NRC to Study Carbon Calculator Proposal The National Research Council (NRC) has convened an ad hoc study committee to examine methods for calculating embodied energy in geotechnical construction. The NRC’s Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering (COGGE), chaired by Professor Edward Kavazanjian of Arizona State University and directed by Sammantha Magsino of the NRC, organ- ized a roundtable discussion on the subject in December in Washington, D.C. Repre- sentatives from governmental agencies, universities and professional societies parti- cipated in the presentations and discus- sions. The study is aimed at providing informed guidelines on the development of an approach for energy and environmental design in geotechnical engineering. Professor Anu Ramaswami of University of Colorado opened the morning of presentations with a discussion of her research on life cycle carbon emissions in eight U.S. cities. This presentation provided a broad overview of the sources of embodied energy emissions involved in urban infrastructure, of which geotechnical construction is only a portion. DFI’s technical activities manager, Mary Ellen Bruce, presented the Carbon Calculator project being developed by the European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) in collaboration with DFI members in Europe. Bruce made the presentation on behalf of the project team led by EFFC representative Marine Lasne of Soletanche Bachy in France and DFI representative Tony Suckling of Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering in the U.K. The goal of the project is to develop a global calculator that will provide DFI and EFFC members with verifiable, standard- ized carbon emission data for use in appropriately comparing foundation alter- natives. The project includes developing a European database that quantifies the carbon emission numbers for material extraction, energy and transport for foundations of concrete, grout, steel, timber and stone, and producing a user-friendly, project-based, spreadsheet-type calculator tool for widespread and convenient usage. The tool will consider existing European building standards, and the team will examine ways to work with related agencies in other regions (LEED, U.S. Green Build- ing Council, BREEAM, CEEQUAL, etc.). Other presenters included Professor Jason DeJong of University of California, Davis and Professor John Hildreth of University of North Carolina, Charlotte, who presented results on separate research projects related to carbon accounting of geotechnical processes. Dr. Nick O’Riordan of Arup, Inc. in San Francisco, Calif., pre- sented an overview of carbon calculation processes currently used in industry. The committee leaders are developing a Summary of Task report outlining the dis- cussions and a plan for further work needed to advance the practice of embodied energy accounting. Please contact Mary Ellen Bruce at [email protected] for more information. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAR/APR 2012 • 19
