GREEN BUILDING NEWS

GSA has published a map of projects that include low embodied carbon (LEC) material requirements. Interestingly, none include masonry, though some of the initial GSA pilot projects did. In addition to the map of GSA projects, Building Transparency has also published a number of useful links, including a map of plants producing products with EPDs (based on the EC3 tool). ~Tina

GSA announces low-embodied carbon projects

CARBON LEADERSHIP FORUM

GSA recently published a map of over 150 projects around the country that will now be eligible for using Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding for low embodied carbon (LEC) materials. For these 150 planned IRA LEC projects, securing low-carbon products is critical for contractors to receive awards. If contractors do not provide concrete, steel, glass, and asphalt materials that have a lower-carbon footprint than average, their proposals may be considered non-responsive and ineligible for award. 

Data and Reporting on the Embodied Carbon of MEP Systems: Progress and Opportunity

CARBON LEADERSHIP FORUM

Join the MEP 2040 team for this quarterly meeting with MEP 2040 signatory firms and supporting organizations. ASHRAE's Past President, Kent Peterson, will discuss the vision for ASHRAE’s Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization and MEP2040 recently aligning their efforts, upcoming ASHRAE decarbonization events, as well as progress within ASHRAE 240P.

CODES and STANDARDS NEWS

ASHRAE, ICC unveil proposed life cycle emissions standard

ASHRAE

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the International Code Council unveiled a draft standard and opened comment for ASHRAE/ICC Standard 240P - Quantification of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Buildings. The ASHRAE/ICC standard aims to provide a methodology to quantify embodied and operational greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings and their sites, along with requirements for documentation of life cycle emissions. The comment period is open until March 18.

GREEN PRODUCT NEWS

The carbon footprint information for building products is a hot topic, particularly on the federal level, as the events below demonstrate. ~Tina

EPA invites comments on low carbon construction materials, product labeling

CONCRETE PRODUCTS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened to public comment a draft approach for implementing an Inflation Reduction Act-funded Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials. The $100 million undertaking will support the White House Buy Clean Initiative, applicable to Departments of Defense and Transportation and General Services Administration procurement, by helping define what constitutes “clean” construction materials. Comments on the EPA proposal can be submitted through March 18. EPA representatives will provide perspective on the draft label program in a 1 p.m. EST, February 27 webinar. 

The NGO/Government Roundtable on embodied carbon

CARBON LEADERSHIP FORUM

At this webinar on April 18, Madeline Reeves, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, White House Council on Environmental Quality, will report on the Federal Buy Clean Initiative and the leadership role of the federal government in reducing embodied carbon. Additional speakers include Walter Tersch and Brad Nies from the General Services Administration (GSA), who will report on GSA’s Buy Clean work.

Eco-friendly, hemp-based concrete blocks provide sustainable alternative

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have developed a new type of building block — a hemp-based option that could support eco-friendly construction. According to the team, the innovation goes beyond mere construction, focusing on building a sustainable future. The hemp-based blocks are laid in traditional masonry mortar. Read more.

Climate startups charter Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance

CONCRETE PRODUCTS

Ten companies aiming to lower carbon dioxide emissions tied to cement production and finished concrete have launched a U.S. coalition dedicated to growing awareness around policies that will accelerate the adoption of CO2-wise solutions in public construction. Founding Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance (DC2) members are commercializing technologies that either offer organic or inorganic alternatives for full or partial portland cement substitution; or mineralize CO2 for use as supplementary cementitious material, aggregate, or concrete matrix filler.

EDUCATIONAL NEWS

We don't often include educational offerings outside the masonry industry, but the free online Sustainable Solutions Corp. offerings linked below provide a good background on LCA and carbon footprint assessments. ~Tina

Achieving your decarbonization goals with LCA

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

Sustainable Solutions Corporation provides a three-part educational course that provides a hands-on learning experience to teach you the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprints (PCF), including interpreting results, and marketing your achievements. All recordings and resources can be accessed on-demand at this link.