Embodied Carbon 101: Carbon accounting
Included in subscription
Description
This course introduces the process of carbon accounting. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the tool used to quantify the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of a material or assembly. Presenters define the basic terminology related to LCA as well as summarize the process of life cycle assessment. Overall, the course illustrates how the principles of carbon accounting can be applied to design and construction at all scales, using the breadth of data and tools available.
Course expires 11/14/2026
Learning Objectives
Assess data sources, including quality and precision of information, to quantify a project’s carbon footprint.
Define the scope, phases, and potential environmental impacts of each phase of a building’s life cycle.
Explain the concept of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and its role in understanding a building’s environmental impacts over time.
Identify the tools and resources necessary to design and execute a life cycle assessment for a project.
Lori Ferriss is a leader in sustainable stewardship for the built environment. As Goody Clancy’s Director of Sustainability and Climate Action, she leads research and project initiatives and advocates within the broader profession for policies and practices that advance climate action goals.
Lori plays a leadership role on projects at educational institutions that are renewing heritage campuses while advancing climate action goals. She serves as project manager and forensic specialist on numerous Goody Clancy projects, and her sustainability leadership includes incorporating life cycle assessment as an integrated step of the design process.
Within the broader design community, Lori’s leadership is shaping our understanding of building reuse as a key measure towards meeting climate change mitigation goals. At the national level, she serves as a founding member and co-chair of the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings (ZNCC), a collaborative committed to achieving a zero net carbon built environment through responsible reuse of existing buildings that was formed by APTI, AIA, RAIC, ICOMOS, and Architecture 2030. Most recently, the City of Boston asked Lori to serve on its carbon mitigation policy Technical Advisory Group. Her article for ArchitectureBoston on embodied carbon attracted significant attention both locally and nationally.
Jacob Deva Racusin is co-owner of New Frameworks Natural Design/Build, offering services in green remodeling, new construction, consultation, and education featuring low-impact high-performance building technologies. Jacob is also Program Director of the Certificate in Building Science and Net Zero Design at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and is a BPI-certified contractor and Certified Passive House Consultant. A member of the Carbon Leadership Forum’s Renewable Materials Task Force, Jacob has been active in introducing sustainability measures into building codes.
Maggie leads the Americas consulting team at Sphera, formerly thinkstep. Additionally, she works with manufacturers in the building and construction industry to provide sustainability consulting and to conduct life cycle assessments (LCA). She also plays a crucial role in the development of Tally™, which enables Revit® users to conduct whole building LCAs.