According to the CBCI EDGE curriculum, the embodied energy calculation in the EDGE software focuses primarily on the energy associated with the production stages of building materials. This includes raw material extraction and processing, as well as manufacturing and transformation into finished construction products. The embodied energy values used in EDGE are derived from standardized lifecycle inventory data covering cradle-to-gate processes.

Raw material wastage during manufacturing is typically already embedded within industry production data and reflected in the embodied energy coefficients assigned to materials in the EDGE database. Therefore, these upstream losses are implicitly accounted for in the calculation methodology.

However, material wastage during construction on site is not included in the embodied energy calculation within the EDGE software. The tool assumes standardized material quantities based on design inputs and does not factor in site-specific construction inefficiencies, off-cuts, breakage, or improper handling losses. This exclusion simplifies the assessment and ensures consistency across projects globally. Therefore, the embodied energy calculation excludes construction-stage material wastage, making option C the correct answer.