Date Posted: 05.03.2021
The Mithun R+D project Build Carbon Neutral v2.0 has received a research grant from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Initiative. The initiative supports AIA’s commitment to climate action by awarding grants for applied research projects that advance sustainable architectural design and practice. This year’s four grant recipients were selected by a seven-member jury comprised of members from the AIA College of Fellows and AIA Board Knowledge Committee.
Build Carbon Neutral v2.0 will expand on the existing, open-access buildcarbonnuetral.org carbon calculator used online since 2007. It will allow for more detailed conversations and better understanding of the elements that contribute most to the embodied carbon of a building. One of the steps in reducing carbon emissions associated with construction is understanding what the impacts may be. An easy, early assessment of those impacts will provide design teams with a baseline condition for further, more detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and the opportunity to educate clients as to those impacts based on specific elements of design, which can be varied. This project intends to expand the calculator inputs to allow for estimates for the full building. The project also expands the site and landscape component of the tool to include the calculation of above-ground biomass and site materials.
Principal investigators include Mithun’s Sean Cryan, Claire McConnell, Chuck McDowell and Chi Aoyama, with collaboration by Katie Stege.
See the AIA press release for more information about this year’s grant awards. Information about previous Upjohn-funded research projects and articles is also available.
