CS-v5 MRc2: Reduce Embodied Carbon 1-8 points
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To track and reduce embodied carbon of major structural, enclosure, and hardscape materials from construction processes on new construction and renovation projects.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
20% reduction in embodied carbon.
Quantify the reduction of embodied carbon of major structure, enclosure, and hardscape materials. All ancillary structures, such as parking structures or outbuildings within the LEED project boundary, must be included in the calculations.
Both baseline projects and final results may use as-designed or as-constructed final quantities provided that quantities did not change more than 10% from design through construction. Results must be based on embodied carbon intensities of materials as constructed.
Points are awarded according to Table 2 for reductions in embodied carbon. Projects may earn up to 6 points total.
Table 2. Points for Embodied Carbon Reductions in Options 1 and 2 for Core and Shell Projects
| Option 1. Whole-building Life-cycle Assessment |
AND/ OR | Option 2. EPD analysis | ||
Path 1. Project-Average Approach |
OR | Path 2. Materials-type Approach | |||
Meet baseline or industry average | 2 | 1 | Two material categories for 1 point OR Four material categories for 2 points OR Six or more material categories for 3 points | ||
10% reduction in GWP | 3 | – | – | ||
20% reduction in GWP | 4 | 2 | – | ||
30% reduction in GWP | 5 | – | – | ||
40%+ reduction in GWP | 6 | 3 | – | ||
50%+ reduction in GWP | 7 | 4 | – | ||
NOTE: Meeting the baseline or industry average in Table 2 can achieve no more than 2 points.
Option 1. Whole-building Life-Cycle Assessment (1–7 points Core and Shell)
Conduct a cradle-to-grave (modules A–C, excluding operating energy and operating water-related energy) whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA) of the project’s structure, enclosure, and hardscape materials. Compare results to a baseline developed for the project and earn points according to Table 1.
Include results for the following impact categories in the WBLCA report:
- GWP (greenhouse gases), in kg CO2e
- Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, in kg CFC-11e
- Acidification of land and water sources, in moles H+ or kg SO2e
- Eutrophication, in kg nitrogen equivalent or kg phosphate equivalent
- Formation of tropospheric ozone, in kg NOx, kg O3e, or kg ethene
- Depletion of nonrenewable energy resources, in megajoules (MJ) using CML/depletion of fossil fuels in TRACI
AND/OR
Option 2. Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Analysis (1–4 points Core and Shell)
PATH 1. PROJECT-AVERAGE APPROACH (1–3 POINTS)
Earn points for reducing embodied carbon of the project based on EPD data for the procured materials compared to industry average values. Points are awarded according to Table 1 for the whole-project weighted average of applicable material categories. Industry averages for material categories are defined by the U.S. EPA, the most recent Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) Material Baselines report, or similarly robust and widely recognized publications, and industry-wide EPDs applicable to the project region.
Projects must track the GWP/unit of the materials installed and reconcile the design-phase embodied carbon intensities if materials or GWP values have changed. The reconciliation of material quantities is not necessary unless quantities have changed more than 10% from design through construction. Projects must use project-specific material quantities and identify product-specific or facility-specific Type III EPDs for covered materials to demonstrate reductions. Biogenic carbon may only be included for calculations that include C-stage emissions.
OR
PATH 2. MATERIALS-TYPE APPROACH
(1–3 POINTS CORE AND SHELL)
Earn points according to Table 1 by demonstrating that structural, enclosure, and hardscape materials for targeted material types have lower embodied carbon impacts than industry benchmarks as demonstrated by product-specific Type III EPDs. Track the GWP per unit of the materials installed, reconciling the design-phase embodied carbon intensities if materials or GWP values have changed. The reconciliation of material quantities is not necessary unless quantities have changed more than 10% from design through construction.
A weighted average approach can be used to calculate average embodied carbon intensity values within a product category.
Industry averages for embodied carbon intensity values are defined by the U.S. EPA, the most recent CLF Material Baselines report, or similarly robust and widely recognized publications and industry-wide EPDs applicable to the project region.
AND/OR
Option 3. Track Carbon Emissions from Construction Activities (1–2 points)
Earn points for tracking carbon emissions during construction activities according to Table 3.
Table 3. Points for Tracking Emissions During Construction Activities
Pathway | Type of Construction-phase Emissions to Track | LCA Modules | Points |
Path 1 | Track all fuel and utility usage for contractor jobsite operations | A5 | 1 |
Path 2 | Track all fuel and utility usage for contractor and subcontractor jobsite operations | A5 | 2 |
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To track and reduce embodied carbon of major structural, enclosure, and hardscape materials from construction processes on new construction and renovation projects.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
20% reduction in embodied carbon.
Quantify the reduction of embodied carbon of major structure, enclosure, and hardscape materials. All ancillary structures, such as parking structures or outbuildings within the LEED project boundary, must be included in the calculations.
Both baseline projects and final results may use as-designed or as-constructed final quantities provided that quantities did not change more than 10% from design through construction. Results must be based on embodied carbon intensities of materials as constructed.
Points are awarded according to Table 2 for reductions in embodied carbon. Projects may earn up to 6 points total.
Table 2. Points for Embodied Carbon Reductions in Options 1 and 2 for Core and Shell Projects
| Option 1. Whole-building Life-cycle Assessment |
AND/ OR | Option 2. EPD analysis | ||
Path 1. Project-Average Approach |
OR | Path 2. Materials-type Approach | |||
Meet baseline or industry average | 2 | 1 | Two material categories for 1 point OR Four material categories for 2 points OR Six or more material categories for 3 points | ||
10% reduction in GWP | 3 | – | – | ||
20% reduction in GWP | 4 | 2 | – | ||
30% reduction in GWP | 5 | – | – | ||
40%+ reduction in GWP | 6 | 3 | – | ||
50%+ reduction in GWP | 7 | 4 | – | ||
NOTE: Meeting the baseline or industry average in Table 2 can achieve no more than 2 points.
Option 1. Whole-building Life-Cycle Assessment (1–7 points Core and Shell)
Conduct a cradle-to-grave (modules A–C, excluding operating energy and operating water-related energy) whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA) of the project’s structure, enclosure, and hardscape materials. Compare results to a baseline developed for the project and earn points according to Table 1.
Include results for the following impact categories in the WBLCA report:
- GWP (greenhouse gases), in kg CO2e
- Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, in kg CFC-11e
- Acidification of land and water sources, in moles H+ or kg SO2e
- Eutrophication, in kg nitrogen equivalent or kg phosphate equivalent
- Formation of tropospheric ozone, in kg NOx, kg O3e, or kg ethene
- Depletion of nonrenewable energy resources, in megajoules (MJ) using CML/depletion of fossil fuels in TRACI
AND/OR
Option 2. Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Analysis (1–4 points Core and Shell)
PATH 1. PROJECT-AVERAGE APPROACH (1–3 POINTS)
Earn points for reducing embodied carbon of the project based on EPD data for the procured materials compared to industry average values. Points are awarded according to Table 1 for the whole-project weighted average of applicable material categories. Industry averages for material categories are defined by the U.S. EPA, the most recent Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) Material Baselines report, or similarly robust and widely recognized publications, and industry-wide EPDs applicable to the project region.
Projects must track the GWP/unit of the materials installed and reconcile the design-phase embodied carbon intensities if materials or GWP values have changed. The reconciliation of material quantities is not necessary unless quantities have changed more than 10% from design through construction. Projects must use project-specific material quantities and identify product-specific or facility-specific Type III EPDs for covered materials to demonstrate reductions. Biogenic carbon may only be included for calculations that include C-stage emissions.
OR
PATH 2. MATERIALS-TYPE APPROACH
(1–3 POINTS CORE AND SHELL)
Earn points according to Table 1 by demonstrating that structural, enclosure, and hardscape materials for targeted material types have lower embodied carbon impacts than industry benchmarks as demonstrated by product-specific Type III EPDs. Track the GWP per unit of the materials installed, reconciling the design-phase embodied carbon intensities if materials or GWP values have changed. The reconciliation of material quantities is not necessary unless quantities have changed more than 10% from design through construction.
A weighted average approach can be used to calculate average embodied carbon intensity values within a product category.
Industry averages for embodied carbon intensity values are defined by the U.S. EPA, the most recent CLF Material Baselines report, or similarly robust and widely recognized publications and industry-wide EPDs applicable to the project region.
AND/OR
Option 3. Track Carbon Emissions from Construction Activities (1–2 points)
Earn points for tracking carbon emissions during construction activities according to Table 3.
Table 3. Points for Tracking Emissions During Construction Activities
Pathway | Type of Construction-phase Emissions to Track | LCA Modules | Points |
Path 1 | Track all fuel and utility usage for contractor jobsite operations | A5 | 1 |
Path 2 | Track all fuel and utility usage for contractor and subcontractor jobsite operations | A5 | 2 |
See all forum discussions about this credit »