Embodied Carbon 101: Basic literacy
Build and refine your literacy in embodied carbon.
This course features an expert panel of AEC practitioners and researchers who define the embodied carbon issue and key terms and concepts—including health and sustainability implications. They provide information on data resources and rating systems available to support and execute embodied carbon decisions during design, specification, and construction. The panel also discusses how information on the embodied carbon and environmental impacts of building materials and products can be incorporated into design decisions and influence project outcomes. They use case studies to illustrate different life cycle assessment (LCA) types, structural systems, and implementation of embodied carbon design decisions through construction.
Learning objectives
- Define key sustainability terms including embodied carbon (EC), life cycle assessment (LCA), and environmental product declaration (EPD) and evaluate the role EC, LCA, and EPDs can play in different fields (i.e. architecture, engineering, and construction to reduce embodied environmental impacts of the building industry.
- Identify and implement resources available with data on embodied carbon of building materials in order to reduce a project’s total embodied carbon.
- Examine how the selection of materials for a building’s primary structural systems, building envelope and interior finishes affects the amounts of embodied carbon in buildings.
- Carry out embodied carbon design decisions through specifications, procurement, and construction.
This course is part of a series
- HSW
- RIBA
Instructors
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Stephanie Carlisle
Senior Researcher | Carbon Leadership Forum
Stephanie’s work investigates the interaction between the natural and constructed environment,... -
Lori Ferriss
AIA, PEDirector of Sustainability and Climate Action | Goody Clancy
Lori Ferriss is a leader in sustainable stewardship for the built environment. As Goody Clancy’s... -
Stacy Smedley
Executive Director | Building Transparency / Director of Sustainability | SKANSKA USA
Stacy has a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Washington, and 15 years in the... -
Frances Yang
SESustainable Structures & Materials Specialist | Arup
Frances specializes in how environmentally preferable and healthier materials contribute to whole-...