Building A Low Carbon Future – Tackling Embodied Carbon in the Selection of Building Materials

By any measure, the built environment represents a significant part of the climate change problem. Given that global construction and its associated materials are responsible for more than 55% of global carbon emissions, it will also need to be a major part of the solution.

According to the World Green Building Council, if the sector is to play its part and help limit global warming to 1.5°C, by 2030 all new buildings, infrastructure and renovations will need to be completed with at least 40% less embodied carbon compared to business as usual; and by 2050 they will need to be completed with net-zero embodied carbon.

Titled ‘Building a Low Carbon Future – Tackling Embodied Carbon in the selection of building materials’, this CPD Live session is intended to explain how these targets can be achieved through specification. Beginning by defining the terms ‘Operational Carbon’ and ‘Embodied Carbon’, our speakers outline the role architects and designers can play in designing for net zero.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Identify the potential impacts of climate change, the targets in place to limit its damage, and degree to which the building sector is part of the problem
• Define the terms ‘operational carbon’ and ‘embodied carbon’ as they apply to the built environment and explain the significance of embodied carbon over the lifecycle of a building
• Outline how carbon offsetting works and explain the difference between carbon neutral, carbon negative, and net zero.
• Identify ways for designers to design for net-zero by 2050

Speakers

Aidan Hill – Group Technical & Sustainability Manager, Autex Acoustics

Aidan Hill has been in the environmental sector for over 15 years and joined Autex Acoustics in 2017. Aidan has worked with government agencies and organisations to understand their impacts and how to work towards becoming low carbon. In his current role, he drives change to reduce Autex’s impact on the environment and to ensure its global operations and acoustics products are as sustainable as possible.

Connor McCauley – Head of Sustainability (Australia & New Zealand), JLL

Connor joined JLL in August 2015 in their London office before moving back to Sydney in 2021 and is responsible for growing JLL’s sustainability services throughout their operations in Australasia. Prior to his role at JLL, Connor worked as a Sustainability Manager with Lendlease in their European Investment Management business and the GPT Group in Sydney. During his time in the UK, Connor advised some of the largest global Asset Managers on Net Zero, ESG strategy and reporting.

Clare Gallagher – National Sustainability Manager at Built

Clare Gallagher joined Built in 2016 and is passionate about healthier buildings that use fewer resources and drive positive social and environmental outcomes. Clare works with clients, integrating their values to inspire change and action on projects and delivering leading sustainability results. With experience in Green Star and NABERS, Clare has also been recognised by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) with a Leadership Recognition Award.