Material Selection for Sustainable Construction: Implications of Design Life on Carbon Footprint

Abstract As the global community pushes for reduced carbon emissions, understanding the role material selection plays in construction is increasingly critical. The gap of understanding between those tasked with setting the sustainable goals and the practitioners in the field can be wide. This paper will assess the role of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and Health Product Declarations (HPD) in design. Specifically it will describe the importance of design life and the impact it has on the final carbon footprint. It will offer a discussion of the current role that available product category rules (PCR) have on determining design life, including testing protocols. This paper hopes to provoke thoughtful discussion on how the industry can work with policy makers to narrow the gap of understanding.