Save copy as new project design or merge it with an existing project design. Saved designs appear on the Building materials page, and their calculation and results are available from the project main page.
Go further
Article | Read it when |
You want operational energy and carbon alongside embodied carbon | |
You already have an IFC model of the building | |
Your building mixes uses, has floors of different sizes, or includes parking or underground structures | |
You want to know how regional baselines are built and which data they use |
To see Carbon Designer 3D in action or request a demo, visit oneclicklca.com/carbon-designer-3d.
Frequently asked questions
What is Carbon Designer 3D used for?
It is used to model, compare and optimize building designs at concept stage, before detailed design information exists. It estimates embodied carbon and, in supported regions, operational energy and carbon.
Does Carbon Designer 3D calculate operational carbon?
Yes, for supported reference buildings and building types in Norway, Finland, Ireland and the UK. An energy scenario is assigned automatically, and you can adjust its assumptions.
Can I use it for renovation or retrofit projects?
Yes. Select only the building parts that will be new or replaced, and existing structures are left out of the results.
Can I use it for interiors or components?
No. It is designed for whole-building assessments at early design stage.
What is the difference between Free Drawing, Generate shapes with AI and IFC import?
Free Drawing lets you draw a custom floor plan by hand. Generate shapes with AI creates several optimized massings from your site and design constraints. IFC import builds a simplified model from an existing IFC file.
Can I change a model after it is generated?
Yes, you can change materials, quantities and entire building elements at any time. Dimensions cannot be changed once areas are calculated and the model is submitted.
Does Carbon Designer 3D reflect regional differences?
Yes. Each reference building uses regional constructions, environmental data and regulatory parameters. Choosing the right reference building gives you locally relevant results.
How does it support green building certifications?
Early results can inform decisions for certifications and frameworks such as LEED, BREEAM, DGNB and Level(s). Reducing carbon at concept stage lowers impacts across the whole project.