Sustainability E-News
Off to a Good Start
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From The Editor
As the year winds down and a new one begins, it's natural to reflect on your past goals and set new ones for the future. One organization that has done more for me than any other in helping me to achieve my goals is The Masonry Society (TMS). Many of you reading this are already members, and no doubt, see the value of being a part of TMS. However, we know this newsletter reaches far beyond TMS members, and so I'd like to encourage you, if you're not a member, to consider joining TMS for 2023. In addition to the typical discounts on publications, meetings, etc., TMS offers the best network I've found of masonry experts of all types. From contractors to designers to academics and more, TMS is the place where you can come to get your questions answered, learn from experienced people, and even better - share your own expertise by contributing to code and publication development or as an author or speaker. Check out the TMS website to learn more about what we do and who we are. And if you're not ready for membership yet, you can still take advantage of all the on-demand educational offerings.
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Christine "Tina" Subasic, PE, LEED AP
CSubasicPE@gmail.com
NOTE: Inclusion in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the products and materials featured, nor have these products been evaluated by TMS or the editor. Furthermore, the views expressed in the articles featured are those of the article authors.
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GREEN BUILDING NEWS
For those wanting a primer on embodied carbon, the first article below provides a good summary. ~Tina
What is embodied carbon and how can we deal with it?
REDSHIFT
Carbon emissions that occur in upfront activities related to construction and renovation constitute what is commonly referred to as embodied carbon. Marta Bouchard examines this and related carbon issues in the built world as well as the broader issues of total greenhouse gas emissions in construction and what can be done to reduce the harm.
Going for zero carbon? Do not forget about transportation
BUILDING ENCLOSURE ONLINE
Project teams are considering additional dimensions of carbon emissions resulting from a building project, including carbon emissions from water consumption, waste generation, occupant transportation, and the embodied carbon of materials used to build the project. Learn more.
White House moves to slash federal building emissions
THE HILL
The White House introduced a series of proposed rules targeting energy efficiency and emissions reductions for federal buildings. One from the Energy Department would require new or renovated federal buildings to achieve a 90% reduction in emissions below 2003 levels starting in 2025. Another from the Council on Environmental Quality establishes the first-of-its-kind federal building performance standard, which mandates 30 percent of federal buildings be electrified by 2030. Read more here.
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FTC seeks public input on update to Green Guides for Environmental Claims
GREEN BUILDING LAW UPDATE
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is seeking public comment on updates and changes to the Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Claims. In an era when charges of greenwashing and green hushing are proliferating across social media while at the same time governments are mandating ESG including environmental disclosures by businesses, an update to the Green Guides is a welcome effort toward providing safety bumpers for companies. At their root, the FTC’s Green Guides help businesses avoid making environmental marketing claims that expose them to this risk. Read more.
ILFI’S new tool: An interactive map of registered and certified projects
TRIMTAB
The Buildings Team of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has created an interactive project map of certified projects. The site locates existing case studies on a map. Clicking on any marker on the map opens a pop-up window which features the project name, the project’s address, a photo, and its square footage and occupancy type, amongst other details. You can check it out here.
Maryland is the first state to regulate carbon
GREEN BUILDING LAW UPDATE
Maryland has enacted the most rigorous state law in the country to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and otherwise address ESG stewardship including climate change. Businesses can and should treat this as the greatest responsibility and opportunity of our time. Senate Bill 2022 528 resets the trajectory of Maryland’s economy by making sweeping changes to the state’s already tough climate change laws. Among other things, the bill alters existing and establishes new Building Energy Performance Standards, requiring the State to achieve net zero statewide GHG emissions by 2045, although covered buildings must be net zero before January 1, 2040. The bill also establishes requirements for the purchase of zero emission vehicles in the State fleet, along with more than two dozen other initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. Learn more.
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GREEN PRODUCT NEWS
While ground granulated blast furnace slag has been used for years in concrete and some concrete masonry unit mixes, the company below claims its use allow them to avoid the need for portland cement entirely, and they are scaling up production with an eye toward global markets. ~Tina
Belgian company creates CO2-negative concrete blocks
THE BRUSSELS TIMES ONLINE (Belgium)
A Belgium-based company is using the steel slag byproduct of the steel industry to make concrete blocks. Masterbloc says its product can contribute to the development of a circular economy and is actually CO2-negative as production of the blocks absorbs more of the gas than it emits. Read more here.
Why reducing concrete’s carbon footprint makes more sense than eliminating its use
DEZEEN
Many sustainable building advocates say the best way to limit the materials sector's adverse contributions to climate change is to substitute biomaterials like mass timber for concrete, but Thomas Guillot, CEO of the Global Cement and Concrete Association, argues that allowing the industry to reach net zero is a more fruitful endeavor because the scale and performance of concrete cannot be matched. Guillot says GCCA is not trying to "defend an old industry" or actively advocate against timber, but he does believe there should be a "fair comparison" between concrete and timber. Read more.
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EDUCATIONAL NEWS
A new volume of the TMS Journal is available. This peer-reviewed publication is indexed and abstracted in Emerging Sources Citation Index by Clarivate Analytics. New submissions are always welcomed and encouraged. ~Tina
New TMS Journal available
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
A new issue, Vol. 40, No. 1, of TMS Journal is now available! Topics include mix designs for lightweight grout, veneer tie performance, and compressed earthen masonry. You can access this Volume, along with past issues of TMS Journal, here.
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