A critical element in the decarbonization of homes is the embodied carbon produced in the manufacture and shipping of the building materials used in the construction of homes. Many times the embodied carbon in the home’s building products can equal the carbon produced by the energy consumed in the operation of the home. The current RESNET Carbon Index only covers the carbon produced in energy used in a home. There are many challenges to rating the embodied carbon in a home ranging from a lack of a consensus on a baseline on the carbon content of building materials to questions of the market demand for such ratings. Also uncertain is whether embodied carbon should be a stand-alone standard, part of the RESNET Carbon Index, or a new rating index that combines embodied carbon as well as operating carbon production. To begin the process of exploring these issues, the RESNET Board of Directors has formally authorized the creation of an effort to explore the development of a residential embodied carbon standard. The first step in this process is the recruitment of an advisory committee that will review the development of the standard, provide suggestions on how to proceed, and vet drafts of the guidelines. The RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee will provide input to the exploration of developing an embodied carbon calculation standard and will vet the drafts of subject matter experts before being submitted to the RESNET Board of Directors. The RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee will be chaired by Chris Magwood, Manager, Carbon-Free Buildings, RMI. Members of the Advisory Committee are: Betsy Ames, Northeast Home Energy Rating System Alliance Jacob Atalla, KB Home Webly Bowles, New Buildings Institute Matthew Brown, APA-The Engineered Wood Association Michael Browne, Advanced Building Analysis, LLC Andy Buccino, Stephens and Company Karla Butterfield, Steven Winter Associates Nate Connors, Mass Save Residential New Construction Connor Dillon, BSI Bennett Doherty, Efficiency Vermont Lia Douillet, Center for Ecotechnology Sean Elliott, EcoInnovation Philip Fairey, Florida Solar Energy Center Joe Ferringo, ARCXIS Asa Foss, Environmental Protection Agency David Goldstein, Natural Resources Defense Council Eric Holt, University of Denver Scott Horowitz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Tracy Huynh, RMI Josh Jacobs, WAP Sustainability Consulting Mark Johnson, International Code Council Nathan Kahre, EnergyLogic Vladimir Kochkin, National Association of Home Builders Alexis Minniti, Building Knowledge Canada Gene Myers, Thrive Home Builders William Ranson, DuPont Ari Rapport, IBACOS Alexander Rees, U.S. Department of Energy Curt Rich, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association Sam Ruben, Mighty Buildings Nicholas Semon, Re:Vision Architecture Rachel Stern, Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association George Sullivan, Net Zero Analysis & Design Corp. Imram Syed, Source Advisors Yatharth Vaishnani, Ekotrope Brett Welch, Meritage Homes Stacey Williams Laura Woodford, Applegate Greenfiber Matt Woundy, NMR Group, Inc.
