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  • The data is in! Embodied Carbon & Code Compliance of Your Roof Assembly

The data is in! Embodied Carbon & Code Compliance of Your Roof Assembly

AIAU25-GAF01R
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1.0 LU|HSW
5.00
Course expires on: 04/24/2026
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Description

Reducing the total carbon footprint of buildings is a frequent goal for designers, and the roof can be a strong contributor to that mission. Imagine if these goals can be achieved using the roof you already specify. It’s not a fantasy. This presentation will dive into the details of how you can take a code compliant roof assembly to the next level. We will share data on how the choice of materials can impact the total carbon footprint of a project, and specifically the embodied carbon. It will also show examples on ways to improve the energy efficiency of a roof assembly and the impact it has on overall building performance across all climate zones. Finally, the presentation will provide attendees with examples of how to use environmental product declarations (EPDs) and energy analysis tools to do similar evaluations for their specific projects.

This session was recorded live on April 24, 2025.

Learning Objectives

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Compare a roof assembly that meets minimum code requirements to assemblies that support higher energy efficiency and total carbon project goals.

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Understand how environmental product declarations (EPDs) & energy use calculations can be used to inform project specific material and assembly selections.

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Describe how the roof system selection can influence the embodied carbon on a project.

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Determine how a roof assembly can reduce the energy consumption of a building.

This free course is brought to you through a partnership with GAF. By registering for this course, you grant AIA permission to share your name and email address with GAF.

GAF

Instructors
Jeff Terry

Jeff Terry serves as Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability at GAF, North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, leading the development and implementation of the company’s long-term Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for GAF’s enterprise priority focus on Social Impact. In this role, Jeff drives environmental sustainability and community engagement efforts that reinforce GAF’s value of making a lasting impact in the communities in which the company operates both every day and in times of great need. Jeff leads GAF Community Matters and the GAF Cool Community initiative. Jeff has worked at the intersection where societal issues meet the marketplace and thrives in developing multi-sector solutions to help meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. A nationally-recognized speaker on CSR and sustainability, Jeff has presented to the United Nations, as well as at many global conferences. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Clemson University.

Andrea W. Watts

Andrea Wagner Watts is the Building Science Education Manager for GAF | Siplast Building & Roofing Science, engaging with industry professionals to provide guidance, technical support and education for roof and wall assemblies. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, Andrea strives to improve the overall performance of the building enclosures through application innovation, product development and building science research. Andrea has published on building science, assembly interfaces, durability and resilience and holds multiple patents. She serves as an executive board member of ABAA, is the co-chair of their Technical Committee and chairs the ASTM E06 and D08 Task Groups on air barriers assemblies.

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