Description

Historically, sustainability efforts in the built environment have been heavily focused on operational energy. While reducing operational energy and associated carbon emissions is critically important, it is also vital not to overlook the carbon emissions and environmental impacts associated with materials and construction, also known as embodied carbon. In 2018, the International Energy Association Global Status Report found that the manufacturing of building materials accounted for 11% of global energy- and process-related greenhouse gas emissions, with indications that the emissions will continue to rise. A key action to achieve a more sustainable built environment will include education and encouraging the procurement of low embodied carbon materials, with buy-in from stakeholders in the public, legislative, AEC, and manufacturing realms. This discussion will focus on how those stakeholders can educate themselves and take action to move toward a low-embodied-carbon built environment.

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