This Designation will cover the compelling trends of codes, standards and voluntary programs that will drive interest and requirements for an accounting of both the operational and embodied carbon of the materials and processes used in building new homes. Participants will then learn the essentials of the latest carbon accounting tools and how they can be used to design homes and select materials and methods that optimize the carbon implications over the next 20 to 30 years for individual homes.

The primary goal of this course is to empower designers, builders and building industry supply partners, to make practical and affordable choices that reduce the overall carbon footprint of new home construction. Case studies will be reviewed for different climate zones and house styles to demonstrate the impact cost effective decisions can have. These lessons could also be applied to major renovation projects as well.

Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this Designation, participants will:

- Understand embodied and operational carbon and their significance in the decisions the construction industry makes in high performance homes;
- Learn to evaluate and decide which carbon accounting tool they want to use;
- Be familiar with the carbon footprint of common building materials as part of the decision matrix for choosing products that improve the health, safety, comfort, durability, energy efficiency and sustainability of homes;
- Develop short and long term goals to reduce carbon emissions in a cost effective manner.