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Biobased Building Materials: the Hype, the Hope, the … Hemp? Video, 58 minutes


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In simpler times, our buildings were made primarily from local, natural substances like stone, wood, straw, and clay.

But lifestyles have changed dramatically since these were the dominant materials used. Now, although many communities are still following the “old ways,” in the richest parts of the globe, ultra-processed materials make up most of the built environment.

And we all suffer: our buildings and the materials that go into them are threatening our health, our natural resources, our climate, and our very species.

Can reverting to renewable, biobased materials help? Or might scaling up their use lead to new problems?

Let us help you cut through the hype! Our panelists cover:

  • The true carbon footprint of renewable materials

  • Why biobased materials fell out of favor

  • What it will take to bring them back 

  • How to spot greenwashing

  • What you can do to support innovation

Bonus: claim your GBCI & AIA|HSW credits

After you take this course, you should be able to:

  1. Assess the sustainability of biobased building materials, including their potential impacts, both positive and negative, on ecosystems and human health.

  2. Consider the environmental and performance tradeoffs—such as land-use conflicts, industrial agricultural practices, and the need for petroleum-based preservatives—that can be associated with certain biobased materials. 

  3. Appreciate the complexities of industry claims about “carbon storage” and “net-negative” embodied carbon.

  4. Understand and work to mitigate the market dynamics that deter widespread adoption of natural materials in large commercial, institutional, and residential building projects.

Presenters

David is co-chair of the AIA 2030 Commitment Working Group and represents AIA on the Embodied Carbon Harmonization and Optimization (ECHO) Project, a coalition to accelerate and strategize how to rapidly reduce embodied carbon in the built environment. He is a founding member of and served ten years as director of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA), and has taught and lectured on the subject of sustainable design for more than 25 years. David and his wife, Anni Tilt, AIA, are principals of Arkin Tilt Architects—an award-winning Northern California firm specializing in energy- and resource-efficient design.

 

Brent excels at deep, unbiased, and nuanced technical research on the health and environmental impacts of green building products and materials. He assesses products and materials comprehensively, espousing the view that real-world performance, constructability, and affordability are just as critical to successful adoption as environmental and social considerations. His research, writing, and training focus on the full spectrum of green attributes, including material health, embodied carbon, product standards and certifications, durability, and resilience. Brent also serves as products editor at BuildingGreen, writing or editing all the company’s product-related publications. In this role, he also oversees BuildingGreen’s annual award program—the Top 10 Green Building Products—and presents his findings yearly in a popular webinar.

Jacob Deva Racusin is Co-Founder and  Director of Building Science and Sustainability with New Frameworks, Vermont-based worker-owned cooperative. As a consultant, designer, and educator, Jacob merges his passions for ecological stewardship, relationship to place, and social justice. Jacob is Lead Embodied Carbon Researcher and BEAM Trainer and Co-Developer with Builders For Climate Action. Jacob has authored two books and numerous articles, and instructs and consults on topics of building science and climate impact. As an active member of the Carbon Leadership Forum - Northeast Hub and Steering Committee member of the Bio-Based Materials Collective, Jacob is engaged in code and policy development, professional training, and other initiatives supporting the transition to a more just industry.

Katie Poss supports Building Transparency, nonprofit developer of the EC3 tool, with its core mission of providing the open-access data and tools necessary to enable broad and swift action across the building industry in addressing embodied carbon's role in climate change. Prior to joining Building Transparency, Katie served as director of sustainability initiatives at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and as sustainability program manager at Turner Construction for its data center portfolio. She is a board member of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA) and serves on the Embodied Carbon Technical Advisory Group for New York State. 

Also on BuildingGreen

Wood: Is It Still Good? Part Two: Moving from Carbon to Climate

Wood: Is It Still Good? Part One: Embodied Carbon