Opening Keynote: Embodied Carbon, Why Now?

Climate advocate and author Bill Caplan, Assoc. AIA, delivers a powerful opening keynote address at the 7th Annual 1.5°C Symposium on Climate Change and challenges design professionals to leverage their roles in reducing carbon emissions. Bill discusses the significance of embodied carbon in the context of sustainable design and global warming, identifies key strategies for minimizing embodied carbon emissions in construction, and helps assess the global warming potential of various building materials and construction processes.

Presenter:
Bill Caplan, Assoc. AIA

Circular Economy & Embodied Carbon

Moderated by Don Davies, Co-Founder, Principal | Davis-Crooks Associates, this esteemed group of panelists explore innovative design and construction strategies for reducing embodied carbon.

Presenter:
Don Davies, Co-Founder, Principal | Davis-Crooks Associates, Jan Top, Attache | Netherlands Consulate General in San Francisco, Sophie Pennetier, Associate Director | Enclos; Adjunct Faculty | SCI-Arc, and Pablo La Roche, Ph.D., Assoc. AIA, LEED AB BD+C, Principal & Sustainable Services Director | ARCADIS

Can We Grow Carbon-Storing Buildings?

Wil Srubar, III, PhD, Associate Professor | University of Colorado Boulder delivers a fast-moving overview of the environmental consequences of current building materials, particularly steel and concrete, and their contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Wil guides us through new directions in material science, focusing on biomimetic and living materials, that reduce or store carbon, and takes us on a fascinating journal through nature’s most effective mechanisms for carbon storage that can be applied to the built environment.

After viewing this course, you will better understand how to harness natural building materials such as responsibly grown, wood, straw, hemp and algae-based products to reduce embodied carbon emissions.

Presenter:
Dr. Wil Srubar, III, Associate Professor of civil and architectural engineering and materials science at the University of Colorado Boulder

Financial Feasibility (De-Risking) of Low-EC Construction

Ben Stapleton, Executive Director of USGBC California, deftly moderates a discussion with an architect, a contractor and a developer, who discuss low embodied-carbon projects in the construction industry. They cover the financial risks and costs associated with low embodied-carbon projects and innovative strategies and tools for reducing embodied carbon in construction projects. Among the projects discussed is the PAE Living Building, which is the first certified living building that is both located in a metropolitan area and developer-driven.

Presenter:
Kathy Berg, AIA, Partner | ZGF Partners LLP, Celia Hoag, P.E., BEMP, True Advisor, Regional Sustainability Leader | DPR Construction, and Sarah Neff, Head of ESG | Landlease Americas

Heading Toward Zero

Don Davies, PE, SE, an industry champion for the promotion of urban density and low-carbon construction, demonstrates the use of CLT, low-cement concrete and other alternative strategies to reduce cement usage in structural systems. Don shows us how Hubbard’s Corner, his own experimental development, repurposes existing building stock and reuses materials to minimize embodied carbon while examining the challenges of implementing low carbon concrete in construction. Don’s enthusiasm and stellar visuals will inspire design professionals to rethink their approach to design and construction.

Presenter:
Don Davies, PE, SE, Principal | Davies-Crooks Associates

The Role of Government in Addressing Embodied Carbon

In preparation for CAL Green’s July 1, 2024 implementation, California State Architect Ida Clair, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, CASp, leads us through CAL Green’s prescriptive- and performance-based compliance pathways, including the maintenance of existing structures, Whole Building LCA and product GWP limits. Ida also discusses the impact and future directions of Cal Green regulations and their potential for reducing global warming, and the difficulties faced by enforcement entities, such as building officials, in integrating new sustainability requirements into existing frameworks.

Presenter:
Ida Clair, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, CASp, State Architect | California Dept. of General Services, Division of the State Architect

Building Materials and Climate: Constructing a New Future

Anna Dyson, Hines Professor of Architecture and Founding Director of the Yale Center for Ecosystems + Architecture (Yale CEA), delivers this closing keynote full of useful strategies for decarbonizing our built environment. Professor Dyson discusses strategies for decarbonizing building materials, lifecycle thinking and a circular economy, the benefits and challenges of using biomaterials in building construction to lower embodied carbon, and how living biomass can contribute to lowering embodied and operational carbon.

Presenter:
Anna Dyson, Professor of Architecture | Yale University