Forum discussion

Pilot Credit: Procurement of Low Carbon Materials

Project location: United States

July 22, 2021

Michelle Bombeck

Associate Principal
O'Brien360

LEEDuser Premium Member

35 thumbs up

Project location: United States

July 22, 2021

Hi all - Just sharing our experience so far with this pilot credit, as required... We're pursuing this credit on a large speculative CS office project in WA. Although the construction team has marked experience with using the EC3 tool, they've still implemented a training program for their project staff, reinforcing the notion that you always have to pay attention, plan early and continue to track. The training covers the EC3 program overview, tracking required, tools available, and required documentation from the construction team. The training also specifically covers EPDs, what to look for and how to compare materials. I am optimistic that this type of early planning and engagement will result in successful achievement of the required 30% reduction.

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Bipin Karki

Sustainability Project Manager

LEEDuser Premium Member

87 thumbs up

August 9, 2021 - 10:44 am

Hello Michelle,

Could you share your experience of how challenging it was to attempt this pilot credit? Any lessons learned or some shareable information. Thanks!

Michelle Bombeck

Associate Principal
O'Brien360

LEEDuser Premium Member

35 thumbs up

August 31, 2021 - 4:01 pm

Hi Bipin - Thanks for asking! I queried the contractor team and they provided this feedback:

Have design teams include documentation requirements in the project specifications, clearly specifying which products and materials are to be tracked.
Review specs in DD phase and evaluate which products already have manufacturer specific EPDs and which products will require manufacturer outreach to obtain EPDs per the LEED pilot credit requirement. The earlier the outreach the better and make sure subs and suppliers understand that the ask is not for an industry average EPD.
Have entire project team sign the EPD outreach letter if all firms are in support. Sends stronger market signal.
When the LEED Pilot language was written, the CLF baseline from which to calc reductions from was the 2019 baseline. Confirm with the LEED reviewer whether a project should be using the 2019 or the new 2021 baseline in EC3.
Procurement and/or as-built quantities from subcontractors will provide best and most accurate level of detail and familiarize subs more with the concept of embodied carbon. Also for glazing assembles (punched windows, curtain wall, window wall, etc.) obtain weights of flat glass and aluminum from subs. Most BIM and construction estimate takeoffs quantify glazing on a square foot basis, but in EC3 the declared unit for glass and aluminum is weight – lbs or kgs; the glazing sub will have the most accurate weights.
Make sure your EPDs and requests are targeted at manufacturers, not necessarily fabricators. E.g. structural steel fabricators source their steel from a variety of different steel mills so when reaching out for EPDs and evaluating procurement plans, make sure the request is for the mill, not the fabricator. Same concept for glazing assemblies.
Most importantly – use EC3 for what it was intended to do: to make actual informed procurement decisions to reduce embodied carbon.

Hopefully others will chime in with their experiences as well!

Ryann Malicdem

LEEDuser Basic Member

November 19, 2024 - 1:37 pm

Hi Michelle,

Thank you for sharing your contractor’s feedback. I agree that the version of the CLF baseline to be used for determining the baseline embodied carbon intensity isn’t entirely clear. The tables in Steps 1 and 2 of the Documentation/Compliance section reference v2019, while Step 4 cites the v2021 methodology. Clear guidance should be added in the Requirements section. Additionally, I agree that procurement or as-built quantities from subcontractors would provide the most accurate level of detail. I recommend including specific language in the specifications to identify which materials need to be tracked and the required quantity details as part of the submittal requirements.