Embodied Carbon in Materials: Real Steps to Drawing Down Carbon in our Buildings
About this course
This session will provide concrete tools and answers on how to draw down carbon in our buildings starting today. We’ll focus on low-rise buildings, where most new construction and renovations happen and which are currently under-represented in embodied-carbon design and analysis. We will present critical construction details such as band joist insulation selections and sloped ceiling retrofits, as well as whole-building design strategies. We’ll present current developments including tools for carbon counting, “green list” material specifications, cooperative supply chains for biogenic materials, and carbon curriculum for industry education. We will fuel hope and build a movement by presenting the very real and immediate carbon drawdown reservoir that exists in constructed or renovated buildings. Session speakers presented the acclaimed keynote at last year’s BuildingEnergy conference.
Learning Objectives
- Explain what embodied carbon is and how carbon can be stored in building materials
- Describe at least two case-study examples of stored carbon
- Describe critical, common design details that incorporate carbon storing materials
- Access currently-available tools that measure carbon impact and storage of specific materials
Course outline
Module 1 • 2 assignments
Embodied Carbon in Materials: Real Steps to Drawing Down Carbon in our Buildings
- Embodied Carbon in Materials: Real Steps to Drawing Down Carbon in our Buildings (01:30:50 hours)
- OPTIONAL: Subscribe to NESEA Communications
Authors
Chris Magwood
Chris Magwood is obsessed with helping reverse climate change by making carbon-storing buildings that are also healthy, beautiful, efficient and inspiring. Chris is currently the executive director of The Endeavour Centre, a not-for-profit sustainable building school in Peterborough, Ontario. The school runs a full-time certificate programs – Sustainable Building and...
Jacob Racusin
Jacob Deva Racusin is Director of Building Science and Sustainability with New Frameworks Natural Design/Build. As a consultant, designer, and educator, Jacob merges his passions for ecological stewardship, relationship to place, and social justice. Jacob is also an Embodied Carbon Analyst and BEAM Trainer and Co-Developer with Builders For Climate Action. Jacob has...
