Chapter 3

 The Carbon Challenge is making people aware of how much carbon is being produced when new buildings are being constructed.  Bring the matter to the forefront can help prevent permanent damage from happening, and that is why the Carbon Leadership forum is asking for people to become members and help them find answers to this carbon problem.  Reading further into the Carbon challenge they explain that there are two different kinds of carbon.  There is operational carbon and embodied carbon.  Operational Carbon is created through the building sector and can be reduced over the next couple years the more they incorporate renewable energy.  Embodied carbon comes from the manufacturing, transportation, and from the construction materials.  Once embodied carbon has entered the atmosphere it cannot be taken out, it will always be apart of our world.  That should put a sense of urgency pulled to the forefront of our brain when we are designing buildings and interiors.  We should take into our consideration where the products are coming from, what it takes to make them, and how it will overall affect our environment.


Global C02 EmissionsThe circle graph on the left is showing us what percentage of carbon is being emitted by building operations, materials, non-building materials, transport, etc.

If we continue down the same path of construction without changing anything, this is what our total carbon emissions will be within the next 30 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1piVin01vQ
This video clips goes into further detail about what embodied carbon is.

One Step Further:
Embodied carbon is hard to reduce, but there are some basic building ways to reduce the possible carbon.  When looking at building sites, do not look for sites where you have to stabilize the soil and have to create a deep foundation.  You could potentially save up to 30% of embodied carbon.  Some other major reducers are: choosing timber framing, opting for carbon reducing materials, design thinner floor slabs, and minimize the mass of the structure.  Embodied carbon is not something we can get rid of, but we can also help our environment last longer depending on our building decisions.  

https://www.oneclicklca.com/embodied-carbon-reduction-in-construction/?utm_campaign=US%202020%20Search&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1dGJBhD4ARIsANb6Odk2KfM8vXBSJyaxF2rHzeTSQKH31GNDb_Tpv8eEe_uMC486hRx_pYUaAgXUEALw_wcB


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