Sustainability E-News
Embodied Carbon
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From The Editor
Carbon-capture, low-carbon, and embodied carbon are regularly in the news. If you've ever been confused by embodied carbon and what it is all about, the links below explain it well, in easy-to-understand language. An important consideration in looking at carbon, whether in products or buildings, is to look at the entire life cycle of the product/building. Unfortunately, too often the focus is on initial carbon only (product embodied carbon). This paper takes a look at life cycle assessment (LCA) software programs and how they can best be used, particularly when considering façade design. You can read more below.
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
This edition includes two articles that explain the concept of embodied carbon. One is produced by a professional organization; the other by a group of Girl Scouts. They both demonstrate a good understanding and clear explanations of the topic, but personally I think the Girl Scouts' presentation is more powerful and more fun. See for yourself. ~Tina
Green building report reviews net-zero practices, goals
ARCHINECT
Carbon capture, the decarbonization of steel and further documentation of carbon embedded in various categories of construction are among the topics covered in the World Green Building Council's newly published Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2021. The report rebuts common skepticism about net-zero goals, including the notion that this type of construction is more expensive. Read more.
Wisconsin Girl Scouts produce educational video on embodied carbon in concrete
YOUTUBE
The embodied carbon of buildings
INSTITUTE FOR MARKET TRANSFORMATION
Improving the efficiency of new and existing buildings is a crucial strategy for cities and states that are charting a path to decrease carbon emissions and meet ambitious climate goals. But what about the materials that are being used to construct and retrofit buildings? This article explains the concept of embodied carbon in buildings.
Comparative overview on LCA software and application to façade design
JOURNAL OF FACADE DESIGN & ENGINEERING
Façades impact the environmental performance of a building by their passive contribution to operational energy demand and by embodied energy and emissions during each life cycle phase. LCA is a method widely used to quantify the environmental contribution. The use of LCA software programs in façade planning can guide design decisions and contribute to environmental optimization. A large number of LCA software programs have been developed so far, all of which differ in their focus and requirements. This paper establishes categories to understand the scope of software products and support to help users choose the most suitable LCA products by explaining different purposes of LCA software products.
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CODES and STANDARDS NEWS
N.Y. bill aims for low-carbon concrete for state projects
SMART CITIES DIVE
New York would encourage use of low-carbon concrete in state projects under a bill passed by lawmakers and awaiting the governor's signature. The state Office of General Services would be required to establish rules to procure low-carbon concrete to reduce the high carbon dioxide associated with conventional concrete. Read more here.
Influence of minimum project requirements on sustainable design outcomes
BUILDING ENCLOSURE ONLINE
Whether trying to meet sustainable design requirements set by a code, standard, or rating system, does it ever feel like your projects have a way of gravitating toward the minimum threshold set by the requirements? According to this article, when it comes to meeting challenging sustainable design objectives, explicit minimum project requirements make all the difference. The line in the sand (as frustrating as it can be at times) matters.
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GREEN BUSINESS NEWS
I've often said that economics is a key part of sustainability. Two articles below show how they can go hand-in-hand. ~Tina
A call for comprehensive and clearer ESG disclosures
GREEN BUILDING LAW UPDATE
While the idea of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting began in 2004, in 2021 the legal and political institutions in the United States and the EU are demanding those ideas be implemented with due haste. However, what is lacking is a clear standard for disclosure. Read more.
How sustainability succeeds as a business model
THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP
Businesses that succeed with sustainability initiatives tie it to their overall purpose, write David Young, Martin Reeves, and Marine Gerard of the BCG Henderson Institute in this article. Finding the right mix of business models is also crucial, as is experimenting with technology and value-creation methods.
Dispelling the myth of sustainability vs. profit
KALYPSO.COM
You don’t have to choose one or the other. Here's how sustainability and profit come together to drive value for stakeholders around the world.
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EDUCATIONAL NEWS
Disaster Resilience Symposium
NIST.GOV
The Engineering Laboratory at NIST, Gaithersburg, will be hosting its fourth annual Symposium as a virtual only event on July 20-21, 2021 featuring the Disaster Resilience Grant Research Program recipients. Recipients will present their research and findings from their awards from topics related to Disaster and Failure Studies, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Wind Impact Reduction, and Reduced Ignition of Building Components in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires Project. Register here.
Fire Safety and Masonry, September 8 at 1 pm ET
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
Come learn from Kevin Cavanaugh, of Cavanaugh & Associates / Arcosa Lightweight / cfiFOAM about the Balanced Fire Safety Design concept and the crucial role that passive masonry firewalls play in it. Requirements in the building codes will be reviewed along with those in ACI/TMS 216 Code Requirements for Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete and Masonry Construction Assemblies. Click here for additional information on this helpful new webinar and to register.
New Masonry Education Hub
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
The Masonry Society (TMS) has launched the Masonry Education Hub, a Learning Management System that allows designers, professors, students, and other users to obtain on-demand masonry education. The Masonry Education Hub provides a central location for excellent and accessible training sessions on a variety of masonry topics. Currently over 40-course offerings are available for “on-demand” learning including masonry basics, inspection, testing, codes and standards, sustainable design, and strength design of masonry.
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