Embodied Carbon

Catalog description

Architecture and design have a vital role to play in addressing the climate crisis. Today, the built environment contributes nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. For decades, designers have focused primarily on energy efficiency and operational emissions but have spent very little time thinking about embodied emissions – those emissions associated with building materials, construction, demolition, and reuse. This course looks deeply at the topic of embodied carbon, equipping students to research material supply chains and to quantify the environmental impacts of materials, assemblies, and buildings using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Students will explore how building materials like concrete, steel, plastics, and engineered wood are made; the impact their production has on landscapes, communities, and the climate; and design strategies for reducing these impacts.