Q1 2023: Environmental Updates
Operational Energy:
The energy needed to run heating, air conditioning, lighting, and hot water in a building
Embodied Carbon:
The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with construction materials and the processes used to build
Green building codes are being put into place this year by states, using funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, to set limits on how much carbon can be created by a building (operational energy) and how much carbon is created by the manufacturing of materials that make up the building (embodied carbon).
Across the U.S., local and state action around embodied carbon, electrification of buildings and other decarbonization efforts is likely to grow in 2023, experts say. “More folks are realizing both the carbon emissions impact of their buildings and appliances,” said Denise Grab, principal on nonprofit RMI’s carbon-free building team. “I expect we’ll see many more cities, counties [and states] over the next year really moving toward electrification, low embodied-carbon buildings and other forward-looking policies.”
Governments are being encouraged to focus on existing buildings than on new construction. “When cities are prioritizing their existing stock and working more on retrofits, they remove the need for virgin materials in the first place, said Cécile Faraud, London-based technical lead for clean construction at C40.
Portland, Oregon’s low-carbon concrete ordinance took effect in January
New York City’s mayor announced a clean construction executive order last fall addressing procurement of cement, steel and machinery
Austin, TX is leading the charge with new policies to salvage materials by deconstructing existing infrastructure over time instead of demolishing it
Denver, CO is making green codes a policy and not an option starting in May of this year [10]
[10] Solomon, A. (2023, January 27). How green building policy could evolve in 2023. Utility Dive. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/building-decarbonization-policy-embodied-carbon-green-materials/641340/