CECC Embodied Carbon Challenge

While most architects are aware that buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, more are becoming aware that embodied carbon emissions in building construction account for 9% of global greenhouse gases, larger than the sum of all emissions from cars, motorcycles, and buses, AND, that over the life of the building the embodied carbon emissions will be more than the operational carbon emissions.

The Colorado Embodied Carbon Collaborative (CECC) challenges members of AIA Colorado to take an active role in helping to reduce the embodied carbon in the buildings you design. Having made 31% reductions in operational carbon since the introduction of the Architecture 2030 challenge in 2005, now is the time to martial your talents to reduce embodied carbon emissions.

THE CHALLENGE

1. Submit a minimum of 1 LCA using the attached LCA Report Form to CECC before December 31, 2025. No reports or information included on these reports will be made public.

CECC will use this data to add building use types and to improve our baselines, and will update this information periodically.

2. Meet the current CECC baselines for projects currently in design with the following reductions for the year of construction completion:

2026 -5%

2027 -10%

2028 -15%

2029 -20%

2030 -25%

CECC commits to helping you achieve these targets by providing you with resources and responses to requests for assistance along the way. To request help go here.

The firms that accept this challenge will be listed on our website at this location, and the number of LCAs submitted will be periodically updated.

STEPS

  1. To agree to this challenge, please use the attached form.

  2. To report LCA results use this LCA Report Form.

  3. Upload LCA results here.