Did you know that 11% of global CO2 emissions result from embodied carbon from buildings?
Read below for some ideas from our sustainability experts on how you can reduce embodied carbon in your next design project.
Design Efficiently and Build Less
One of the most effective strategies to reduce embodied carbon is also the simplest: build less. Prioritizing efficient, material-conscious design should be a goal on every project.
For renovation and retrofit projects, reusing the existing structure offers a major carbon-saving opportunity. It avoids the carbon-intensive processes of raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation. Reuse also significantly reduces construction waste. To do this successfully, engineers should avoid overconservative assumptions and oversimplifying. Instead, invest the time to understand the existing conditions—leveraging original drawings, shop drawings, and resources when available. Making appropriate assumptions is the key to a feasible and effective way to reuse.
Choose the Right Structural System
When designing new structures, reducing the amount of structural material used directly correlates to lowering embodied carbon. Selecting the most appropriate structural system is not just a technical decision—it’s a sustainability strategy.
Early coordination with the design team or contractor can lead to optimized layouts, bay spacing, and framing types that use less material while still meeting project requirements, needs, and goals. This might involve considering alternative systems like one-way versus two-way slabs, composite versus non-composite steel framing, or mass timber versus concrete. Being well-versed in the strengths and weaknesses of various systems allows engineers to tailor the structure to the project or task at hand – often resulting in cost savings and reduced carbon footprints. All it takes is keeping minds and pencils sharpened!
Perform Early System Comparisons
During schematic design, it’s valuable to conduct system comparison studies that weigh multiple structural options. These studies should consider factors like bay size, floor thickness, and vibration performance to compare estimated embodied carbon results.
Using material takeoffs and public industry-wide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), engineers can estimate the relative carbon intensity of each system. Tools like the SE 2050 ECOM – Embodied Carbon Estimator allow for quick, high-level comparisons of embodied carbon intensities. These early evaluations can provide a better understanding of structural performance, cost, and environmental impact. Sharing these comparisons with the owner and design team can lead to more informed discussions about trade-offs and priorities, as well as guiding the project into the next phases of design.
Click HERE for the ECOM – Embodied Carbon Estimator from SE 2050
Let’s continue to lead with purpose, design with efficiency, and build a more sustainable future for our communities, planet, and future generations – one structure at a time.
Looking for more sustainable structural insights? Contact Mariah Fournier, our in-house Sustainability Advisor, to set up an AIA-credited class at your office.
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