Choosing building materials wisely is critical for companies looking to build net-zero carbon offices, according to researchers at Canada’s Ryerson University.
In 2020, the extraction, transport, and manufacturing of building sector materials accounted for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers say. “If buildings are to make meaningful contributions to keeping global temperature rise to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, limiting emissions from building materials is crucial,” they say.
In recent years, designers and contractors have made great strides in energy efficiency, on-site heating and cooling, waste reduction, and recycling. Building materials present a newer opportunity for office projects to reduce their carbon footprint.
Construction of Walmart’s new home office in Bentonville, Ark., expected to be completed by 2025, offers an example of what can be accomplished using bio-based building materials. The retail giant’s corporate campus is the largest underway in the U.S. It will use mass timber including large engineered structural wooden panels.
In order to gain the most environmental benefit, materials must be sourced from sustainable supply chains. Building office towers with timber can be counterproductive if large amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted during logging, transport, and manufacture of wood products.
Related Stories
| Dec 29, 2011
OSHA enforcing new fall hazard standards
OSHA is enforcing its new fall protection standards, as evidenced by a recent crackdown in New York.
| Dec 29, 2011
NRCA offers program on new fall-protection requirements
The National Roofing Contractors Association's (NRCA's) program "Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z" will be held Feb. 21 during the organization's 125th Annual Convention.
| Dec 29, 2011
Decision not to fireproof the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub criticized
Some criticized the decision, reasoning that the structure could be a terrorist target.
| Dec 29, 2011
Seismic safety in question at thousands of California public schools
California regulators responsible for enforcing earthquake safety laws have failed to certify more than 16,000 construction projects in California public schools, increasing the risk that some projects may be unsafe, according to a state audit report.
| Dec 29, 2011
GreenWizard offers cloud-based LEED credit management, assessment
The company recently began offering companies the ability to run assessments for design credits, in addition to traditional product-specific LEED credits.
| Dec 22, 2011
Federal home weatherization program has impacted 6.8 million homes
More than 6.8 million homes have been weatherized using federal, state, utility, and other funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
| Dec 22, 2011
Group developing BIM data standards
A collaboration among Georgia Tech’s Digital Building Lab, the Precast Concrete Institute, the American Concrete Institute, and the American Institute of Steel Construction aims to develop global standards for transportation of three-dimensional digital models among fabricator, architecture, engineering, and construction groups.
| Dec 22, 2011
New green code spells out thermal requirement for roof retrofits
The 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) includes a straightforward approach to minimum thermal requirements for roof and wall systems.
| Dec 22, 2011
AGC’s safety conference Jan. 11-13 in San Antonio
The Associated General Contractors of America’s national meeting for safety and health professionals will take place Jan. 11-13, 2012 in San Antonio, TX.
| Dec 22, 2011
Proposed New York City zoning revamp encourages rooftop solar and wind energy
New zoning regulation proposals to make it easier for building owners in New York City to make their structures more sustainable have entered the public approval process.
