Structural materials are a major contributor to a building’s embodied carbon footprint, which represents the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacturing, construction and demolition of the building’s components. Therefore, structural engineers play a critical role in reducing the environmental impacts of a building or renovation. The Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program by the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers is a program created for structural engineers to become engaged in understanding, measuring and reducing embodied carbon in structural systems. This presentation will provide background on the program, what is required from a committed firm, what data is collected in the SE 2050 database, and resources and strategies available to structural engineers to begin reducing embodied carbon in their structural designs.

The presentation will be conducted by Mark D. Webster, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, a structural engineer at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger and founder of SEI’s Sustainability Committee; Charlotte A. Sauer, LEED AP BD+C, an associate and structural engineer in the Chicago office of CannonDesign who leads the CannonDesign structural engineering group’s sustainability efforts; and Chris Jeseritz, S.E., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, a project manager at PCS Structural Solutions in Seattle, Washington who serves as chair of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington’s Sustainability Committee.