The built environment is responsible for over 40% of carbon emissions globally and nearly one-third of the emissions produced in the U.S. (USGBC’s 2023 report on the State of Decarbonization). Decarbonizing buildings, targeting reductions in operational, embodied, refrigerants and transportation emissions, is essential to meeting our collective climate goals.

Embodied carbon emissions stemming from building construction, including materials manufacturing and transportation and construction activity, are a huge contributor to global and national emissions. According to USGBC and RMI’s joint report “Driving Action on Embodied Carbon in Buildings,” embodied carbon emissions from building construction accounts for around 6% of total U.S. GHG emissions per year – that’s 370 million tons of CO2e annually, or the equivalent of California’s current total GHG emissions. We must reduce embodied carbon emissions if we are to meet our collective climate goals.

Join USGBC Colorado for a Building Transformation Forum exploring practical tools, resources and strategies to support building decarbonization at the project or portfolio level. Hosted at the University of Denver, this forum will include the opportunity for attendees to tour two exceptional green buildings on campus, LEED Platinum Burwell Center and LEED Silver Community Commons.