Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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Why Embodied Carbon Matters
Why Embodied Carbon Matters
Structural systems account for a large share of a building's embodied carbon - often the majority - because concrete and steel are both carbon-intensive and used in high volumes. Unlike operational carbon, which can be reduced over a building's life through efficiency upgrades and a cleaner grid, embodied carbon is largely fixed once the structure is built. The emissions associated with material extraction, manufacturing, and construction are released up front and can't be recovered.
Structural systems account for a large share of a building's embodied carbon - often the majority - because concrete and steel are both carbon-intensive and used in high volumes. Unlike operational carbon, which can be reduced over a building's life through efficiency upgrades and a cleaner grid, embodied carbon is largely fixed once the structure is built. The emissions associated with material extraction, manufacturing, and construction are released up front and can't be recovered.
This puts structural engineers in a position of unusual influence. Decisions made early in design - material selection, structural system, member sizing, and the specification of lower-carbon mixes and sourcing - have an outsized effect on a project's total carbon footprint. Choices that reduce material quantities or substitute lower-impact products often carry little or no cost premium, particularly when they're made before the design is fixed.
This puts structural engineers in a position of unusual influence. Decisions made early in design - material selection, structural system, member sizing, and the specification of lower-carbon mixes and sourcing - have an outsized effect on a project's total carbon footprint. Choices that reduce material quantities or substitute lower-impact products often carry little or no cost premium, particularly when they're made before the design is fixed.
Reducing embodied carbon also aligns with where the profession and the market are heading. Code requirements, owner expectations, and reporting frameworks increasingly account for embodied carbon, and many jurisdictions and clients now ask for it directly. Engaging with it now builds the knowledge base and project experience the field will rely on as these expectations become standard practice.
Reducing embodied carbon also aligns with where the profession and the market are heading. Code requirements, owner expectations, and reporting frameworks increasingly account for embodied carbon, and many jurisdictions and clients now ask for it directly. Engaging with it now builds the knowledge base and project experience the field will rely on as these expectations become standard practice.
The resources in this hub are meant to make that work practical: benchmarking material impacts, verifying environmental product declarations, and integrating carbon considerations into the structural design process from early phases onward.
The resources in this hub are meant to make that work practical: benchmarking material impacts, verifying environmental product declarations, and integrating carbon considerations into the structural design process from early phases onward.
About the Resource Hub
About the Resource Hub
The hub is a wiki meant to serve engineers from those new to sustainable design through experienced practitioners.
The hub is a wiki meant to serve engineers from those new to sustainable design through experienced practitioners.
Resources are organized by project design phase. Use the menu above to jump to the phase you're working in. If you're new, start with the section just below.
Resources are organized by project design phase. Use the menu above to jump to the phase you're working in. If you're new, start with the section just below.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding a certain topic on the google pages, please email seaoncsdc@gmail.com and the committee will do our best to respond.
Please note that the information provided through this site is taken from a variety of resources in order to consolidate information. The information provided does not necessarily represent the opinions of SEAONC. Any information provided in this hub should be verified by the user.
Click to see a summary of past SEAONC SDC Presentations and Publications
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