CA23 - The concrete diet
Solving low-carbon concrete involves all of us, here's how.
HI!
Before we get started I just wanted to say a quick hi to all our new subscribers this week. The Carbon Architect is now read by over 900 architects which is incredible. Thanks for joining us on our journey to understand and lower the carbon intensity of our projects.
THE TOPIC - LOW CARBON CONCRETE
Concrete is a huge problem for the environment. I know that and you know that, so let’s not belabor the point. The great thing about knowing the problem is there are lots of brilliant people who are working on it. Today’s issue is about sharing a piece of that knowledge in hopes of helping you design structures with low-embodied carbon concrete. If you want to read a past issue of CA on this topic you can check out The Biggest Enemy.
A few weeks ago, Lafarge, ZGF Architects, Fast + Epp, and EllisDon released a simple step-by-step guide to low-carbon concrete. It is organized by project phases it’s simple to understand. Check out the full document here.
If that’s too much reading for you (even though it is only 20 pages) I also created an even simpler summary of the 7 steps to low-carbon concrete - and who needs a seat at the table. Read the full LinkedIn post here.
Now let’s dig into this a little further.
WHY IT MATTERS
This pragmatic guide matters for three primary reasons:
Shows the importance of collaboration - at all levels
Organizes steps by project phase
It’s simple and straightforward
Let’s dig a little deeper:
Shows the importance of collaboration - at all levels
In the design world we often focus on those around us at the “design” stage of projects. Engineers, Interior Designers, and consultants. We often don’t work much with those who actually build buildings. Contractors, suppliers, manufacturers. That is one of the things that is highlighted in this document. To achieve low-carbon concrete designers need to include two key parties. General contractors & concrete suppliers.
Organizes steps by project phase
When you are learning something new the most difficult thing can be what steps to take and WHEN to take them. This document does a great job of breaking that down and explaining who should be in the conversation and at what stage things need to take place.
It’s simple and straightforward
Many articles and reports are complicated and hard to implement into your workflow. This guide is simple and implementable into your workflow. In-fact it’s something that I would recommend sending on to your structural engineer because they are such a key piece of decarbonizing concrete.
CARBON CURIOSITIES
If you want more reading and learning this week check out some of these other great stories, articles, and guides from around the web.
Low-Carbon Concrete Roadmap for the UK | For a deeper dive on low-carbon concrete
SugarCrete | An innovative material made from sugarcane bi-products
BC Low Carbon Sourcing Guide | CLF recently updated their low-carbon sourcing guide
1 PERSON TO FOLLOW
Lisa Conway is one of the carbon warriors who is working on decarbonizing materials. She recently became the VP of Global Sustainability at Interface. Intern, Interface was recently recognized as one of TIME top 100 influential companies of 2022. She is definitely someone you want to be following.
REVIEWS
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