Carbon Reflections

Embarking on the exploration of embodied carbon became a pivotal journey for me during my undergraduate studies in Architectural Engineering. It was there that I discovered the profound influence that a thoughtful consideration of embodied carbon could exert on architectural decisions. This revelation, a blend of scientific inquiry, design and analytical scrutiny, deeply resonated with my inherently analytical mindset.

My passion for this intricate field intensified during my pursuit of a Master’s in Sustainable Architecture. Here, my focus shifted towards integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into residential building energy codes. This academic journey marked the inception of my commitment to understanding and integrating building carbon footprints into design decision-making—a commitment that I continued to nurture during my Ph.D. at the University of Victoria.

2023 Roadmap Report: Advancing the LCA Ecosystem for Policy 

by Meghan Lewis
Senior Policy Researcher, CLF

The rapid growth of embodied carbon policies has created a unique opportunity to leverage current funding and interest to maximize the potential of LCA as a tool for decarbonization.

In this report, the CLF lays out steps to strengthen and build upon existing LCA standards, data sources, and tools for construction products, building, and infrastructure to optimize LCA as an effective policy tool for industrial and building decarbonization. The roadmap lays out a vision for an “ideal” LCA ecosystem for policy that is:

• Open and transparent 
• Accessible through expanded access to training, streamlined processes and reporting tools and financial support for those who need it
• More comparable and reliable. 
  Globally harmonized to streamline the use of LCA data and tools 
• Keep pace with new materials, technologies, and processes 

I spent all of my life growing up in the Yakima Valley area. I come from a large agricultural family and community background. Some of my earliest memories were in cherry and apple orchards, joining my parents as they worked hot summers harvesting the crops. I am a first-generation college student striving to be the first person to graduate from the University of Washington in my family.

I first was introduced to embodied carbon in middle school, when my science teacher presented its potential negative effects to the classroom. I then started looking at my community and seeing how much energy everything takes to create and maintain. ...The embodied carbon that it takes to get fresh produce and crops from the ground to the dinner plate is mammoth. Agriculture needs irrigation, transport to factories where the food can become processed, transport from the factories to stores, and then transport to the homes of people.

On December 7, the MEP 2040 community came together for the close of its second year, with its 8th Quarterly Forum. The gathering celebrated a number of achievements and a roadmap for next steps for all the working groups:

• Communications & Resources

• Data, Analysis & Reporting

• Partnerships

• Manufacturers & EPDs

The Steering Committee announced the new MEP 2040 mission statement:

MEP 2040 is a movement to radically reduce total carbon emissions associated with building systems through collective action.

The History of the Carbon Leadership Forum: 2009-2023

We've published a new page outlining the remarkable history of CLF! For nearly fifteen years, CLF’s vision has been of built environments as a solution to the climate challenge, rather than an existential threat. The core of our work is to lay essential foundations for understanding embodied carbon: a framework for comprehensive strategy, rigorous analysis, and transparent reporting that can support design tools, effective policy, and collective action. The CLF’s own development was conditioned and enabled by the evolution of the modern global green building movement over the past 30 years.

The Community is a great place to get timely updates from others sharing news, strategic plans, resources, and tools related to embodied carbon, plus engaging in ongoing communication and collaboration about key topics for all sorts of building industry professionals, including tools, terminology, data standards, benchmarks, and targets for embodied carbon reduction.

Current hot topics include the use of tallyLCA, tallyCAT, EPDs, and Revit with the EC3 tool from Building Transparency; discussion of a Photovoltaic PV LCA; WBLCA vs Structure Enclosure Interior LCA; and an interesting conversation about Wood Fiber Insulation Boards. Check it out, and pose a burning question of your own!

About the Carbon Leadership Forum at the University of Washington

Who We Are

• The Carbon Leadership Forum accelerates transformation of the building sector to radically reduce the embodied carbon in building materials and construction.
• We pioneer research, create resources, foster cross-sector collaboration, and incubate member-led initiatives to bring embodied carbon emissions of buildings down to zero.
• We are architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, building owners, and policymakers who care about the future and take bold steps to eliminate embodied carbon from buildings and infrastructure.

www.carbonleadershipforum.org

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