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Elemental Streamlining Concrete Producers and AEC Community Program Tool to Measure Embodied Carbon in Structures, Slabs and Finishes

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Elemental Streamlining Concrete Producers and AEC Community Program Tool to Measure Embodied Carbon in Structures, Slabs and Finishes FEATURE BY DON MARSH Elemental Streamlining Concrete producers and AEC community program tool to measure embodied carbon in structures, slabs and finishes EC3 tool Early Adopter and Pilot Partners include corporate owner and real estate development interests committed to streamlining embod- ied carbon in future projects. Among announced projects, the tool’s most ambitious proving ground will be the Microsoft Corp. headquarters campus redevelopment in Redmond, Wash. A ready mixed and precast concrete schedule stands to encompass hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of material subject to evaluation by EC3 tool-equipped architects and engineers. Initial ready mixed suppliers will include a joint venture of Seattle market leaders, Cadman and Stoneway Concrete. The Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF), a coalition of material suppliers, The free EC3 tool allows for supply chain-specific analysis of product manufacturers, plus architecture, engineering and construc- embodied carbon data, utilizing the first searchable and sortable tion (AEC) stakeholders, formally launched the public beta version of database of all United States and Canadian EPDs for concrete, steel, the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool late last wood, glass, aluminum, insulation, gypsum, carpet and ceiling tiles. year during the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International The technology is revolutionizing review of material or product Conference & Expo in Atlanta. environmental metrics by creating digital EPDs and translating all CLF incubated the technology in Seattle at the University of declarations into that form for viewing and analyzing project data. Washington’s College of Built Environments in order to acceler- Practitioners have traditionally been confined to referencing EPDs ate development and provide optimal industry collaboration. The formatted as a PDF. By enabling simple visualization of a project’s open-access EC3 tool taps the industry’s first database of digitized potential and realized embodied carbon impacts—along with the Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). As a secure portal accessed ability to see baselines and set reduction targets—EC3 tool users at www.buildingtransparency.org, it allows benchmarking, assessment can accelerate the industry’s efforts to address embodied carbon on and reductions in embodied carbon; focuses on the upfront supply a global scale. The CLF coalition views the technology as an effective chain emissions of construction materials or products; and, suits means of driving demand for low-carbon solutions and rewarding con- architects, engineers, owners, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers struction material or product suppliers and manufacturers investing and policy makers. in carbon-optimized solutions. AEC interests need “to turn their attention to building materials and products, and seek information that will pave the way to reduce COLLABORATORS embodied carbon,” notes CLF Director and Professor Kate Simonen. Skanska USA, New York, and C Change Labs, Coquitlam, B.C., con- “Recognizing this imperative, the Carbon Leadership Forum and nearly ceived the Embodied Carbon Calculator solution. Initial development 50 industry leaders came together to offer their expertise, commit- was jointly funded by Skanska and Microsoft Corp., who determined ted to a tool that was free to use and part of a growing open-access that an open platform would provide maximum impact for the indus- embodied carbon data ecosystem.” try and society at large. CLF pursued the technology with strong Building and construction sectors have a vital role in limiting leadership and additional financial support from Autodesk, Interface, carbon, she adds, as they account for nearly 40 percent of global MKA Foundation, and the Charles Pankow Foundation, lead sponsor greenhouse gas emissions. Projections from the American Institute and grant manager. Within a short time, more than 40 other partners of Architects-aligned Architecture 2030 initiative paint the scale of came aboard, including the American Concrete Institute Foundation future emissions: The world’s population will double the amount of as an Association Partner. enclosed floor space from 2020-2060, equivalent to building an entire ACI Foundation members and allied stakeholders have provided New York City every month. Much of the new buildings’ environmental input on how to improve embodied carbon data usefulness in the footprint will take the form of embodied carbon. Unlike operational concrete industry. For example, typical concrete EPDs only reference carbon emissions, which can be reduced over time with energy-effi- 28-day compressive strength. Advisors noted how the addition of 3-, ciency retrofits and the use of renewable power sources, CLF officials 7- and 56-day strengths would make declarations of more value to underscore how embodied carbon emissions are locked in place as AEC professionals—especially those concerned with mixes’ high early soon as a project is completed. and long-term strength development characteristics. 56 • March 2020 www.concreteproducts.com FEATURE STANDARDS EC3 TOOL METHODOLOGY PARTNERS methods, and volunteered to test and weigh in on the EC3 tool’s To ensure that the methodology to evaluate material or product material-specific functions. embodied carbon data reflects current practices and is broadly under- Central Concrete and National Ready Mixed use environmental stood, the CLF established a class of EC3 tool Methodology Partners. accounting and EPD-generating programs developed by Berkeley, Two of California’s top construction materials brands joined the effort: Calif.-based Climate Earth, a CLF sponsor and EC3 tool Tech- Central Concrete Supply Co., San Jose, and National Ready Mixed nology Partner. As tool programming began, sustainability and Concrete Co., Encino. As CLF sponsors, both have been engaged in quality control staff offered rationale for Methodology Partner the development of embodied carbon data collection and definition participation: Continued on page 58 Comparison of 5000 psi ready mix concretes in a region C Change Labs programmers have built the EC3 tool to collect and crunch Environmental Product Declaration figures for materials and prod- ucts according to MasterSpec designation. The tool organizes data so users can view options for optimizing embodied carbon in structural and lighter components or finishes. Search for 5000 psi ready mix concretes in a region Embodied Carbon Calculator users can search options in a given market for ready mixed concrete of target compressive strength levels. At the heart of the EC3 tool are carbon dioxide emissions figures gleaned from Environmental Product Declarations. www.concreteproducts.com March 2020 • 57 FEATURE BY DON MARSH What motivated your company’s EC3 tool interest? What value does your company see in Methodology Partner National: The tool is cutting-edge technology that pairs well participation? with our recently implemented digital EPDs and Climate Earth’s National: Being the first in southern California to incorporate CarbonClarity Suite. When combined, they fundamentally support EPD-backed mixes in the EC3 tool supports our position as being the the architectural and engineering community in designing today’s best choice material supplier available. We believe in being not just a buildings through an environmentally sensitive process that was not ready mixed supplier for our customers, but rather a valuable partner possible in the past. with a multitude of added resources. Central: Offering low carbon concrete design solutions is in Cen- Central: As the first ready-mixed concrete producer in the United tral Concrete’s DNA. As a ready mixed supplier, we have made strategic States to publish EPDs, it was a natural fit. Our thousands of dec- investments in technologies such as Climate Earth’s on-demand EPD larations provide a significant database for the EC3 tool, which in Generator to provide transparency and sustainable solutions. turn helps demonstrate the value of low embodied carbon concrete mixes and the significant sustainability contribution that concrete can make. The conversion to digitized EPDs will be a game changer for the industry. Describe the process of being a Methodology Partner. National: The decision to utilize digital EPDs made it possible for our declared mix designs to feed flawlessly into the EC3 tool. Acknowledging the need for a concrete supplier to become actively involved in the design process is something that was seldom consid- ered, until now. Central: The EC3 tool functions within normal operations without requiring any extra steps since it automatically sources the on-de- mand EPDs we routinely create. As a partner, we are able to stay knowledgeable on the tool’s development progress and contribute concrete material and usage expertise to help make the calculator more accurate and relevant. Being a Methodology Partner also gives us a better understanding of how the technology works so that we can be a better resource to EC3 tool users. How has being a Methodology Partner informed your approach or under- standing of embodied carbon and the role of the supply chain? National: As a major ready mixed supplier, we have a vast array of mix designs and can work closely with design professionals seeking appropriate mixes for specific applications, while precisely measuring the impacts of embodied carbon. Central: The EC3 tool has helped expand our understanding of construction projects overall in terms of the choices and consid-
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