Today, we are talking about targeting embodied carbon as a solution to lowering emissions and combating climate change. Embodied carbon, the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials (Life Cycle Assessment), is emerging as a critical frontier in the battle against climate change. Unlike operational carbon, which stems from the energy used in buildings and industrial processes, embodied carbon addresses the often-overlooked emissions embedded in the materials themselves.
Devens has generally done a great job at helping businesses reduce operational carbon through requirements and incentives for high-performance buildings. Almost all new buildings built in Devens over the past decade have been built to the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code or greater and all projects have incorporated low-impact development techniques that reduce impervious surface coverage and urban heat island impacts, while promoting localized groundwater recharge and green infrastructure connections to open spaces – all contributing towards lower emissions and better air quality and a lower overall carbon footprint.
The built environment is responsible for ~42% of annual global CO2 emissions, so reducing embodied carbon in our building materials and infrastructure can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the impacts of climate change, while helping Massachusetts meet its decarbonization targets which aim for a 50% decline in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2035 and net zero by 2050.
High-carbon products that contribute to embodied carbon include:
- Concrete
- Steel
- Asphalt
- Aluminum
- Insulation
- Refrigerants
As industries grapple with the need to reduce their carbon footprints, focusing on embodied carbon offers a promising solution by targeting emissions at the source of material production and lifecycle management. By integrating strategies to minimize embodied carbon, industries can make substantial strides in mitigating their overall climate impact and fostering a more sustainable future.
Targeting Embodied Carbon in Devens
The Devens Enterprise Commission, as part of the Devens Forward Climate Action Plan and our initiative to reduce emissions, has taken many steps toward encouraging local developers and businesses to target embodied carbon in their projects:
- Devens recently adopted a set of Embodied Carbon Reduction Guidelines that include a set of tools and guidance to assist applicants with reducing the carbon footprint of their development projects. These Guidelines provide developers with resources that allow them to evaluate their building material choices – helping build more with less and contributing to the sustainable redevelopment mission of the Devens Reuse Plan. Read more in the official press release, and download the Guidelines here.
- To pair with the Guidelines, developers can take advantage of a Project Checklist for Reducing Embodied Carbon in Devens – a practical worksheet to help your projects tackle embodied carbon. Download the Checklist here.
- Lastly, the DEC has incorporated an embodied carbon focus in existing buildings and demolition projects by adopting a policy that requires developers to submit a Solid Waste and Recycling Management Plan with all demolition projects. This process will help developers look at reuse opportunities for building materials and interior finishes and fixtures instead of disposing them, to maximize the lifecycle of products and reduce emissions. Check out the Plan form here.
Taking Action: The 1-2-3-4 Aspects of Reducing Embodied Carbon
We’ve talked a lot about what embodied carbon is and local efforts to reduce it, but how would a developer go about actually changing their projects to reduce embodied carbon? Let’s take a sneak peek at the four aspects of reducing embodied carbon as laid out in the Embodied Carbon Reduction Guidelines:
Build less, reuse more:
- First, you can maximize carbon reductions by prioritizing the selection of the most impactful, low-carbon products like structural materials or high-churn interior products. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings and/or reuse of existing building materials can also help extend the life of materials and reduce manufacturing and costs associated with purchasing new materials.
Design lighter and smarter:
- Second, challenge your design team to be intentional about unnecessary space and waste. This can include right-sizing rooms and floor to floor heights, using fewer materials overall, or specific targets like minimizing the footprint of concrete foundations by cantilevering upper floors, which is frequently done. You can also design buildings with fewer interior finishes such as drop ceilings, paint, and carpeting, instead opting to finish natural wood and other structural materials that can add space and beauty, while saving money at the same time! Lower embodied carbon construction methods and materials have a reduced Life-Cycle carbon footprint and are often lighter and easier to work with which can translate into construction and transportation cost savings as well.
Use low-carbon alternatives:
- Third, you can quantify your embodied carbon total, or reductions using analysis tools which are listed in the Devens Embodied Carbon Reduction Guidelines. These tools can be used to inform decisions about which specific products are lowest in embodied carbon, or they can be used to look at your whole building (or whole site).
Procure low(er) carbon products:
- Finally, address the materials that have the greatest impact, because of the sheer volume of them like concrete and steel, or because of the highest embodied carbon. You can also prioritize firms who have some experience, and who set internal, firm-wide targets for embodied carbon. You can also look beyond your building and make decisions about your landscape and planting to choose soils, plants and trees that sequester as much carbon as possible.
In Devens, NOW Communities, the developer of the Emerson Green housing development along Grant Road has embraced lower embodied carbon options for building materials by offering fiberglass foundation options instead of traditional concrete. This is a great example of a lower-carbon alternative material that is also lighter and easier to work with which can translate into reduced construction and transportation cost savings. Now Communities also uses insulation made from recycled materials which has a lower embodied carbon footprint and also helps reduce operational carbon by providing a great insulation value that lowers energy consumption in these all-electric homes.
Before you go, make sure to check out this video series on Devens by Chronicle 5 WCVB! It details much of Devens’ economic transformation and sustainable practices. Check it out!
Thank you for reading! Make sure to check back on this dashboard and the DEC website for more climate action updates.