Author/Contributor: Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, RJC Engineering
Alberta Context: There are 3 case studies showcased from the Alberta Market: NW Health Campus, Suburban Office, Quarry Crossing
Summary:
The CISC recently collaborated with RJC Engineers to develop an interesting case study featuring five steel structures. Each was evaluated against various embodied carbon targets, offering valuable insights for the industry. Also, there were a few buildings specifically from Alberta in this study.
“This study found that low-rise steel buildings (i.e., 1-6 storeys) should be expected to satisfy current municipal embodied carbon limits in Canada if a reasonable effort is made to source low-carbon materials. The average embodied carbon intensity was around 301 kgCO2e/m2 for four projects that were constructed in Canada.” – p.1, CISC Low-Rise Commercial Buildings – Embodied Carbon Study
The study concludes that low-rise steel buildings can successfully satisfy current Canadian embodied carbon targets if project teams make a concerted effort to source low-carbon materials. Upfront embodied carbon (from the manufacturing and construction phases) accounts for roughly 90% of a building’s total Global Warming Potential (GWP), with structural systems contributing around 72% of the total. By selecting best-in-class, low-carbon steel, projects achieved an estimated 15% to 17% reduction in total embodied carbon.
Read the full report here.
