Imagine you've built the perfect carbon-free home: zero-emission appliances, solar panels on the roof, and even the most sustainable materials you could find—beautiful reclaimed wood sourced from Oregon and granite countertops from Vermont. But here's the catch: even if your home runs on clean energy, it's not truly carbon-free. Why? Because of embodied carbon—the hidden emissions tied to the energy used to mine, manufacture, and transport those materials. From the granite countertops to the wood beams, every material has a carbon footprint long before it reaches your home.
In this episode of Fostering Our Earth 🌍, we dive into the world of embodied carbon—the emissions embedded in the materials and construction processes that shape our built environment. Joined by Luke Lombardi, an expert on embodied carbon, and co-host Shikha Srinivas, we explore why understanding and quantifying embodied carbon is critical to addressing climate change and how it reflects our consumptive and capitalistic cultures.
Luke breaks down the carbon-intensive processes behind materials like concrete and steel. We also discuss innovative solutions, from adaptive reuse and circular economies to cutting-edge materials like novel cement and green steel. Plus, we explore the growing policy landscape, including California’s groundbreaking CalGreen embodied carbon code, and reflect on the importance of community-driven solutions and historic preservation in creating a more sustainable future.
Resources:
Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF): A nonprofit organization working to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.
Buy Clean California: A policy initiative to reduce embodied carbon in public infrastructure projects.
All We Can Save x Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: A book featuring essays and poetry on climate solutions, mentioned by Luke.
Fire and Flood by Eugene Linden: A book discussing climate change and societal responses
California Straw Building Association (CASBA): An organization promoting straw bale and natural building techniques.
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