Description
Embodied carbon represents the GHG emissions from the life cycle of materials used to create something. For buildings, this includes the extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, and disposal of building materials. Many industrial manufacturers of building materials have fewer GHG reduction requirements under the CCA as Energy-Intensive Trade Exposed industries. Embodied carbon regulations through building codes are an approach to incentivize these manufacturers to develop low-carbon products. The County will work to reduce embodied carbon of construction materials for commercial and large multifamily buildings through building code amendments and supporting applicable state codes. King County will assess potential unintended consequences for affordable housing and homeownership projects, to explore how best to consider this segment of the market, including, but not limited to, considering pursuit of additional revenue or rebates to offset new costs for housing providers. The program will also support private industry in developing and publishing Environmental Product Declarations and set Global Warming Potential limits in public and private construction projects. Program focus materials include cement, concrete, and steel, and possibly wood, gypsum board, and other products as identified through program research. King County has funding for an Embodied Carbon Program Manager to support code development, though additional resources are needed to implement building code updates and construction enforcement in unincorporated King County.