Course Catalog Carbon Emissions in Buildings

Part 1: Operational Carbon


A key measurement category for understanding and mitigating a building’s environmental impact is operational carbon—emissions generated from the energy used to heat, cool, light, and power buildings during their use phase.

This session will explore the current state of the building industry’s journey to decarbonize buildings by reducing operational carbon. You’ll learn what operational carbon emissions are and how they are linked to load reduction and heating energy sources.

This information will help you navigate regulations and incentives that target operational carbon emissions and identify strategies that will allow you to reduce operational carbon emissions and meet decarbonization goals.

What you’ll learn

  1. Identify the sources of operational carbon emissions in your buildings.
  2. Understand the impact of electrical grid carbon emission in your region, both now and in the future as the electrical grid decarbonizes.
  3. Identify strategies for reducing operational carbon emissions to support whole-building life cycle decarbonization.
  4. Understand how reducing operational carbon will help you comply with current and future federal, provincial, and municipal climate goals and regulations.

Reducing carbon emissions in the built environment has become a top priority as governments tighten regulations and institutional leaders set ambitious targets toward net-zero. RDH’s two-part carbon emissions course series helps practitioners understand both operational and embodied carbon, where emissions come from, how they are measured, and what strategies can be applied to meaningfully reduce them across the building life cycle.

Course List
  • Role Architect/Designer Building Owner/Manager Contractor/Builder Product/System Manufacturer
  • Level Introductory
  • Duration 1 hour

Technical Expertise. Real-World Impact.

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