What’s the net present value of that extra insulation? Join us on Tuesday, June 25th at 2:00 pm Eastern for a Peer Networks webinar on “Balancing Embodied and Operating Carbon.” Bill Smarzewski and Jason Fierko of Ewing Cole have developed a method for combining energy modeling with embodied carbon data to determine the carbon “payback” of energy conservation measures. Using life-cycle cost assessment methods and tools, architects and energy modelers can provide the data for better-informed decisions.
The architectural design community has adopted LCA methods to bring substantial reductions in lifecycle environmental impacts to their designs. As signatories to the AIA 2030 Challenge, MEP 2040, SE 2050 Challenge, and the AIA Materials Pledge, we are working hard to track carbon emissions in our designs. However, the established carbon accounting approaches, which focus primarily on embodied carbon, are not designed to balance embodied and operational carbon. Therefore, the team formulated a new accounting approach that considers a balance between embodied and operational carbon to inform the best decisions to meet the core goals of the project. With the Architect and Energy Modeler working side by side, we analyze the benefits of reducing materials to improve embodied carbon footprint against any potential decreases in building performance, which increase the operating carbon footprint. Building on traditional Life Cycle Cost Analysis, the process allows teams to weigh the value of future carbon emissions in present terms. Decision-making in the context of whole-life carbon is then completed based on the outcome of this analysis.
Register for the Zoom webinar here. If you're not available to join us on the 25th, a recording will be available following the webinar. We look forward to seeing those of you who can make it!
