Sustainability E-News
Challenging Assumptions
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From The Editor
I imagine I'm as guilty as anyone of accepting things as they are presented to me. But in reality, I know I should challenge my assumptions more often than I do. The first articles in this edition challenge our notions of what we believe about 'carbon footprint' and code compliance. They are both good reminders that digging below the surface to really understand what is going on is important to make good decisions. This can be difficult in the AEC industry, where all entities have something they are promoting, whether that be a material, a design approach, or other agenda, and the detailed background information is not always easy to find.
As we end 2021, a couple of important reminders for our readers:
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If you need continuing education credits for your license renewals, check out the Masonry Education Hub for on-demand learning opportunities.
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We are still looking for Sponsors for Sustainability E-News for 2022.
- We continue our list of most popular articles with our "Most-Clicked 2021 News"
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
While newer versions of building codes do provide some protection against tornadoes, most existing buildings do not comply with these newer provisions. The masonry industry has design guidance for designing masonry storm shelters such as NCMA’s Storm Shelter guide. ~Tina
Podcast: "Carbon footprint" isn't what you think
CANARY MEDIA
The phrase "carbon footprint" is commonplace today, but it actually originated as a marketing tactic used by BP. In this episode of the Carbon Copy podcast, Mashable reporter Mark Kaufman discusses the history behind the term, as well as how companies use advertising to divert attention from their polluting activities. You can also read more here.
Expert: More severe storms require stronger buildings
WCPO
Warehouses, such as an Amazon facility in Illinois that collapsed Friday when struck by a tornado, typically conform to building codes that do not require hardened protective spaces for occupants. But David Prevatt, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Florida, explains in this article that provisions should be made to adjust for and provide safety against severe storms he says will not diminish in number.
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CODES and STANDARDS NEWS
One of the challenges in meeting stricter energy codes is the difficulty in modeling energy performance of building elements. A new standard by ACI and TMS helps address thermal bridges in masonry buildings, simplifying the process of compliance. ~Tina
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New standard addressing thermal bridging in concrete and masonry buildings published
AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE
A new standard, published jointly by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and The Masonry Society (TMS), aims to address mitigation of thermal bridges in concrete and masonry assemblies. The presence of thermal bridges can negatively impact the energy efficiency of buildings, and this new standard provides requirements and procedures for ensuring energy efficiency by managing thermal bridges. ACI/TMS 122.1, Thermal Bridge Mitigation for Buildings Having Concrete and Masonry Walls and Masonry Veneer— Code Requirements and Commentary, is available now. Click here for more information.
NYC approves gas hookup ban for new buildings
CNBC
The New York City Council is seeking to advance a push toward carbon neutrality by passing a measure banning gas hookups in new buildings. For smaller properties, the ban goes into effect in December 2023; taller buildings have until 2027 to comply. Read more.
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MOST-CLICKED 2021 NEWS
We continue our list of top stories from 2021. ~Tina
Striatus 3D printed masonry bridge awes visitors at Venice Biennale
3D PRINTING MEDIA NETWORK
Holcim, incremental3D, Zaha Hadid Architects and researchers at ETH Zurich are building an arched, unreinforced masonry footbridge composed of 3D-printed concrete blocks. The structure, named Striatus, will be on display at an international architecture exhibition in Venice. Read more.
"Taking credit for trees planted elsewhere is a whole lot of embodied irony"
DEZEEN
Architecture firm Perkins&Will has gone too far with claims that a luxury timber home on a Canadian mountain removes more atmospheric carbon than it emits, argues Fred A Bernstein in this article.
The case for never demolishing another building
THE GUARDIAN
The construction industry is wasteful and creates huge CO2 emissions. But what if new buildings had to be adapted and reused or built only with materials already available? What if we stopped knocking things down? What if every existing building had to be preserved, adapted, and reused, and new buildings could only use materials that were already available? Could we continue to make and remake our cities out of what is already there? Read more.
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. The use of LCA software programs in façade planning can guide design decisions and contribute to environmental optimization. A large amount of LCA software programs have been developed so far, all of which differ in their focus and requirements. This paper provides categories to understand the scope of software products and support to choose the most suitable LCA products by explaining different purposes of LCA software products.
Wisconsin Girl Scouts produce educational video on embodied carbon in concrete
YOUTUBE
Article highlights potential changes in new masonry code
STRUCTURE MAGAZINE
The next edition of the Masonry Society’s TMS 402/602, Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures, is due to be published in 2022. Some of the anticipated changes are reviewed in this article, including some things that designers can use now.
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EDUCATIONAL NEWS
TMS Education Hub offers courses to meet end-of-year requirements
THE MASONRY SOCIETY
Need continuing education hours before the year is out? TMS's Masonry Education Hub offers numerous on-demand courses that provide continuing education credit - from allowable stress design to sustainable masonry design and more. See the full list of courses at https://learn.masonrysociety.org/.
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