# News You Can Use
**URL:** https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839
**Category:** News
**Created:** [January 28, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839 "2021-01-28T21:38:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/1 "2021-01-28T21:38:14Z")
_ **News You Can Use** _ is a timely digest of webinars, events, recent news, research, resources, and discussion from across the building industry focused on driving the radical reduction of building construction and materials.
Written and updated by @martintorres
# Recent News, Research, Resources, and Discussion
Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) [news](http://carbonleadershipforum.org/news-and-events/news/) and [media coverage](http://carbonleadershipforum.org/news-and-events/media-coverage/).
## Local Hubs
CLF now has regional hubs in Alberta, Atlanta, Austin, Australia, Austria, Bengalaru, Boston, Cairo, Calgary, Chicago, Denver/Boulder, Hong Kong, Iceland, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New York City, Omaha, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC, and Yellowstone. [Join or start](https://network.carbonleadershipforum.org/start-regional-hub) a regional hub now to help expand our network.
## [CLF MEP 2040 Challenge](https://carbonleadershipforum.org/mep2040/)
“All systems engineers shall advocate for and achieve net zero carbon in their projects: [#operationalcarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=operationalcarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6854865518671884288) by 2030 and [#embodiedcarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=embodiedcarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6854865518671884288) by 2040.”
Will your firm be on the leading edge of change and sign the Commitment?
- Establish a company plan to reduce carbon across [#MEP](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=mep&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6854865518671884288) systems, target zero by 2040.
- Request low-GWP refrigerant availability.
- Request Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
- Participate in a quarterly MEP 2040 Forum and discussion group.
## [The Pursuit and Promise of Equity in Architecture](https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/the-pursuit-and-promise-of-equity-in-architecture_o)
“R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, NOMAC, was privy to the challenges of being Black in architecture. His father was an architect, and Lewis himself grew up during the Civil Rights era. He heard no shortage of stories about obstacles—but also some about success. More than 40 years of practice later, he has seen excitement for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) emerge and fade every 10 years or so. The past 18 months have been no exception. The murder of [#georgefloyd](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=georgefloyd&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6890359659719479296) and extreme health inequities exposed by the pandemic have been coupled with ongoing civil unrest and calls to action by citizens and corporations. Lewis, a Los Angeles–based principal at [ZGF Architects](https://www.linkedin.com/company/zgf-architects/), says his life experience ‘has allowed me to meet this moment … with a lot of energy, hopefulness—and caution.’” [National Organization of Minority Architects]
([National Organization of Minority Architects | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-organization-of-minority-architects/)) [Anjulie Rao](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAALmpRwBdJm541zdGDNl1CwzwmkxGgwBN8U) [Donald I King, FAIA/NOMA](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAdBz9gBG0WXAiNIvc6v-OAI4roir9WtQjs)
## [Lifecycle GHG Impacts in Building Codes](https://newbuildings.org/resource/lifecycle-ghg-impacts-in-codes/), New Buildings Institute (NBI)
“NBI’s report presents language to incorporate [#embodiedcarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=embodiedcarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6900150375618367488) requirements in building codes. Researchers explain the need to address the embodied carbon of the highest emitting materials and the [#carbonemissions](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=carbonemissions&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6900150375618367488) benefits for jurisdictions. This report works to address the current lack of understanding of what a regulation on embodied carbon would look like in a U.S. base code. The code acknowledges the importance of building materials in the construction industry and aims to achieve practical reductions in climate impact by encouraging lower embodied carbon materials. Example code language can be adopted by jurisdictions starting with product EPD reporting, to target [#gwp](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=gwp&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6900150375618367488) limits for specific materials, and finally moving to a whole life carbon approach with whole building [#lifecycleassessment](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=lifecycleassessment&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6900150375618367488).”
Many thank for this valuable report to authors [Webly Bowles](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAD5P6IBDPxvEr5I89HpVYpU9T1Ox5tOD4g), Kim Chesiak, Jim Edelson, plus contributors [Bruce King](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAI0WLABJ7MKHYj2QmOj-VvGLTCY5BXRF_M), [Anish Tilak](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAXOAZ8BYTOtidY91YePdOGO-LOxeg6vU9w), [Meghan Lewis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAALraS8BsNAvoSFX2n4lHYy61Jryo07ojP4) (senior researcher at [Carbon Leadership Forum](https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-leadership-forum/)).
## [CarbonPositive: Keep Faith with Ukraine and…Keep Your Eye on the Prize](https://www.architectmagazine.com/carbon-positive/carbonpositive-keep-faith-with-ukraine-andkeep-your-eye-on-the-prize_o)
In the wake of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, global leaders should accelerate renewable energy technologies for both ecological and political stability, writes Architecture 2030 founder [Edward Mazria](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAB-E35QBA1p4DLiAT_KCi7WexP0ivNwVdWI) in [ARCHITECT Magazine](https://www.linkedin.com/company/architectmagazine/).
“Following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the world must face the harsh reality of [#climatechange](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=climatechange&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6907433294598688768), energy, and national security, in part due to Russia’s dominance over oil and gas exports. These intertwined crises, however, provide an unprecedented opportunity to reduce global consumption and accelerate [#renewablenergy](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=renewablenergy&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6907433294598688768) technologies for both ecological and political stability.”
## [Andrew Himes at TEDxSeattle: Change our buildings, save our planet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QRWf3Efm-k)
[Andrew Himes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAAGMwsBzi9gu8Y6_Jzed4-Mk0cCpnwle-8?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BQaoSoGp6Q5ydUzWNpd2Dug%3D%3D)’ 2021 [TEDxSeattle](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tedxseattle/) talk is an impassioned plea for buildings that help solve [#climatechange](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=climatechange&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) instead of contributing to it. With a sense of hope, Andrew asserts that working together to solve the climate crisis gives us the opportunity to “regain a sense of our shared humanity.” As Andrew explains, the [#materials](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=materials&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) used in [#construction](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=construction&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) , the movement of those materials, and the current massive boom in [#buildingconstruction](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=buildingconstruction&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) combine to make the buildings in which we live and work one of the leading causes of [#carbonemissions](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=carbonemissions&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728). The good news is that we already know how to create buildings that [#storecarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=storecarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) and help heal the planet. We can [#reuse](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=reuse&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728) and improve buildings instead of tearing down or using new materials, and we can all demand that the buildings in our community are built to protect us instead of harm us. [#embodiedcarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=embodiedcarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6893695619144265728)
\*3:52 How buildings contribute to climate change; \*8:50 How to design and build smarter, healthier buildings; \*10:50 living concrete
> **[Andrew Himes | TedX: Change Our Buildings, Save Our Planet](https://carbonleadershipforum.org/tedx-himes-climate-change/)**
>
> Andrew Himes’ TEDxSeattle talk discusses buildings as a tool to mitigate climate change and regain a sense of our shared humanity.
## [Ontario’s first benchmarking of self-reported embodied carbon results for large buildings](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryan-zizzo-55a31a12_ontario-part-3-self-reported-embodied-carbon-activity-6903098605662478336-9naZ)
Working with one design team on this project has already led them to make three material substitutions (lower carbon concrete, lower impact XPS insulation, and lower impact concrete sealer) leading to a 26% drop in embodied carbon and nearly 800 tonnes of CO2e avoided! Multiply those easy changes across the province and you get a sense of the scale of reductions that are easily achievable through embodied carbon management.
See more results here: [LinkedIn](https://lnkd.in/ejAqEsC3)
[#zerocarbon](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=zerocarbon&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6903098605662478336) [#climateaction](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=climateaction&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6903098605662478336)
## [DOE Announces $45 Million in Carbon Storage Technologies for Building Materials](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-45-million-carbon-storage-technologies-building-materials?emci=29129214-3a42-ec11-9820-c896653b26c8&emdi=f83a91ba-6b42-ec11-9820-c896653b26c8&ceid=8528051)
"With carbon-storing [#buildingmaterials](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=buildingmaterials&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6883479949613793280) often being scarce, expensive, and geographically limited, DOE is pioneering technologies that overcome these barriers to lower or eliminate emissions associated with their production. This will also increase the total amount of carbon stored in buildings to make them net [#carbonnegative](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=carbonnegative&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6883479949613793280) and contribute to President Biden’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
“Building materials and [#construction](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=construction&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6883479949613793280) techniques offer huge promise as carbon sinks,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “As it has done in so many other sectors of our economy, DOE’s ARPA-E is going to try to change the game yet again.”
[#GreenCement](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=greencement&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6883479949613793280)
[#DeployDeployDeploy](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=deploydeploydeploy&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6883479949613793280)
## [Deconstruct, Do Not Demolish: The Practice of Reuse of Materials in Architecture](https://www.archdaily.com/974056/deconstruct-do-not-demolish-the-practice-of-reuse-of-materials-in-architecture)
“Considering a context in which approximately [2/3 of the existing buildings area today will continue to exist by 2040](https://architecture2030.org/why-the-building-sector/?utm_medium=website&utm_source=archdaily.com), adding to the fact that the [reforms have shown to be the specialty of the architects of the future](https://www.archdaily.com/965900/will-refurbishment-be-the-architectural-specialization-of-the-future), the model of processing of constructed spaces should not be a matter to be ignored. It is necessary to review the form of acting in the constructive sector as a whole and convert the linear use of materials to a circular model: it is necessary to stop demolishing and begin to disassemble.”
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/21 "2021-06-03T14:18:27Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/22 "2021-06-03T14:18:35Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/23 "2021-09-01T20:39:15Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/24 "2021-09-01T20:39:32Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/25 "2021-11-02T02:39:47Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/26 "2021-11-02T02:40:02Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/27 "2022-02-27T04:50:17Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/28 "2022-02-27T04:50:32Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/29 "2022-03-14T21:51:57Z")
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### Author:  [@martintorres](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/martintorres)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/30 "2022-03-14T21:52:07Z")
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### Author:  [@andrewhimesclf](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/u/andrewhimesclf)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://community.carbonleadershipforum.org/t/news-you-can-use/2839/31 "2023-03-03T01:09:28Z")