The SE 2050 Commitment for structural engineers addresses embodied carbon in building materials, and the Architecture 2030 Commitment addresses both operational and embodied carbon.  Discipline coordination is needed to fulfill these commitment goals on projects. 

During this presentation, two members of the Sustainable Design Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of North Carolina – Senior Structural Engineer, Bethany Whitehurst, P.E., S.E., of Clark Nexsen, A JMT Company and Design Engineer, Alyssa Libby, E.I. of Bennett & Pless – will discuss the differences between operational and embodied carbon and how embodied carbon is calculated for materials. 

This session will address how architects and structural engineers can coordinate to reduce both operational and embodied carbon to meet the carbon reduction goals through identifying embodied carbon hot spots, incorporating thermal breaks at exterior structural elements, performing carbon intensity bay studies, and reusing structure.  The presentation will also address marketing embodied carbon reduction to clients and the consideration of sustainability in building design awards.