Brightworks Sustainability

ICYMI: Brightworks partnered with Salesforce to develop a groundbreaking methodology for measuring embodied carbon across their real estate portfolio—an often overlooked but critical factor in making buildings more sustainable. Our research highlights how addressing these emissions can lead to significant reductions. The recently published case study covers embodied carbon impacts from interior materials, MEP/IT/AV systems, and furniture. To meet the 50% emissions reduction target needed by 2030, project lead Jeffery Frost shared actionable solutions that can be applied across all projects, regardless of budget: 🔄 Less is More: It's basic but bears repeating–use less! 🌱 Design Challenges: Use creative approaches to tackle climate, social, and circularity challenges, integrating bio-based, low-carbon, or salvaged materials. 🛠️ Design Assessments: Evaluate materials early to ensure recyclability and reuse potential, and address any barriers to improvement. 📘 Maintenance Manuals: Provide detailed operation guides with disassembly and recycling instructions for end-of-life products. 🎖️ Incentives: Reward sustainable practices and enforce accountability for policy adherence. Read the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/gYA4xQJ5

The new Edlen & Company Warren Apartments in downtown Spokane, Washington feature biophilic design that recalls the surrounding natural environment; regionally-sourced and low-VOC materials; and a comprehensive rainwater management system featuring local vegetation supporting pollinator species. Learn more about Brightworks' sustainable built environment projects here: https://lnkd.in/gdiP7t9j

At the upcoming Infraday Pacific Northwest, Brightworker Alexis Whitaker will present 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦: 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘩, joined by Rose Weiker, Natural Resource and Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Sammamish. "Brightworks Sustainability will share key insights on aligning infrastructure development with climate action goals, presenting our work with the City of Sammamish’s 2023 Climate Action Plan. I’m excited to join Rose Weiker to discuss how we’re overcoming implementation challenges and supporting emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and transportation improvements. We hope you’ll join us to explore practical solutions and real-world strategies for integrating sustainability into public and private infrastructure," Alexis shared about the upcoming presentation. Learn more about the October 29th event taking place in Seattle, Washington: https://lnkd.in/g7Bx-H3y Beth Jamieson

The #circulareconomy presents a transformative opportunity to rethink product manufacturing and usage, enabling the acceleration of decarbonization across major sectors. "An Innovation Pathway to Decarbonization," a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, lays out near-term opportunities for policymakers and industry to move toward a more circular economy, maximizing economic, climate, and other benefits. Noting that a cohesive, multi-industry policy strategy is needed, the report outlines five takeaways that offer key opportunities to embrace circular economy solutions: 🚗 Set the direction for travel by establishing a national vision and goals for a circular economy with a whole-of-government approach. 📊 Understand the benefits of circular economy initiatives through standards, research, and data collection, and communicate this information across the value chain, with the public, and with the government. 🚧 Eliminate barriers to circular economy practices by improving economics, addressing infrastructure needs, and managing products post-use. 🔄 Mandate circular economy solutions throughout the design, production, use, and post-use phases. 💡 Foster innovation through sustained and increased investment. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gCiMQ34n

Brightworkers Heath Blount, Chris Forney, and Cassidy Green will be attending the upcoming AASHE 2024 Conference and Expo in Anaheim, CA on October 27-29. #AASHE2024 is the premiere event for sustainability in higher education. Be sure to get in touch if you will be in attendance, as well! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ePWCt4b

Explore key insights from the recent ULI Northwest webinar, where Brightworker Chris Forney joined the panel to discuss incentives and regulations related to building decarbonization. Anna Waldren Marta Schantz Jesse Stanley, PE Cliff Majersik

A recent study by CDP and HSBC found that while corporate supply chains face significant climate risks, too few companies are engaging their suppliers on climate issues. The report, titled "Strengthening the Chain: Industry Insights to Accelerate Sustainable Supply Chain Transformation," highlights the substantial financial opportunities available in decarbonizing supply chains through innovative strategies like supply chain finance, which can drive meaningful emissions reductions. These solutions benefit both businesses and the environment. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. Check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/gfqwZrmP

Implementing the strategies shared below by Design for Freedom by Grace Farms strengthens our procurement processes by promoting a more ethical approach to construction. 

According to the International Energy Agency, emissions across all sectors need to fall by 50% by 2030 to stay on track for a net-zero future by 2050. While we've made strides in reducing operational emissions from energy use, embodied carbon, the emissions tied to the materials used in construction, has remained an area largely unmeasured, or partially measured at best. Our lack of understanding 'the whole' of these emissions has been a barrier to recognizing the scale of response needed to reach these reduction goals. Our team at Brightworks Sustainability, along with our partners at Salesforce and WAP Sustainability, are pleased to share the findings of this 5-year project. For the first time, using an approved World Resources Institute (WRI) Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) approved methodology (created by the same team), we've measured the total embodied carbon of a tenant improvement project and explore what a 50% reduction means for the real estate sector; the urgency it reveals, existing barriers to change and emerging trends that must be explored and expanded. You'll find slide format images folks can use to share this case study with your clients. Read the full case study to learn more about our findings and strategies: Link below. So many people to thank over this long journey but especially the leadership at Salesforce including Gordon L'Estrange, Amanda von Almen, Boris Gamazaychikov, Melanie L., Jessica Nguyen, NCIDQ for their commitment to this research and almost a decade of industry stewardship. To the WAP Sustainability team including Manasa Kovvali Rao, William Paddock, Brad McAllister and so many who've spent countless hours analyzing products and mining embodied carbon data to fill in data gaps.

Brightworker Jessie Scott Templeton, our Embodied Carbon Service Lead, was recently featured in the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF)'s Regional Hub Member Spotlight. As Co-lead of CLF Seattle, Jessie shared insights on how the hub continues to evolve and make an impact: "One of the things I love most about the Seattle CLF Hub, and really the embodied carbon community in general, is the willingness to truly collaborate, without the hubris of title or company, admitting the solution is something much greater than any one of us," said Jessie. "For the past 6 years I’ve been involved in the Seattle Hub, we’ve been focused on education, making connections, and promoting movement in the industry." Check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gm7tpyGc