CMU Embodied Carbon: Not All Concrete is the Same

Join AIA Atlanta Elite Patron The Beauty of Block for a complimentary webinar, “CMU Embodied Carbon: Not All Concrete is the Same,” with Heidi Jandris, who will dive into why concrete masonry units (CMU) differ from poured-in-place concrete in embodied carbon impact, focusing on raw material efficiency and carbon dioxide sequestration.

This presentation examines two of the three key reasons why concrete masonry units (CMU) differ from wet-cast or poured-in-place concrete in terms of embodied carbon impact. These reasons are raw material efficiency and enhanced carbon dioxide sequestration.

We will establish context for the concrete carbon sequestration discussion by first looking at the larger geologic carbon cycle, and how greenhouse gas emissions relate to climate change. We will then cover the concrete carbon cycle and recent Concrete Masonry & Hardscape Association (CMHA) carbon sequestration research and test results. These results demonstrate the accelerated sequestration rates of CMU.

Learning objectives

• Explore how concrete masonry construction offers interconnected sustainability strategies.
• Investigate the relevant similarities and differences between concrete masonry units (CMU) and wet-cast concrete. These differences are why CMU assemblies have lower embodied carbon and increased carbon sequestration rates.
• Define terms that describe how concrete masonry construction fits into the climate change conversation and explain why concrete sequesters carbon dioxide.
• Review sequestration research conducted by the Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA) that separates CMU from other types of concrete when evaluating embodied carbon.

This event is not managed by AIA Atlanta.