Carbon Free Buildings Initiative
The Growth in the use of the word “must’ has become notable as a belief in something that is certain Examples in use are we must:
- Construct only zero-carbon buildings
- Retrofit 5% of buildings annually
- Ensure electric and efficient appliances
Note the increased use of the Future Perfect Tense in response to “must.” Examples are by 2030 we will:
- Retrofit large numbers of existing buildings to be all-electric, grid-interactive, and efficient.
- Create building industry platforms to support technology dissemination, supply chain development, and business-led interventions.
- Raise public awareness of health and climate costs of fossil fuels in buildings.
- Design and advocate for carbon-free building policies in 20 key US states representing 70% of direct gas use.
Goals Leading to Design and Construction Choices
Objective: Percent reduction embodied carbon in building materials
The following resources offered by RMI address specific performance specification, use of sensors on time, money, material, circularity in recycling, sequestration, and technology
Low-Cost, High-Value Opportunities to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Buildings
Giving America’s Infrastructure a Clean Start
Reducing Embodied Carbon in Buildings
Policies Leading to Projects and Priorities
The US Federal Government Takes the Lead on Low Embodied Carbon Buildings
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) approved a series of procurement principles to shift to low embodied carbon building materials and approaches.
Colorado Passes Embodied Carbon Legislation
The bill requires the office of the state architect and the department of transportation to establish policies that include the maximum acceptable global warming potential for specific categories of construction materials.