The Carbon Leadership Forum’s partner organization, the Life Cycle Lab at the University of Washington, has received a ~$10M grant to advance LCA research and education. From the EPA announcement: “This project will further develop EPDs in the marketplace and increase the number of professionals skilled in life cycle assessment (LCA). The initiative, Validating and Expanding Research and Education for LCA Policy (VERE-LCA), addresses two primary challenges in the construction industry — the underdevelopment of EPDs and the scarcity of skilled LCA professionals.”

The project will improve the robustness of EPD data and methods while simultaneously advancing LCA education for students and professionals. By focusing on these areas, the project will enhance the building and construction industry’s ability to effectively comply with procurement-oriented environmental policies. VERE-LCA is a collaborative effort involving the University of Washington, Howard University, the University of California, Berkeley and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Each institution contributes its expertise to the project, with UW focusing on building-sector LCA policies and education, HU on environmental justice and education, PNNL on primary LCA research, and UCB on building-sector LCA practices. The project will develop open-source digital resources and an open-access LCA curriculum, pilot these in various educational settings, and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and open-access platforms. This comprehensive approach will create a scalable impact, equipping more professionals with the necessary skills to implement effective environmental policies and produce robust EPDs.”