EPD Square’s Post

📢 Exciting News! 🌍🏢 Bold steps are necessary to strategically decarbonize high-impact materials from building structures, enclosures, and finishes. I am thrilled to announce the successful completion of a groundbreaking research partnership between RMI and USGBC that aims to expedite market transformation toward low-embodied carbon materials. In 2023, USGBC and RMI joined forces to advance industry knowledge on reducing embodied carbon emissions from building materials. This research partnership has achieved significant milestones, including: 🔬 Understanding the state of the data on embodied carbon impacts from building materials 📏 Determining the size of the opportunity to quickly reduce embodied carbon from standard building practices 📊 Surveying current and emerging benchmarking standards for buildings and materials ⚖️ Navigating the embodied carbon impacts and trade-offs of wood, concrete, and steel structures ♻️ Clarifying the role of reuse, recycling, and circularity in reducing embodied carbon 💡 Assessing the emerging and future technologies of carbon-sequestering materials The research points toward bold and deliberate embodied-carbon reductions from building materials that can happen now. We have identified recommendations for high-impact product categories, including structural materials, enclosure systems, and finishes. I am thrilled to invite you to a session where USGBC and RMI will share their groundbreaking findings and engage in a dialogue about the current and future state of embodied carbon in building materials. Joining us will be leaders from the LEED Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group, who will provide valuable insights into embodied carbon in LEED v5. Our speakers will also discuss how the new rating system is doubling down on embodied carbon for new buildings and commercial interiors. The TAG will shed light on how the USGBC-RMI research has informed the credits addressing embodied carbon in LEED v5. This promises to be a high-energy hour focused on the current and future slashing of embodied carbon from construction materials. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of the sustainability revolution in the built environment. Mark your calendars and join us on [date] at [time] for this transformative session. Together, let's pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future! #Sustainability #GreenBuildings #EmbodiedCarbon #Decarbonization #BuildingMaterials

According to the @United Nations, the built environment is responsible for 37% of global emissions. We need to reduce our impact as an industry, and fast.   The materials and products that designers specify has huge potential to move the dial. Yet transparency of information, greenwashing, and difficulties in comparing “apples with apples” makes assessing sustainability overwhelming.   In response, Australian Architects Declare have worked alongside industry to create ProductAware. Its aim is to standardise how we ask questions around product sustainability. Its questions and categories have been extensively peer reviewed. The products in its database clearly list their sustainability metrics. And its free for anybody to use and contribute to.   I encourage all to check it out—especially if you want to make a dent in our industry’s massive emissions.   It’s not the answer to every problem. But it could be a big step forward in elevating sustainability and decarbonisation in the built environment, through the sharing of product sustainability information and broad industry adoption.   thanks to all the generous people who put this together - you are legends! Green Building Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects, #SustainableBusinessMatters, Living Future Institute of Australia, Suppliers Declare, Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance, Bates Smart, Cox Architecture, BVN Architecture   https://lnkd.in/gXaR7Jgf

Did you know that Graphenstone Paints can contribute significant points or credits towards your building's certification? Maintaining project integrity is crucial for many reasons, but I’ve seen how frequently substitutions of sustainable materials occur, normally due to costs, a resistance to change from the ‘norm’, or just a lack of understanding of the sustainable materials being specified. This undermines the Architect's work, compromises specifications and potentially performance, and significantly weakens sustainability goals. Our solution? Add one simple condition to your specs: "Must be Cradle to Cradle Certified." Our Cradle to Cradle certifications (we have Gold, Silver, and Bronze) make our paints instantly BREEAM, WELL, and LEED ‘compliant’, adding significant points or credits to all these standards. #purifyingpaints #specifications #protectyourspecs

What is 𝕃𝔼𝔼𝔻 and how buildings get certified ? 🄻🄴🄴🄳 (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification verifies that a building is a best-in-class sustainable building.  It signifies a certification that creates healthy, highly efficient, cost-saving green buildings and improving environmental performance from carbon footprint to indoor environmental quality . 𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 : 𝟷𝟷𝟶 𝙿𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 Certified -- 40–49 points Silver ----- 50–59 points Gold ------ 60–79 points Platinum -- 80+ points 𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 : - Water efficiency - Materials and resources - Energy and atmosphere - Indoor environmental quality - Sustainable sites 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 :  - ECONOMIC : LEED certification can help buildings to attract tenants and gain superior rental incomes. These can be up to 20% higher than non-certified buildings with 4% lower vacancy rates. - HEALTH: The EPA estimates that indoor air is between two to ten times more polluted than outdoor air. That means working towards spaces with cleaner air, access to daylight, and free from harmful chemicals. - ENVIRONMANTAL : By using more sustainable energy forms, energy efficiency measures, and more sustainable building techniques, a LEED certification can radically reduce the impact of any building. LEED certified projects have diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills already. By 2030 the number is expected to grow to 540 million tons. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 : - Compliance with environmental regulations and standards - Meeting the threshold of floor area requirements - Ensuring a minimum of building occupancy in terms of number of users - Maintaining a reasonable site boundary - Must be a permanent building - Sharing of up-to-date energy and water usage data - Have a minimum building to site area ratio - Contributes to neighborhood development - The current certification fees rate is between 𝟶.𝟶𝟶𝟷𝟺$-𝟶.𝟶𝟶𝟻𝟽$ per square foot after paying a flat certification fee which ranges from 𝟿𝟶𝟶$ to 𝟻,𝟶𝟶𝟶$ . #leed #sustainable #green_building #architecture #engineering #construction #bim #building #sustainability #environmental

🌱 Key Principles for Sustainable Architecture and Construction 🌍 This chart highlights essential principles for building a sustainable future, focusing on approaches that are fundamental to green design and development:   1. Analyse the Climate: This involves assessing a project's local environmental conditions to make climate-responsive design choices. This ensures energy efficiency, enhances occupant comfort, and reduces environmental impact. 2. Improve Energy Efficiency: Applying high-efficiency energy systems and effective insulation helps lower energy use and costs. 3. Enhance Thermal Comfort: Designing for occupant comfort reduces the need for intensive heating and cooling systems. 4. Optimise Natural Resource Use: Efficiently using water and natural resources minimises waste and reduces environmental impact. 5. Reduce Carbon Footprint: This can be achieved by selecting low-carbon materials and using environmentally responsible processes. 6. Increase Climate Resilience: Building designs should with stand climate-related challenges, ensuring long-term safety and sustainability. 7. Innovate in Materials: Choosing sustainable, eco-friendly materials reduces emissions and extends the life of the project. 8. Preserve Local Ecosystems: Prioritising ecosystem protection minimises environmental impacts and supports biodiversity. 9. Achieve Long-Term Cost Savings: Sustainable choices reduce long-term energy and maintenance costs, benefiting both the environment and the budget. #SustainableArchitecture #GreenBuilding #ClimateResilience #EnergyEfficiency #EcoFriendly #SustainableDesign #CarbonFootprint #BREEAM #LEED

Why do EPDs matter to us? 🌍 Sustainability is no longer just an option when it comes to designing, specifying, installing, and using products – it is essential. EPDs (or Environmental Product Declarations) give clear, transparent information on a product's environmental impact, helping architects, builders, and consumers make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals. From energy use to emissions, EPDs cover the full lifecycle, promoting sustainability and supporting green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM. At Altro, we provide detailed EPDs for our flooring and wall products, including our first-ever resin-based product EPD. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGagYizt #Altro #AltroEPDs #Sustainability #EPDs #ProductLifeCycle #GreenBuilding

According to the @United Nations, the built environment is responsible for 37% of global emissions. We need to reduce our impact as an industry, and fast. We can start by using better products. But there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to product and materials sustainability. Knowing what matters to designers, which certifications to go for, and how to effectively communicate product sustainability credentials poses a massive challenge. In response, Australian Architects Declare have worked alongside industry to create ProductAware. Its aim is to standardise how we ask questions around product sustainability. Its questions and categories have been extensively peer reviewed. The products in its database clearly list their sustainability metrics. And its free for anybody to use and contribute to. I encourage all to check it out—especially if you want to make a dent in our industry’s massive emissions. It’s not the answer to every problem. But it could be a big step forward in elevating sustainability and decarbonisation in the built environment, through the sharing of product sustainability information and broad industry adoption. Green Building Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects, Living Future Institute of Australia, Suppliers Declare, AMPP: Association for Materials Protection and Performance; Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance Bates Smart, Cox Architecture, BVN Architecture #socialpurpose https://lnkd.in/gXBBXE8z

Sustainable design is more than just a buzzword - it's a holistic approach that aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment, building occupants, and society. By incorporating sustainable design principles into construction and modernization projects, we can balance cost, environmental impact, and societal benefits to meet mission objectives and functional needs. One key aspect of sustainable design is technology. By optimizing building performance and energy efficiency, we can reduce waste and maximize a building's life-cycle value. Federal agencies are required to design buildings that achieve energy efficiency at least 30% better than ASHRAE 90.1 standards, and sustainable technology can also lead to more satisfied occupants. #sustainability #greendesign #energyefficiency

Why do EPDs matter to us? 🌍 Sustainability is no longer just an option when it comes to designing, specifying, installing, and using products – it is essential. EPDs (or Environmental Product Declarations) give clear, transparent information on a product's environmental impact, helping architects, builders, and consumers make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals. From energy use to emissions, EPDs cover the full lifecycle, promoting sustainability and supporting green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM. At Altro, we provide detailed EPDs for our flooring and wall products, including our first-ever resin-based product EPD. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGagYizt #Altro #AltroEPDs #Sustainability #EPDs #ProductLifeCycle #GreenBuilding