This course equips designers with current research, definitions and practical strategies to reduce embodied and operational carbon in buildings and meet evolving decarbonization and performance standards.
Learning objectives
- Define what “decarbonizing” a building project means, including explaining key terms such as “embodied carbon” and “net zero carbon.”
- Use key approaches in building design, material selection and specification to reduce the embodied carbon in the building envelope and structure. Also explain the available embodied carbon tools.
- Employ beneficial electrification to reduce buildings’ operational carbon dioxide emissions.
- Design to meet building performance standards as more local jurisdictions adopt these practices to meet community greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Presenters:
- Al LaPera, CxA, EMP, LEED AP , Senior Building Energy Consultant, Kimley-Horn Associates, Tampa, Florida
- Sarah Maston, PE, BCxP, LEED AP, Geographic Discipline Leader, Colliers Project Leaders, Hudson, Massachusetts
- Kevin Brown, PE, EMP, LEED AP, CEM, CMVP, HBDP, President, KBSquared, Atlanta
This course provides designers with information about the key issues of decarbonizing buildings, as well as specific steps to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building industry. It will include recent research on buildings and embodied carbon, focusing on increasing sustainability.
Many topics related to commissioning, AI advancements, building technology and energy management will be discussed at CxEnergy 2026, a conference and expo taking place April 21–24, 2026, in Chicago. Save the date and learn more at www.CxEnergy.com.
