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CIV_ENV 395-0-7: Towards a Carbon Neutral Built Environment

Description

A statistic that is often repeated is that the built environment is responsible for 40% of carbon emissions annually. But where do these emissions come from, and what can we do about them? This course will study the sources of carbon emissions from the built environment throughout a typical building's lifespan, from material extraction and manufacturing, to construction, use, and ultimately demolition and disposal. Because this field is an active area of study, the course will involve reading and discussing academic papers that seek to understand the sources of carbon, and how they can be reduced. Students will develop the skills to perform Life Cycle Assessments evaluating how specific interventions impact emissions. For the class project, students will work to answer an original research question related to the course topic, and present their findings in a conference-style presentation to the class.