Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Matt JungclausUniversity of Colorado Boulder

Low-Cost, High-Value Opportunities to Reducing Embodied Carbon in BuildingsOctober 28, 2021

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Matt Jungclaus, P.E.Researcher and lead author

University of Colorado – Boulder

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Where do we get started?

Typical Embodied Carbon Hotspots

Most of a building’s embodied carbon is attributable to structural materials, building envelope materials, and certain finishes.

Typical Embodied Carbon Hotspots

Cement & Concrete Steel

Timber Insulation materials

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductionsEarly design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Whole-Building Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Material Substitution

Whole-Building Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Material Substitution SpecificationWhole-Building

Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Strategies• Make design decisions that

reduce embodied carbon• Example: Use less

materials overall• Example: Use existing

buildings

Material Substitution SpecificationWhole-Building

Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Strategies• Make design decisions that

reduce embodied carbon• Example: Use less

materials overall• Example: Use existing

buildings

Strategies• Use alternate, low-carbon

materials to do the same job

• Example: Use timber instead of steel

• Example: Use carbon sequestering materials

Material Substitution SpecificationWhole-Building

Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Opportunities for reductions

Strategies• Make design decisions that

reduce embodied carbon• Example: Use less

materials overall• Example: Use existing

buildings

Strategies• Use alternate, low-carbon

materials to do the same job

• Example: Use timber instead of steel

• Example: Use carbon sequestering materials

Strategies• Specify the carbon limit for

a material• Example: Specify low-

embodied carbon concrete

Material Substitution SpecificationWhole-Building

Design Concepts

Early design Developed design

Digging Deeper:Proven Solutions

The report digs more deeply into:• Tools that address design, lifecycle assessment, and environmental

product declarations• Redevelopment and reuse as a strategy that can reduce a project’s

embodied carbon footprint by 50-75% (compared to new construction)

• More examples of strategies for reducing embodied carbon throughout the design and development of a building

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Case Studies in Embodied Carbon ReductionsThree Construction Types:

Steel reinforcedconcrete slab

Wood-framing with concrete slab Tilt-up concrete

Two Scenarios:

✔Qty. takeoffs from real Skanska projects✔Embodied Carbon coefficient data from the EC3 database✔Cost estimates based on actual project data and regional pricing

BAUCost-effective

Low-ECVS

Data-DrivenApproach:

1515

Case Studies in Embodied Carbon Reductions

Three construction types:

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Case Study Results

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Case Study 1: Mid-Rise Concrete & Steel

Construction

❖ Five-story❖ 200,000 ft2

❖ Mixed-use office building ❖ Steel-reinforced concrete slab ❖ Above-grade construction

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Case Study 2: Mid-Rise Stick-Built Construction

❖ Six-story❖ 125,000 ft2

❖ Mixed-use multifamily building ❖ Lumber framing above a steel-

reinforced concrete slab ❖ Above-grade construction

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Case Study 3: Tilt-Up Construction

❖ 360,000 ft2

❖ Warehouse❖ Tilt-up concrete construction

2020

Case Studies in Embodied Carbon Reductions

Achieved Reductions:

Case Study Results: Top Building Material Categories for Reducing Embodied Carbon At Little to No Cost

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Matt Jungclaus, P.E.Researcher and lead author

University of Colorado – Boulder

Carbon-Free Buildings Low-Embodied Carbon Program

Thank you!For more information visit rmi.org/buildings

Matt Jungclaus, P.E.Researcher and lead author

University of Colorado – Boulder

Matt.Jungclaus@Colorado.edu