This primer provides an overview of the concept of embodied carbon and describes how life cycle assessment (LCA) can be used to calculate and minimize life cycle GHG impacts from construction projects. It draws on the lessons learned from a recent case study that calculated the embodied carbon of a new commercial building in Toronto and explores how LCA can be applied in Ontario to minimize life cycle GHG impacts from construction projects. The primer combines international best practices and an understanding of Ontario’s specific technical, financial and political context to offer recommended actions that specific stakeholder groups can take to translate lessons learned from LCA research into concrete policy and processes.
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