Project 

Current Challenge

The results of this work will inform AEGB ratings and policy to advance the sustainable building and construction materials markets and design techniques to meet the City of Austin Sustainability Goals and Initiatives around equity, climate change, environmental quality, the local green economy, and capacity building within the green jobs market without negatively impacting building safety and durability.

Research Goal

The purpose of this research is to analyze typical commercial and residential building types and local building materials markets to determine a local baseline for embodied carbon (kgCO₂e/m²) based on standard local construction materials and techniques — and, ultimately, to develop a universal, simplified methodology for biogenic carbon accounting. This includes identifying areas of variation between local and global baselines to characterize opportunities for embodied carbon reduction, and identifying sound material and design approaches that result in lower embodied carbon quantities and fewer negative impacts on local air and water quality.

Sponsor

City of Austin & Austin Energy