THE FAQ SERIES: What are the operating carbon emissions of a CALMFLOOR unit?

Carbon performance now defines every building decision.

Developers, engineers and operators have to meet Net Zero targets with transparent and verifiable data. No surprise then that a common question our experts are asked is ‘what are the operating carbon emissions of a CALMFLOOR active mass damper (AMD)?’

Operating carbon footprint of CALMFLOOR AMDs

Over a 50-year lifespan, a single CALMFLOOR AMD unit produces only 548 kg (1,209 lbs) CO₂e – equivalent to just 10.96 kg (24 lbs) per year. That’s an exceptionally low operational footprint for a continuously active floor vibration control system.

Each CALMFLOOR AMD weighs only 67 kg (148 lbs) and operates autonomously once installed. With no moving parts to maintain, no recalibration cycles and no downtime, energy use remains minimal and predictable throughout its lifetime.

How CALMFLOOR maintains low emissions

CALMFLOOR AMD’s energy efficiency is rooted in precision targeting. These compact units utilise active control, responding dynamically to floor vibration hotpots. Each unit uses advanced control electronics and precision sensors to stabilise multiple floor vibration frequencies simultaneously.

Unlike mass dampening systems that work continuously regardless of demand, CALMFLOOR’s technology adapts to the floor’s modal behaviour in real time, drawing only the power required to counter unwanted movement.

The result is high-performance damping with a power draw comparable to a small household appliance, yet protecting large-scale structures for decades.

Precision without the carbon cost

548 kg (1,209 lbs) CO₂e over half a century is demonstrably low when measured against everyday building systems.

Emissions research from the University of Oxford shows that a standard desktop computer and monitor generate substantially higher operational emissions over the same period. By comparison, CALMFLOOR operates continuously for decades while consuming less energy than a single office workstation.

This comparison highlights the efficiency of CALMFLOOR AMDs: a responsive floor vibration control system with an energy footprint smaller than everyday electronics – proof of precision performance without the carbon cost.

Operational emissions: CALMFLOOR AMD versus standard desktop computer

This comparison highlights the efficiency of CALMFLOOR AMDs: a responsive floor vibration control system with an energy footprint smaller than everyday electronics – proof of precision performance without the carbon cost.

Lifecycle context: low-carbon floor vibration strategy

Factoring in CALMFLOORs low manufacturing emissions (480 kg CO₂e) – each AMD unit carries a total lifecycle footprint of just over one tonne CO₂e. Spread over 50 years, that’s a fraction of traditional reinforcement methods.

Conventional vibration control depends on costly added mass solutions: concrete slabs, timber or steel beams. One tonne of structural steel carries about three tonnes of embodied CO₂e. Reinforcing an entire floor can multiply emissions into the hundreds of tonnes. CALMFLOOR eliminates that need entirely.

CALMFLOOR’s compact AMDs deliver active floor vibration control without structural intervention, keeping buildings lighter, adaptable and aligned with Net Zero design goals.

Engineered for Net Zero performance

Net Zero construction strategies now demand that both embodied and operational emissions are assessed across the full building lifecycle.

CALMFLOOR supports this with low-carbon manufacture, energy-efficient operation and decades-long reliability. No component replacements. No refits. No consumables.

By removing the need for overengineering or retrofit reinforcement, CALMFLOOR also eliminates the hidden carbon tied to demolition and new steel production. This dual saving – lower operational emissions and avoided excess material use – enables projects to meet whole-life carbon targets without compromising floor vibration performance.

A sustainable benchmark for active floor vibration control

Energy efficiency doesn’t come at the expense of control.

Each CALMFLOOR AMD delivers up to 90% reduction in floor vibration across multiple frequencies, maintaining comfort and stability in laboratories, offices and residential towers – all with no operational disruption.

Operating silently and without maintenance, CALMFLOOR units provide continuous, dynamic, reliable floor vibration control for decades, all within a benchmark-defining low carbon footprint.

Maximum stability. Minimal carbon. One solution.

Meet design, comfort and carbon targets with a single system.

By removing the need for structural reinforcement, CALMFLOOR achieves whole-life carbon savings that traditional solutions cannot match:

• 548 kg CO₂e lifetime operational footprint
• Up to 90% reduction in floor vibration
• 67 kg (148 lbs) per unit, installed in hours
• No structural intervention or downtime
• Continuous, dynamic operation, predictable running costs
• Proven alignment with Net Zero and BREEAM goals

CALMFLOOR is setting the benchmark for precision floor vibration control – high performance, low carbon, zero compromise.

Talk to CALMFLOOR about floor vibration control solutions that deliver measurable performance and lower carbon emissions across your building portfolio.