Embodied Carbon 101: Procurement
Included in subscription
Description
This course focuses on the role that contractors and builders can play in reducing the embodied carbon in their work. Speakers discuss opportunities for carbon reduction at multiple project stages, highlighting the importance of a collaborative design and project team (including client) for diverse construction practice types—including small design/build, mid-size local firm, and large international firm. They suggest strategies for incorporating embodied carbon reduction into everyday workflow—from the discrete (e.g. contracts) to the broad (workplace culture and commitments). Procurement is essential to the reduction of embodied carbon—ensuring what is specified for reduced carbon makes it into the project, among other things.
Course expires 11/14/2026
Learning Objectives
Identify opportunities for integrating embodied carbon considerations into traditional procurement processes through specification, preconstruction communications, and contracts.
Implement strategies for reducing embodied carbon in less traditional processes, including integrated design process (IDP), through holistic building performance, life cycle assessment, and end-of-life impacts.
Explain the relationship between operational energy and embodied carbon, and the importance of designing and building for the reduction of both in sustainable projects.
Appraise available building materials for their embodied carbon impact.