Breaking the Embodied Carbon Barrier: Achieving Reductions at Cost Parity
Thursday, October 22, 2026 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM · 1 hr. (US/Eastern)
Finance and Business Models
Information
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.
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.
Learning Level
Intermediate
GBCI Rating System Specific Credit
BD+CID+CO+M
Program
Track Session
Track
Finance and Business Models
Learning Objective #1
Explore the specific embodied carbon requirements within LEED v5 framework to identify the new performance "floor" and determine how these benchmarks impact project certification and asset valuation.
Learning Objective #2
Apply data-driven strategies for early-phase optimization, such as structural systems comparison and building reuse, to achieve significant carbon reductions without increasing the baseline capital budget.
Learning Objective #3
Execute transparent procurement processes by integrating carbon metrics into GC bid-leveling, allowing project teams to evaluate trade-offs between material cost, schedule, and carbon performance.
Learning Objective #4
Evaluate emerging financial mechanisms, including C-PACE financing, to unlock low-cost capital and incentivize the selection of low-carbon materials for projects aiming for LEED v5 compliance.
