The article discusses the development of an open-access, reliable database for embodied energy and carbon emissions in construction materials. The University of Bath's inventory of carbon and energy database lists nearly 200 materials, extracted from peer-reviewed literature using a defined methodology and five criteria. The database is publicly available and has attracted significant interest from various sectors. Feedback from users has helped refine the 'best values' for cradle-to-site embodied energy and carbon. The variation in published data is attributed to differences in boundary definitions, data sources, and the rigor of original life-cycle assessments. The database is primarily aimed at UK construction but has wide industrial applications. Case studies of real-world new-build dwellings illustrate the use of the inventory, showing that there is little difference in embodied energy and carbon between houses and apartments, except when external works are considered. The average embodied energy and carbon for the 14 case studies were 5340 MJ/m² and 110 kg/m², respectively. The article also highlights the importance of responsible materials management at the construction stage to reduce environmental impact.The article discusses the development of an open-access, reliable database for embodied energy and carbon emissions in construction materials. The University of Bath's inventory of carbon and energy database lists nearly 200 materials, extracted from peer-reviewed literature using a defined methodology and five criteria. The database is publicly available and has attracted significant interest from various sectors. Feedback from users has helped refine the 'best values' for cradle-to-site embodied energy and carbon. The variation in published data is attributed to differences in boundary definitions, data sources, and the rigor of original life-cycle assessments. The database is primarily aimed at UK construction but has wide industrial applications. Case studies of real-world new-build dwellings illustrate the use of the inventory, showing that there is little difference in embodied energy and carbon between houses and apartments, except when external works are considered. The average embodied energy and carbon for the 14 case studies were 5340 MJ/m² and 110 kg/m², respectively. The article also highlights the importance of responsible materials management at the construction stage to reduce environmental impact.