Event Description

Unlike operational carbon emissions, which can be reduced over time with building energy efficiency renovations and renewable energy, embodied carbon emissions from building materials have irreversibly entered the atmosphere as soon as a building is built. That means the upfront building material choices are critically impactful. And as new construction operations become more efficient, embodied carbon impacts become even more significant. On current trajectories, Architecture 2030 estimates embodied carbon will be responsible for almost half of total new construction emissions between 2020 and 2050.

MassCEC has engaged Built Environment Plus (BE+) to conduct an Embodied Carbon Challenge for actual new construction and major renovation projects in process or built in Massachusetts.

The Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge Has Two Goals

Goal 1:

Assist design teams in gaining expertise to advise clients about options for reducing embodied carbon including using tools to estimate embodied carbon impacts

Training and Resources

BE+ will host a series of events and trainings including an overview of embodied carbon tools for different design phases, tips and tricks for Tally LCA and One Click LCA, case studies and more.

BE+ has licenses to Tally LCA and One Click LCA available for the duration of the Challenge for participants. For access click Express Interest

 

Goal 2:

Demonstrate low-cost, high impact changes that significantly reduce embodied carbon

Competition

Deadline March 31, 2024
Actual/real projects in MA in Construction Documents or recently built

New construction or substantial renovation of any type
20,000+ sq. ft.

Prizes categories include:
• $50,000 Grand Prize Substantial Rehabilitation
• $50,000 Grand Prize New Construction
• 9 Runner-up prizes of $30,000
• $10,000 People’s Choice Award

At least 5 prizes will be reserved for Lead Applicants who have not performed Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) previously.

Projects Requirements

In order for projects to be eligible for prizes projects must meet the following requirements:

• Be located In Massachusetts.
• Have over 20,000 square feet of floor area.
• Be an actual / real project that will be constructed.
• Projects in Design: Have at least started construction documentation phase of design by March 31, 2024.
• Projects Completed: Have reached substantial construction completion after June 1, 2023.
• Can be new construction or major renovation.
• Must be a whole building.
• There are no limits on project type or construction type.
• A project can only be submitted once.
• Any given project cannot receive more than one award with the exception of the People’s Choice category.

Schedule

March 28, 2023: Competition Announced, Guidelines Released, Notice of Interest Form Open
Starting April 2023: Tally and One Click LCA Licenses Available
May 2023 – Oct. 2023: Embodied Carbon Events and Trainings hosted by BE+
March 31, 2024: Challenge Submissions Due
April 2024: People’s Choice Voting
May 2024: Awards Announcement and Celebration Event
Summer 2024: Lessons Learned Case Study Presentations

*This timeline is subject to change at BE+’s discretion.