Embodied Carbon
Researchers in a laboratory at Oregon State University study the properties of cross-laminated timber. CLTs are a way to reduce the embodied impacts of a structural system.
“Embodied carbon” typically refers to the upfront greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing building materials.
Structural materials like steel and concrete tend to have the highest embodied carbon within a building, but all the other products, even down to interior finishes like drywall and carpet, come into play as well. To learn about the embodied carbon of a specific product, look to an environmental product declaration. A whole-building life-cycle assessment is necessary to understand the emissions associated with an entire project.
Embodied Carbon
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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The Promise of Biobased Materials—and How to Use Them Now
Feature
There is a lot of hype about carbon storage and other benefits of natural materials, but their potential is real. Read about those that are ready for prime time—and the ones we hope will take off next.
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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part Two: Moving from Carbon to Climate
Feature
Mass timber at scale could make climate change worse. Instead of embodied carbon alone, “climate-smart” practices focus on our increasingly fragile forests.
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AEC Was Left Out of a Key Decarbonization Pilot. What’s Next?
Feature
Science-based targets for the building sector no longer apply to design firms and most construction companies, but experts say AEC must continue leading the industry toward net zero.
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Wood: Is It Still Good? Part One: Embodied Carbon
Feature
The idea that wood is inherently carbon neutral has masked negative impacts. The climate stakes are too high for us to keep buying those claims.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Weighing Embodied vs. Operational Carbon Tradeoffs
Explainer
There can be a seesaw dynamic between operational and embodied carbon. Under what circumstances is a tradeoff worth the price
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Building Decarbonization: Learn the Lingo
Explainer
Building decarbonization 101 for architects, engineers, and sustainability consultants cutting emissions from building materials and operations.
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Building Decarbonization: How LCA and EPDs Fit in
Explainer
Life-cycle assessment and environmental product declarations reveal embodied carbon and other impacts, but it’s important to know their limits.
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Understanding Emission Scopes in the GHG Protocol
Explainer
The GHG Protocol’s three emission scopes acknowledge the complexities of supply and demand while also encouraging sector-wide alignment, consistent transparency, and support for science-based decarbonization targets.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Products at an Exposition
Product Review
These are select products from the Greenbuild expo floor, highlighting natural materials, innovative new technologies, and important updates.
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You Can Now Specify Low-Embodied-Carbon Steel
Product Review
ClarkDietrich is now offering low-embodied-carbon cold-rolled steel products that meet the federal purchasing requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act and Buy Clean Act.
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Spray-Applied Hempcrete
Product Review
Ereasy is a spray-applied method for applying hempcrete that significantly speeds installation, making it a more viable commercial product.
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Tile
Product Guide
Porcelain tiles that meet third-party environmental standards, and BPA-free adhesives
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Industry Aligns on Federal Zero-Emissions-Building Definition
News Brief
The federal government finalized its definition of a “zero-emissions building” in June of this year, and now major industry groups have formally announced their intentions to align with it.
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Carbon Now or Later: The Arguments for Delaying Emissions
News Analysis
A new Arup report demystifies the time value of carbon, why it matters, and why we need to be careful with it.
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IRA Accelerates Low-Carbon Building Products
News Brief
EPA shares its plan for a low-embodied-carbon labeling program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
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IRA to Fund the Creation of EPDs, but Note the January Deadline
News Brief
A new IRA grant program will provide $100 million to help U.S. manufacturers create EPDs used to track greenhouse gas emissions, but the timeline for applications is January 16, 2024.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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COP28: Noise and Progress
Op-Ed
The COP28 politics and protests were crucial, but behind the scenes, it was all about good-faith collaboration, community, and commitments.
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The Universal Low-Carbon Building Standard’s Path to Adoption
Op-Ed
To decarbonize the building sector, we need to align our efforts. Let’s get to it.
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The Universal Low-Carbon Building Standard Does Six Things
Op-Ed
Here’s how we’re going to deconstruct “net zero” and rebuild it as a comprehensive standard that applies to every building.
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This is the Universal Low-Carbon Building Standard We Need
Op-Ed
The building industry’s current net-zero-energy and net-zero-carbon standards got complicated for a reason, but they don’t have to stay that way.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation
Special Report
The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation, Fourth Edition, provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including environmental and health comparisons, and recommendations on what insulation to use and what to avoid.
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The Missing Embodied Carbon Link: Construction
Feature
Some researchers say construction emissions could account for as much as 30% of a project’s embodied carbon. What can be done about it?
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We Must Decarbonize Existing Buildings by 2050—but How?
Feature
Curbing carbon emissions requires that we address our vast stock of existing buildings. Here’s how to make the case and get it done.
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Biobased Building Materials: the Hype, the Hope, the … Hemp?
Webcast
This webcast explores the promising future of biobased materials in commercial construction.
Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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Time to Desert the Island
April Fools
A mass timber controversy compels BuildingGreen to bid a regretful farewell to its hippest and most popular event venue.
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A Concrete Phoenix Rises: Meet the Brutalist Tiny House
April Fools
Two great movements—from the past and present—come together in a towable 45,000 lb. package
