earth. This can vary in form, from cutting down forests and vast monoculture crops to deep pit mines and quarries. These processes impact water supplies, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, ecosystem functions, and produce extreme amounts of carbon emissions. Improving carbon impacts in this phase can look like: • Investigating where materials are coming from and how they are extracted from the earth; • Choosing sources that implement friendlier tactics in extracting materials; or • Selecting materials in your design that have less harsh procurement impacts on the environment or require fewer steps in extraction. Transportation Gone are the days when a building is constructed primarily of materials sourced nearby – lumber may come from Austria, steel perhaps from China and glass from opposite ends of the United States. Shipping materials across the world is no small deal. Transportation influences the life cycle of a building at multiple stages, such as transporting a raw material to be refined, moving that material to be manufactured or assembled into a workable product, moving it to a site, and once the material is decommissioned, relocating it to a landfill or recycling plant. As architects designing for environmental health, we must consider sourcing and looking for alternatives that offer a comparable product but at a much closer proximity. For example, CRSA’s team was recently tasked with finding a stacking glass wall system for a project. Some of the most popular options come from Europe, meaning their carbon impact is much larger than something sourced in the United States. In addition to landing on an option closer to home, our team worked to have the glass sourced closer and installed on-site. Improving carbon impacts in this phase can look like: • Selecting materials or products that are as local as possible; • Seeking out components of a product that can be assembled or sourced locally; • Comparing transportation methods and looking for the “greener” option; • Dialing in amounts to ensure deliveries are as efficient as possible; or • Finding locations to dispose of or recycle materials that are closer to home. Manufacturing & Refining Manufacturing, refining, and assembling raw materials into usable items such as steel, glass, and lumber contributes to around 30% of all global CO2 emissions. However, the good news is that many large and small manufacturers are making great strides to become more efficient and environmentally conscious. These important changes include: • Addressing sustainability in a coordinated, integrated, and formal manner rather than in an ad hoc, unconnected, and informal manner; • Focusing on increased competitiveness and revenues rather than primarily focusing on cost-cutting, risk reduction, and improved efficiency; • Using innovation, scenario planning, and strategic analysis to go beyond compliance; • Integrating sustainability across business functions; • Focusing more on the long term; or • Working collaboratively with external stakeholders. As members of the AEC community, we are responsible for investigating these manufacturers. Cost and product quality are often the two driving factors in making these decisions, yet, when possible, one should consider the points above to make a more well-rounded and conscious decision. Construction & Installation Emissions from vehicles such as trucks, welding equipment, cranes and the energy needed to power construction all leave their mark, contributing about 10-20% to overall emissions. Waste in materials, energy, and byproducts of construction all factor in, as well as the direct impact construction has on surrounding natural ecosystems. The science and techniques behind these processes are in flux, becoming more sustainable year after year, including: • Limiting fuel usage by reducing vehicle idling, minimizing haul distances, using green or hybrid fuel sources; • Properly disposing of construction waste and byproducts; • Utilizing reusable technology; • Expediting construction time; or • Minimizing installation waste. 31
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