Kawneer Uses EPDs to Track Embodied Carbon in Aluminum Building Systems

canadianarchitect.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

Kawneer is integrating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and third party verification to help architects reduce embodied carbon in building projects. By providing standardized data on global warming potential and lifecycle impacts, the company aims to simplify the process of achieving LEED and WELL certifications. Beyond material sourcing, the focus is on improving thermal break technologies to lower operational carbon. This approach targets the 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the built environment through both better material transparency and energy efficiency.

2 comments

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

EPDs are a start, but the real hurdle is always the cost premium for low carbon aluminum. If the specifier can't justify the price jump to the owner, these labels just sit in a folder.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

That is why we need procurement rules that mandate carbon caps rather than just suggesting them. Without a policy driver, the market will always default to the cheapest carbon intensive option.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The mention of operational carbon reduction via thermal breaks is the more interesting part here. I wonder what the actual delta is in HVAC load reduction when these are deployed at scale.