(D10) Transforming Existing Buildings into Climate Assets: Leveraging low embodied carbon and carbon-storing materials in building retrofits to reduce building emissions.
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
11:15am – 12:15pm US EDT
Location: Room 209AB
Earn 1 CE Credit(s)
Retrofitting buildings to reduce operating emissions is a key climate strategy. Viable, affordable, and scalable retrofit strategies must be implemented, but we must avoid a surge of embodied carbon emissions from the manufacturing of the necessary building materials. This presentation showcases research (due to be published by RMI in 2/2023) that evaluates the embodied carbon investment of varying retrofit assembly strategies and construction methodologies in cold climates with the expected operational carbon savings. Through the strategic use of low embodied carbon and carbon storing materials in exterior insulation systems for building retrofits, the retrofitted buildings can realize operational carbon savings more rapidly. In best-case scenarios, where carbon storing materials can be used in the retrofit, there is no emissions surge at all, and existing buildings can store carbon. This analysis reviews the GHG emissions of cradle-to-gate embodied carbon of 24 deep energy retrofit exterior insulation systems.
This session will present two real life case studies happening in MA - deep energy retrofits of affordable/low-income housing projects that will achieve PHIUS certification by using carbon-storing methodologies or low embodied carbon methodologies to support a design and technical path toward transforming existing buildings from climate liabilities that emit a large fraction of global emissions to climate assets that store carbon. Through case studies and an introductory how-to guide, this session will demonstrate that low embodied carbon approaches exist today, and that manufacturers and design teams can substitute low-embodied carbon and carbon storing materials in deep energy retrofits.
If relevant - this session could include a Part 2 that consists of an introductory “How-To” guide to calculating the total embodied carbon costs associated with a deep energy retrofit, the anticipated operational carbon savings, and the associated carbon payback timeframe. After introducing a user-friendly materials emissions calculator tool, called BEAM, plus some basic excel spreadsheet work, attendees will be able to answer - What is the carbon impact of this retrofit and how quickly can this building realize its operational carbon savings?
If part 2 is not deemed to be useful in the context of this conference, it could easily be omitted and time remaining could be used for more product inspiration and Q&A.
Learning Objectives:
Comprehend the relationship between embodied carbon and operating carbon emissions in building retrofits and utilize tools to calculate the embodied carbon associated with various deep energy retrofit exterior insulation assemblies.
Amortize the upfront embodied carbon emissions costs associated with a deep energy retrofit with the anticipated operating carbon emissions savings.
Identify key components in exterior assemblies that benefit from the strategic use of low-embodied carbon materials and carbon storing materials.
Discuss policies and market development which support investment in low embodied carbon and carbon storing materials and deep energy retrofit solutions.