Carbon Implications of Building Materials Selection

Jim Bowyer Dovetail Partners, Inc. Minneapolis

Disclaimer:+This+presenta1on+was+developed+by+a+third+party+and+is+not+funded+by++ WoodWorks+or+the+So=wood+Lumber+Board+ “The Wood Products Council” is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Course Description

Carbon emissions have come to the forefront of public discourse and increasingly, of public policy. This presentation will focus on the objective of minimizing carbon emissions associated with building construction and operation. The carbon implications of building material selection will be examined, using examples of real world projects and material comparisons to illustrate the extent to which a building’s carbon footprint is influenced by the construction materials used. Emissions linked to buildings will be discussed in the larger context of carbon and climate, with consideration of the current vs. historical situation, tools for assessing carbon liberation, carbon equivalency, fossil vs. atmospheric carbon, CO2 sequestration, and implications of potential carbon regulation for materials selection and building design.: Learning Objectives

• Define carbon issues, their importance in the context of climate change and how they relate to building products. • Interpret calculation of a carbon footprint and CO2 equivalency. • Recognize available tools for assessing carbon liberation in building construction. • Determine how to minimize carbon and carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbon Implications of Building Materials Selection

• The Carbon Issue • Carbon and the Built Environment - National and global trends and outlook - Progress in reducing operational energy - Embodied energy becomes more important • Comparing Carbon Emissions for Various Building Materials and Assemblies • Summary The Carbon Issue The Heat Trapping Efficiency of Various Greenhouse Gases is Not Equal Heat Trapping Compound Efficiency Compared to Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1

Methane (CH4) 25X

Nitrous oxide (N2O) 296X HFCs 120-12,000X CFCs 5,700-11,900X Sulfur hexafluoride 22,200X Contributors to Global Warming

Nitrous Ozone Oxide Methane

Chlorofluorocarbons CO2e Carbon Dioxide The Global Carbon Cycle 829$

Source:(h*p://classic.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?carboncycleDia((1996).( Basics – The Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere$ (( ( yr ( / ( yr ( / yr yr / / yr PgC / PgC PgC PgC PgC 1.6( 0.8( 1.1( 7.8( forests(4.3( growth(of(exisBng( excluding(land(use( Net(land(use(change,( Net(land(carbon(ﬂux,( including(deforestaBon( changes(but((including( Ocean( Freshwater( VegetaBon(420F620(PgC( Fossil(fuel(combusBon( Surface(Ocean(920(PgC( outgassing,( Intermediate(and(Deep( Volcanism,(and(Rock( Soils(1500F2400(PgC(( and(Cement(producBon( Ocean:(37000(Pg(C( weathering((

Source:(IPCC(FiXh(Assessment(Report((2013)((((((((((((((( Line(Widths(proporBonal(to(amount(of(ﬂow( Basics – The Carbon Cycle

“Emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion, with contributions from cement manufacture, are responsible for more than 75% of the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration since pre-industrial times.” (IPCC Fourth Assessment Report) Atmosphere:$829$PgC,$increasing$by$4$PgC/yr.$$ (( ( yr ( / ( yr ( / yr yr / / yr PgC / PgC PgC PgC PgC 1.6( 0.8( 1.1( 7.8( forests(4.3( growth(of(exisBng( excluding(land(use( Net(land(use(change,( Net(land(carbon(ﬂux,( including(deforestaBon( changes(but((including( Ocean( Freshwater( VegetaBon(420F620(PgC( Fossil(fuel(combusBon( Surface(Ocean(920(PgC( outgassing,( Intermediate(and(Deep( Volcanism,(and(Rock( Soils(1500F2400(PgC(( and(Cement(producBon( Ocean:(37000(Pg(C( weathering((

Source:(IPCC(FiXh(Assessment(Report((2013)((((((((((((((( Line(Widths(proporBonal(to(amount(of(ﬂow( World Growth of Energy Consumption 1820-2010 (

Source: Our Finite World (2012) (http://ourfiniteworld.com/2012/03/12/world-energy-consumption-since-1820-in-charts/) Cumulative Atmospheric Carbon Added Through Human Activity, 1850-2012 (billions of metric tons) ( US Five largest Fossil fuel consumption China emitters and cement production Russia since Germany 1850 UK Land use change due primarily to deforestation All other and agriculture nations Temperature of Lower Atmosphere Last 400,000 Years From Antarctica ice and air data

Most Recent Ice Age

Source: (http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/last_400k_yrs.html) Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Last 400,000 Years From Antarctica ice and air data (

~$404$ppm$May$2015$ $

Most Recent Ice Age Source: (http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/last_400k_yrs.html) ( Temperature of Lower Atmosphere Last 400,000 Years(

Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Last 400,000 Years( 404$ppm$May$2015$ Sequestered Carbon • Fossil Fuels • Petroleum Sequestered • Coal millions of • Natural gas years ago • Limestone (CaCo3) • Peat Fossil Carbon

• Forests Sequestered, • Trees released, and • Litter re-sequestered • Forest soils as part of • Other plants ongoing • Shrubs, grass, ag. crops carbon cycle. • Algae Biogenic Carbon The Global Carbon Cycle

Source:(h*p://classic.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?carboncycleDia((1996).( Carbon and the Built Environment U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 2014

Transportation 27.6%

Buildings 40.6%

Industry 31.8%

Source: EIA Monthly Energy Review, July 2015. U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 2014

Transportation Residential 27.6%

Buildings 40.6%

Commercial Industry 31.8%

Source: EIA Monthly Energy Review, July 2015. CO2 Emissions from U.S. Commercial and Residential Buildings, 1980-2010 Total emissions

Electricity

On site combustion

Source: USDOE (2012). 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book, Section 1.4.1, March. (as reported by the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions). U.S. Residential Energy Use, Energy Use Intensity, and Energy Use Factors

Source: USDOE. (2008). Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Trend data: Residential Buildings Sector. (as reported by the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions).

U.S. Outlook

• In 2030, about half the buildings in which Americans live, work, and shop will have been built since 2000. • Between 2000 and 2030 the nation will need about 131 billion ft2 of new built space and 82 billion ft2 of replacement of existing space to accommodate growth projections. • In 2030 over 60% of commercial/ industrial space will be less than 30 years old.

Source: Nelson, A. (2004). Toward a New Metropolis: The Opportunity to Rebuild America. World Energy Consumption by Sector, 2010

Transportation 30% 1970-2010

Buildings Building energy 35% consumption Industry doubled. 31%

Other 4%

Source: EIA Monthly Energy Review, July 2015. Current Total World Building Stock

1.6 trillion ft2 - 75% residential, 25% commercial.

Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. Anticipated Growth in Global Building Stocks, 2013-2030 • 38 billion ft2 of new building floor space annually. • 21 billion ft2 of building floor space rebuilt annually. • Over 850 billion ft2 will be built new and rebuilt in urban areas by 2030 – roughly equivalent to 60% of current total building stock in the world. • 15% of building in N. America.

Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. Projected CO2 Emissions from Buildings to 2030

High growth Low growth scenario scenario

CO2 emissions (GtCO2) 8.6 15.6 8.6 11.4 Largest share from Developing Asia, Middle North America and East/North Africa, Latin developing Asia America, sub-Saharan Africa Annual emissions growth rate (2004-2030) 2.4% 1.5% Source: IPCC (2007)

IPCC projections suggest that CO2 emissions from buildings will continue to account for one-third of global CO2 emissions. Source: UNEP. (2011). Buildings – Investing in Energy Resource Efficiency. “Much of the world is projected to be built and rebuilt over the next two decades, with the energy and emissions patterns of this construction locked in for decades.”

“This projection provides an unprecedented

opportunity to reduce fossil fuel CO2 emissions by setting the entire global building sector on a path to peak emissions quickly, and to completely phase out CO2 emissions by about 2050.”(

Source: Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. Projected U.S. Building Sector Operations 2005-2030

(

EIA AEO 2013 ( EIA AEO 2014

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. ( Projected U.S. Building Sector Operations 2005-2030

-16.8 QBtu

Equivalent to 620 500MW ( power EIA AEO 2013 plants ( EIA AEO 2014

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. ( Projected U.S. Building Sector Operations 2005-2030 Applying Best Available Technology

-16.8 QBtu

Equivalent to 620 ( 500MW power EIA AEO 2013 plants -6.9 Qbtu ( EIA AEO 2014 EIA AEO 2013 Equivalent Best Available to 256 Technology( 500MW power plants 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 (

Source: Architecture 2030. (2014). Roadmap to Zero Emissions. ( Embodied Energy

The raw resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, usage, and end-of- life stages of building products consume significant amounts of energy, each generating associated GHG emissions.

As buildings improve from an operational perspective, the embodied energy and emissions associated with building materials and construction will become more important. (

Source: Architecture 2030: 2030 Challenge for Products.( Embodied Energy and Carbon Emissions in the Life Cycle of a Building

Extract Raw Materials

End of Life Transport

Manuf. Operate Building Materials

Build Transp. to Site Embodied Energy (Typical Residence)

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060

Source: Architecture 2030: 2030 Challenge for Products. Studies of operational vs embodied energy of buildings have found:

• In inefficient buildings, embodied energy can equate to as little as 4-8 years (7-14%) of operational energy over a 50 year building life. (Pacheco-Torgal et al. 2009) • Embodied energy in office buildings ranges between 13-19% of operational energy over a 50-year building life. (Dimoudi and Tompa 2008). • Embodied energy was calculated to account for almost half (45%) of total energy consumption in a highly efficient apartment building located in Sweden. (Thormark 2002) Studies of operational vs embodied energy of buildings have found:

• Use of renewable energy in a project can dramatically lower operating emissions – and simultaneously increase the significance of embodied energy. (Ayaz and Yang 2009) • Demolishing a building prior to the end of its designed life (common in commercial buildings) substantially increases the portion of energy use attributable to embodied energy. (Ayaz and Yang 2009) ( Embodied Energy

The embodied energy in building materials needs to be considered along with operating energy in order to reduce the total lifecycle energy use by buildings.

The replacement of materials that require significant amounts of energy to produce (such as concrete and steel) with materials requiring small amounts of energy to produce (such as wood products) will reduce the amount of energy embodied in buildings. (

Source: IPCC (2007).( Comparing Carbon Emissions of Various Building Materials and Assemblies Fossil Carbon Emitted in Production UK ICE Database USEPA (2015) (2006) Process Emissions Process Emissions

(kg CO2e/ kg of (kg CO2e/ kg of Material product) product) Framing lumber 0.20* 0.12*

Concrete 0.12 0.12

Concrete block 0.13** 0.14**

Brick 0.24 0.32 Medium density fiberboard (MDF) 0.39* 0.32* Recycled steel (avg recy content) 0.47 0.81

Glass (not including primary mfg.) 0.59 0.57 Cement (Portland, masonry) 0.95 0.97 Recycled aluminum (100% recycled content) 1.81 1.13 Vinyl 3.19 --

Steel (virgin) 2.89 2.55

Aluminum (virgin) 12.79 16.60

* There are also biogenic CO2 emissions associated with prod. of these products. ** 10% increase in energy consumption assumed for production of concrete block.

1/ Values are based on life cycle assessment and include gathering and processing of raw materials, primary and secondary processing, and transportation. EPA values converted from tons C/ton of product to tons CO2e/ton of product. Fossil Carbon Emitted in Production UK ICE Database USEPA USEPA (2015) (2006) (2006) Process Emissions Process Emissions Process Emissions Including Carbon

(kg CO2e/ kg of (kg CO2e/ kg of Storage within Material Material product) product) (kg CO2e/ kg of product) Framing lumber 0.20 0.12* -1.68

Concrete 0.12 0.12 0.12

Concrete block 0.13 0.14 0.14

Brick 0.24 0.32 0.32 Medium density fiberboard (MDF) 0.39 0.32 -1.47 Recycled steel (avg recy content) 0.47 0.81 0.81

Glass (not including primary mfg.) 0.59 0.57 0.57 Cement (Portland, masonry) 0.95 0.97 0.97 Recycled aluminum (100% recycled content) 1.81 1.13 1.13 Vinyl 3.19 -- 1.00

Steel (virgin) 2.89 2.55 2.55

Aluminum (virgin) 12.79 16.60 16.60

Carbon content of 49% assumed for wood. (measured values range from about 47-52%) Net Product Carbon Emissions: Wall Structure 2 (kgCO2/ft. of wall)

KD wood studs/OSB/vinyl

AD wood studs/OSB/vinyl Assemblies

Vinyl siding Components OSB sheathing Plwood sheathing Concrete block Steel framing Wood framing

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Process Emissions Less Carbon Stored

Source: Lippke and Edmonds, Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (2009). Net Product Carbon Emissions: Wall Structure 2 (kgCO2/ft. of wall)

Concrete block/stucco wood framing/OSB/plywood wood framing/plywood/plywood steel framing/OSB/vinyl steel framing/plywood/vinyl wood framing/OSB/vinyl wood framing/plywd/vinyl Assemblies

Vinyl siding Components OSB sheathing Plwood sheathing Concrete block Steel framing Wood framing

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Process Emissions Less Carbon Stored

Source: Lippke and Edmonds, Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (2009). In general, for every ton of wood used in place of potential alternative materials, emissions of 2.1 tons of carbon (or 7.7 tons

of CO2e) are avoided.

Malmsheimer et al. (2011) Harada Elementary School, Corona, CA

Two-story classroom building, administration building, kindergarten building, covered kindergarten play area,(multipurpose building, cafeteria, media center, exercise courts, student gathering area, and outdoor classroom/ amphitheater. Harada Elementary School, Corona, CA

Construction: Wood-frame walls, roofs, and second-level floors

Features: include self-contained classrooms featuring nine-foot ceilings; pullout workrooms and other moveable elements. Harada Elementary School, Corona, CA

Volume of wood used 4,012 m3 Carbon sequestered and stored (CO2e) 3,493 metric tons Avoided greenhouse gases (CO2e) 7,431 metric tons Total potential carbon benefit (CO2e) 10,924 metric tons Harada Elementary School, Corona, CA

Carbon savings from the choice of wood in this one project are equivalent to: 2,087 passenger vehicles off the road for a year Enough energy to operate a home for 929 years Library Square, Kamloops, BC Library Square, Kamloops, BC Six story structure (Five stories of wood over podium slab). Combined residential/commercial. • 140 condo units

• 14,000 ft2 street level commercial

• 20,000 ft2 library

• Underground parking Library Square, Kamloops, BC

Volume of wood used 2,927 m3 Carbon sequestered and stored (CO2e) 2,124 metric tons Avoided greenhouse gases (CO2e) 4,520 metric tons Total potential carbon benefit (CO2e) 6,645 metric tons Library Square, Kamloops, BC

Time period needed for North American forests to replace the volume of wood used in this structure at current net growth rates: ( 8.6 minutes LCA of Mid-Rise Office Building Construction Alternatives: Laminated Timber vs. Reinforced Concrete

Canadian Wood Council/ University of British Columbia (2012) LCA of Mid-Rise Office Building Construction Alternatives:

Discovery Place – Building 12 Burnaby, B.C. A 153,000 ft2 office building, constructed in 2009. • Five story • Three levels of underground parking • Cast-in place reinforced concrete structural frame LCA of Mid-Rise Office Building Construction Alternatives:

Reinforced Concrete Glulam/CLT

LCA of structural system LCA of functionally and enclosure of existing equivalent structural building. system and building envelope. LCA of Mid-Rise Office Building Construction Alternatives:

Glulam/CLT LCA of functionally equivalent structural system and building envelope using a combination of glulam and cross laminated timber (CLT) for the vertical and horizontal force resisting systems, in conjunction with reinforced concrete shear core. Cross-Laminated Timber Design Details

Unit of Concrete Timber Material Group Measurement Design Design Foundation

Footings m3 of concrete 1,408 1,408

Slab-on-grade m3 of concrete 416 416

Foundation walls m3 of concrete 834 834

Below-grade columns m3 of concrete 151 151

P2, P-1, and ground floor slabs m3 of concrete 3,253 3,253

Superstructure

Primary shear walls and cores m3 of concrete 1,293 1,293

Vertical load-bearing walls m3 of concrete/CLT 181 128

Above-grade floors & roof m3 of concrete/CLT 3,628 2,950

Above-grade columns m3 of concrete/glulam 268 122

Beams & roof parapet m3 of concrete/glulam 166 947

Wood sealer m2 -- 1,586 Design Details

Unit of Concrete Timber Material Group Measurement Design Design Building Enclosure

Curtain wall m2 2,415 2,415

Cedar siding m2 of 13 mm thickness -- 13,374 ccSPF insulation m3 2,134 --

R-13 insulation m3 258 115

Steel stud framing m2 @ 406 mm O/C 1,617 -- Wood stud framing m2 @ 406 mm O/C -- 1,617

Gypsum wall board m2 of 13 mm thickness 1,929 1,929 Environmental Impact Comparisons

Laminated Timber/CLT Reinforced Concrete

Global warming potential Ozone depletion Human health effects

Criteria air pollutants( Water( intake Eutrophication Ecological toxicity Smog Acidification Fossil fuel depletion

0 20 40 60 80 100 Carbon management is important, and regulation of carbon is likely in our future.

Greater use of wood in construction can help to reduce carbon emissions, store carbon for long time periods, and reduce the rate of non-renewables depletion. Forest Carbon Dynamics Trends in U.S. Forestland Area U.S. Timber Growth and Removals, 1630-2012 1920 - 2011

Billions of cubic feet/ year 89% of harvest 1200 is from private 1045 forest lands 30 1000 25 800 759 732 760 756 762 755 744 739 737 747 751 766 20 600 Net Growth 15 400 Removals Million Acres Million 10 200

0 5 1630 1907 1920 1938 1953 1963 1970 1977 1987 1992 1997 2009 2012 0 1920 1933 1952 1976 1996 2006 2011 Source: USDA – Forest Service, 2013 Source: USDA - Forest Service, 2013.

Standing Timber Inventory – U.S. Carbon in Above-Ground Portion of 1952-2012 Standing Trees, U.S. 1990-2011

Hardwoods Softwoods 15000 1200 14500 1000 14000

800 13500

600 13000

400 12500 12000

200 Carbon Tons Billion Billion Cubic Feet Cubic Billion 11500 0 1952 1962 1970 1976 1986 1991 1997 2002 2007 2012 11000 1990 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Source: USEPA (2013). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Source: USDA-Forest Service, 2013. Sinks, 1990-2011, p. 7-18. U.S. Population and Wood Harvest 1952 and 2007 5.8 miles miles 5.8 350 Harvests in US forests increased 5.8 billion ft3/ 300 year between 1952 and 250 2007.

200 1952 3

Million 150 2007 Millions Millions 100 50 100 Million 100 ft 0 U.S. Population Annual Wood Harvest

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013; USDA-Forest Service, 2013. U.S. Net Forest Growing Stock Volume 1952 and 2007 (billion ft3)

1000

800 GS volume increased by more than 600 1952 50%! 400 2007

200

0 Net Growing Stock Volume

Source: USDA-Forest Service, 2013. Above-Ground Carbon in U.S. Forests 1990-2014

16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000

Million metric tons C tons metric Million 2000 Billion Tons Carbon Billion 0 1990 2005 2010 2014

Source: USEPA (2015). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2014. Total Forest Carbon Inventory, U.S. 1990-2014

Soil Organic C Litter Dead Wood Belowground Biomass Aboveground Biomass

50000

40000

30000

20000

10000 Million metric tons C tons metric Million

Billion Tons Carbon Billion 0 1990 2005 2010 2014

Source: USEPA (2015). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2014. Carbon in Wood Products in Use, U.S. 1990-2014

1600

( 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 Million metric tons C tons metric Million Billion Tons Carbon Billion 200 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009

Source: USEPA (2015). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2014. Summary Summary

• Atmospheric carbon concentrations are clearly increasing and linked to fossil carbon emissions. • Atmospheric carbon levels are higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years. • 35-40% of human-caused carbon emissions are from building construction and operation. • Over one-half of buildings that will exist in 2030 will have been built post 2010. • Significant progress is being made in reducing consumption of operating energy. Summary

• Embodied energy (and carbon) is becoming increasingly important. • There are large differences in carbon emissions associated with various building materials. • Use of wood building materials and assemblies result in far lower energy consumption and carbon emissions than other common building materials. • Annual growth in U.S. forests far exceeds removals, resulting in increasing carbon storage. • Wood construction creates new carbon pools that store carbon for long periods of time. Questions?

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course

Dovetail Partners 612.333.0430 www.dovetailinc.org