The momentum to reduce embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure projects is surging, yet a persistent perception remains that "green" costs more. Evidence suggests otherwise: recent RMI and Skanska research indicates that upfront embodied carbon emissions can be reduced significantly at little to no cost increase. As the industry transitions, the hurdle is no longer "if" we can reduce carbon, but "how" we integrate these savings into daily design, procurement, and financing. This session provides a deep dive into how LEED v5 requirements are setting a new floor for carbon performance. By illustrating how embodied carbon has shifted from a sustainability "add-on" to a core metric of asset value, attendees will gain a practical roadmap for meeting rigorous new LEED v5 benchmarks at cost parity. Experts from Skanska and RMI move beyond theory to demonstrate how to optimize cost, carbon, and performance simultaneously. Using real-world data from case studies with various building typologies, the panel will showcase how to leverage existing decision-making tools to find "win-win" scenarios. These case studies include practical strategies such as: - Bid-Leveling: Integrating carbon into GC bid analysis for procurement transparency. - Pro Forma Analysis: Evaluating low-carbon pathways during early-stage planning. - Early-Phase Optimization: Balancing structural costs, building reuse, and performance. - Systems Comparison: Cost-carbon trade-offs between structural systems and reuse. The session also explores recent progress to integrate embodied carbon into C-PACE financing, demonstrating how modest rule changes can unlock low-cost capital and accelerate investment in low-carbon materials and construction practices. Attendees will discover how to enhance asset value through the lens of embodied carbon, leaving equipped with the practical tools and financing structures necessary to deliver cost-effective, carbon-conscious projects.
