GREEN BUILDING NEWS

U.S. Department of Defense releases strategy for building resilient, healthy communities

USGBC

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has released a new Strategy for Resilient and Healthy Defense Communities that will guide the department’s actions in the coming years to improve the built and natural environment on defense installations. The strategy is a strong step toward prioritizing more resilient, efficient, and healthy buildings and communities for military service members. Read more.

Carbon Leadership Forum to host virtual NGO/Government roundtable on embodied carbon

CARBON LEADERSHIP FORUM

The Carbon Leadership Forum will host a roundtable on April 18 at 11am EDT. 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. For more information and to register, click here.

CODES and STANDARDS NEWS

As LEED v5 BD&C gets closer to its April 2024 release, we are getting more insights into what it will look like. According to one article, “USGBC has been engaged in developing a new version of LEED to address three critical system goals: climate action, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration, with 50% of points dedicated to climate action.” In other words, a big focus on decarbonization. You can read more in the articles below. ~Tina

LEED v5 focus on decarbonization

USGBC

This article includes some insights into LEED v5, including how v5 goes beyond a focus on building energy use to address two other categories of carbon emissions: transportation emissions, produced by traveling to and from a building, and the embodied emissions of building materials such as concrete and steel, which require large amounts of energy to produce. Cutting down embodied energy will have more weight in LEED v5 than it has in the past, with the introduction of an embodied carbon prerequisite into LEED BD+C and considerable emphasis on planning for circularity, existing building reuse, and waste diversion in both LEED BD+C and LEED O+M.



USGBC releases paper on decarbonization and sustainable building practices

USGBC

A new decarbonization paper shows how USGBC responds to the urgent need for building decarbonization to address the escalating climate crisis: "From Vision to Action: USGBC Advancing Building Decarbonization.” The report outlines key actions USGBC is taking to reduce carbon emissions from the building sector, a critical step toward achieving global climate goals. Read more here.

UK Green Building Council calls for regulation of embodied carbon

UK GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (UKGBC)

The UKGBC has joined other built environment expert bodies in calling for regulation of embodied carbon in construction. The plans aim to ensure comprehensive decarbonization on the path to net zero. Read more.

GREEN PRODUCT NEWS

The U.S. EPA has held several webinars related to embodied carbon labeling, PCRs, and more. You can learn more about their activities at the link below. ~Tina

Recording available: Draft label program approach for low embodied carbon construction materials

EPA

On February 27, 2024, the U.S. EPA hosted a webinar to solicit feedback on the draft approach for developing a label program for construction materials and products with low embodied greenhouse gas emissions as authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The slides and recording from that webinar are now available. 

Case Study: Ceangal House - a new low energy home

BRICK DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (UK)

Architect Loader Monteith was instructed by clients James and Lorna Hamilton to design a new ‘outstanding home of architectural interest’ in Glasgow to replace existing 1800s steading buildings that had long since fallen into a state of disrepair. The firm has a reputation for work that touches the earth lightly, with Ceangal House representing their mission to transform existing properties into sustainable, low-energy buildings that retain their local character while having minimal impact on the environment. In this light, 90 percent of the original masonry from the old steading was reclaimed and used throughout the home in order to reduce embodied carbon. Internally, the masonry floor is also all reclaimed from the buildings previously on the site. These materials are some 200 years old, and their use has now been extended for the lifespan of the new building. Read more.

EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Register Now for The Masonry Society Spring Meetings

The Masonry Society's 2024 Spring Meetings will be held virtually from April 10 -25, 2024, using a schedule that allows for just a few meetings being held each day. A schedule is posted here, and registration is now open. In addition to meetings, we will have a Virtual Happy Hour to catch up with friends and to make new ones. We also hope to introduce TMS's new Executive Director during Town Hall. We hope you will be able to join us!

Webinar: “Achieving Greater Energy Efficiency in Adaptive Reuse Projects”

INTERNATIONAL MASONRY INSTITUTE

Improving the energy performance of existing and historic structures is an important focus in reducing the carbon impact of our buildings. Adaptive reuse offers the opportunity to help preserve embodied carbon. However, to meet energy code or owner/occupant requirements, thermal upgrades to the building enclosure are often needed. These upgrades typically include adding thermal insulation and reducing air leakage. Detailing air barrier and insulation retrofits can be complex and depend on several factors including climate, wall materials, and building use. Learn important considerations for improving masonry buildings’ energy efficiency at this free webinar on April 23 at 12-1 p.m. EDT.