Reducing Embodied Carbon—to Reduce Global Warming
Global Warming, is increasing at an alarming rate. Something more obvious today, than it was ago.
Nearly, 40% of all, energy-related emissions worldwide arise from the construction, and operation of buildings. The built environment is our largest source of energy-related Climate Changing emissions. Everyone connected with the design, construction or development of buildings or infrastructure can help. Consequences from what we build today, from the next project, will persist for the next 50 to one-hundred years or more.
With sustainable design of the built environment’s singular focus on saving energy, Embodied Carbon is often taken for granted. Yet, embodied emissions are released to the atmosphere upfront. Which means we must start to reduce them now, and not wait until the 2030s.
The 1st Objective of this course is to clarify that urgency. To explain why we need to reduce emissions—immediately. To examine how many ‘more’ tons of Carbon emissions we may continue to emit before global warming gets out of hand—the status of our decarbonization, where we stand now.
The 2nd Objective explores the relationship between a building’s “embodied” and “operating” emissions. What are their respective, relationships to global warming?
The 3rd Objective explains why material databases and compilation tools are difficult to use and need more development.
The final objective discusses how we can reduce embodied carbon now—significantly—while we await more user-friendly tools.
Presented by the Bronx New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
