Course Overview
This presentation will describe the role of the wood industry in mitigating the impacts the built environment has on climate change. Learn about the importance of embodied carbon in construction and how wood has the ability to influence positive change in the building sector’s decarbonization efforts.
This session will highlight current research programs such as National Research Council Canada’s initiative on Low-carbon assets through life cycle assessment (LCA2) and emerging initiatives such as embodied carbon provisions in municipal and national building standards and codes.
Learning Objectives
These objectives are aligned with key concepts in sustainability, building regulations, and lifecycle assessments within the building sector.
- Understanding Embodied Carbon:
Objective: To learn what embodied carbon is, how it is relevant to building materials, and its implications for sustainability in construction.
Relevance: Knowing the sources of embodied carbon helps in making informed decisions about material selection to reduce environmental impact. - Role of Wood in Sustainable Construction:
Objective: To understand the environmental benefits of using wood in construction, including its properties as a low-carbon material.
Relevance: Grasping why wood is considered a sustainable choice can influence policies, building practices, and material selection, supporting climate change mitigation efforts. - Biogenic Carbon Concept:
Objective: To comprehend what biogenic carbon is, how it is stored in wood, and the significance of using wood to capture and store carbon.
Relevance: Learning about biogenic carbon can lead to greater appreciation of sustainable forestry and its role in carbon sequestration, promoting the use of renewable resources. - Regulatory Expectations and Future Trends in Building Materials:
Objective: To gain insight into future regulatory changes regarding building materials, specifically the focus on reducing embodied carbon.
Relevance: Understanding these regulatory trends prepares professionals to comply with upcoming standards and encourages the adoption of sustainable practices in construction.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Natasha Jeremic, MASc, PEng, LEED GA
Manager Codes and Standards – Sustainability
Canadian Wood Council
Natasha Jeremic is Manager of Sustainability in the Codes and Standards group at the Canadian Wood Council. She is engaged in strategic building code and standards initiatives related to sustainability, circularity, and durability. Natasha leverages her experience in structural design, building performance, and whole life carbon accounting to demonstrate that wood products are a viable solution for a sustainable and low-carbon built environment.