Delicate Balance: Weighing Embodied vs. Operational Carbon in High-Performance Design
Danielle Brocker
Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Danielle Brocker
Proposer First Name
Carmel
Proposer Email
cpratt@brightpower.com
Proposer Last Name
Pratt
Proposer Phone
(718) 249-9429
Proposer Job Title
Director of New Construction
Proposer Additional Info
Carmel is on the Board of Directors for New York Passive House and has presented on embodied carbon in the past.
Proposed Session Description
Embodied Carbon (EC) will account for nearly half the total global carbon emissions from the new construction of buildings in the next 30 years. The urgency with which industry professionals, real estate developers, product manufacturers, and property owners must work together to reduce embodied carbon in their projects and product selections is mounting. Building on last year’s “Out of [Site], in the Air: Embodied Carbon & Material Selection” session, participants will see how this panel of professionals, including an architect, developer, and consultant, have put their principles into action. Through real project examples, attendees will learn how setting goals to understand better and raise awareness around EC works in practice, how competing priorities between embodied and operational carbon (OC) are being addressed in real projects through case studies, and what additional challenges we must overcome to balance the needs of lowering all carbon emissions associated with high-performance buildings.
Why is this session important?
As design professionals, we now know embodied carbon is an issue that must be addressed, but getting developers and real estate owners to pay attention to another facet of sustainability can be challenging, especially because embodied carbon is not a factor in funding development projects. Last year’s session “Out of [Site], in the Air: Embodied Carbon & Material Selection” set the stage for this important conversation, and this year’s session will build on the principles outlined in 2020’s session by showing how embodied carbon is being addressed through real examples; highlighting the persisting challenges of balancing sometimes competing carbon reduction goals by providing tools and policy frameworks to tackle this dire issue collaboratively.
Comments
Yes -- one case study that
Yes -- one case study that they're turning into a story. Talking through the decision process and how embodied carbon plays into it. Discussing refrigerant use and mechanical systems (VRFs and similar), wood sourcing (forestry practices), demolition and how to ensure materials are reused or disposed of properly, BOE project has EC3 calculations -- getting into resources and certifications that focus on embodied carbon. A lot of different ways to go and topics to touch on, but using 1 project as a case study - to tell the story of how they're considering and incorporating EC into design/build practices
ROUND 2 discussion - Follow
ROUND 2 discussion - Follow-up to session that happened last year. Same speakers. Building of Excellence project – now have energy modeling. Case study of their experience with embodied carbon calculating. Very NYC specific re: embodied carbon focus (refrigerant use, mechanical systems); also wood-sourcing, forestry practices. Demolition, disposal. Lots of ways to focus this presentation. Nick says: Guide speakers to tell their story. Strong yes. // Ask to incorporate healthy materials into content? Recommending 90 minutes for this reason.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Carmel and Sara are both female leaders in the industry. Providing young female-identifying sustainability professionals with leaders and mentors they can exemplify is critical in getting more women in the field. Both continue to mentor young women in the industry and this would be a great opportunity for more young female professionals to meet a mentor.
Learning Objectives
Learn how setting goals to better understand and raise awareness around EC works in practice through case studies.
Identify the "hot spots,” the most carbon-intensive material components of a building in real project examples.
Recognize and confront the challenges faced in balancing both EC and OC reductions.
Communicate the importance of reducing EC through data and the significant impact of policy changes focused on carbon emissions.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
An “intro” course of this was presented at the 2020 BuildingEnergy NYC event, but this will go further into more detail than that session.
NYC 2021 Areas of Focus
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Debate between opposing viewpoints
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2021
Comments about your speaker roster
Sara and Carmel both have presented on embodied carbon together before and collaborate regularly in their roles at Bright Power and MAP. This rapport will provide for a more dynamic and engaging experience, pulling attendees into the conversation. Sara also served as a Co-Chair for this conference in past years and is familiar with the content creation process.
We are still sourcing additional panelists and welcome NESEA's recommendations. Panelists from last year's embodied carbon session could be good additions, however we have not spoken to them about the proposal: David Salamon, Re:Vision Architecture; Nick Shaw, 475 High Performance Building Supply; John Loercher, Northeast Projects.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
This session is geared to be a follow up to the 2020 conference, diving deeper into details and knowledge. If NESEA would prefer we gear this for those without prior knowledge, we would spend time setting the stage of the concept (what EC is and how it is identified) before jumping into the real-life examples and details.
Reviewer 1
Royan, Monisha
Reviewer 2
Shaw, Nick
Curator
Shaw, Nick
Proposal #
159
Session #
210
Committee Decision
Accepted
Round 1 - YES
Round 1 - YESGood conversation, building on previous content for a deeper dive. Seems to be operation and material focuses - good collaboration and exploring the relationships between the sides of carbon. Probably needs more push into collaboration in the design and construction process. It would be nice to know if that will be a focus.Female speakers.