Designing for Net-Zero Embodied Carbon: Practical Strategies

Current Status

Not Enrolled

Price

A$99.00

Get Started

Enroll Now

Course Content

I. Introduction (5 min)
II. Learning Objectives (3 min)
III. Module 1: Whole-of-Life Carbon (10 min)
IV. Module 2: Reading and Applying EPDs (11 min)
V. Module 3: Evaluating Structural & Cladding Systems (14 min)
VI. Module 4: Challenging Marketing Claims (11 min)
VII. Case Studies (5 min)
VIII. Summary & Assessment (3 min)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

By the end of this course, participants will be able to identify the highest impact stages of a project using whole of life carbon thinking and explain how timing influences carbon reduction opportunities. They will be able to read and interpret Environmental Product Declarations accurately and apply them to real specification decisions. Participants will be able to compare structural and cladding systems using lifecycle stage logic and evaluate them against defined carbon targets. They will also be able to recognise and challenge common marketing claims that do not hold up under lifecycle assessment scrutiny. Overall, they will be equipped to make and defend evidence based embodied carbon decisions in professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply whole of life carbon principles to identify where the greatest embodied carbon reduction opportunities exist within a project.
  • Evaluate the impact of material selection and specification timing on overall embodied carbon outcomes.
  • Interpret Environmental Product Declarations and determine their suitability for use in specification decisions.
  • Identify and critically assess common embodied carbon marketing claims using a structured challenge framework.
  • Compare building systems using lifecycle stage logic and assess their performance against defined carbon targets.
  • Develop clear, evidence based specification strategies that support defensible embodied carbon decisions in practice.

This ensures that CPD efforts align with professional regulatory requirements.

This CPD provides general guidance on professional responsibilities and documentation practices. It does not constitute legal advice or replace project-specific contractual or statutory obligations.

  • CPD Points: 1 Formal CPD Point
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Certificate Upon Completion
  • Difficulty Level: Advanced
Enroll Now

Compliance and Accreditation

Framework/Body

Relevant Sections

Focus Areas

National Construction Code (NCC 2022)

Volume One & Two – Performance Requirements (sustainability, materials, building performance)

Alignment with emerging sustainability expectations; understanding limitations of NCC (no mandated embodied carbon yet); integration of material selection and performance-based compliance pathways

Building Designers

Design documentation, material specification, early-stage decision-making

Application of whole-of-life carbon thinking in design; specification timing; evaluating structural and envelope systems; interpreting EPDs for material selection

NSCA 2021 (Architects)

PC10, PC31, PC28, PC39, PC45

Whole-of-life carbon assessment; lifecycle thinking (A1–A5); sustainable material selection; integration of LCA into design decisions; professional accountability in specification and documentation

Engineers Australia (Stage 2)

Sustainable engineering practice; materials and systems evaluation

Structural system comparison using carbon intensity; lifecycle assessment of materials; engineering contribution to low-carbon design decisions

Licensed Builders (State CPD)

Construction practices; material selection; project delivery

Understanding A1–A5 impacts during construction; implications of transport, installation, and waste; evaluating buildability vs carbon outcomes

Building Surveyors

Compliance assessment; documentation review

Interpreting performance-based documentation; assessing claims and evidence (EPDs); understanding limitations of carbon-related product claims in certification context

Urban Planners & Landscape Architects

Strategic planning; sustainability frameworks

Whole-of-life carbon thinking at project and precinct scale; adaptive reuse vs new build decision-making; early-stage planning influence on carbon outcomes

This session is designed for

Architects
Building Designers
Structural Engineers
Sustainability Consultants
Builders

What’s Included

This course examines how embodied carbon is measured across a building’s lifecycle and where it concentrates within different project types. It explores the practical use of lifecycle assessment tools, including how to interpret data and apply it to real design and specification decisions. The course also investigates how different structural and cladding systems perform from a carbon perspective and what variables influence those outcomes. In addition, it analyses the gap between product marketing claims and verified environmental data, highlighting risks in specification. Overall, it looks at how design decisions, data interpretation, and documentation practices interact to shape credible low carbon outcomes in the built environment.

  • A 1-hour video session covering NCC-aligned strategies and real-world case studies.
  • An interactive quiz to test and reinforce knowledge.
  • An audio summary version via NotebookLM for flexible, on-the-go learning.
  • A downloadable certificate of completion for CPD compliance reporting.
  • Centralised CPD tracking dashboard to support audits and personal recordkeeping.
Enroll Now

Why Take This CPD Session?

Strengthen your ability to make confident, evidence based embodied carbon decisions that stand up to client and peer scrutiny.

Gain practical tools and frameworks that can be immediately applied to real projects and specification workflows.

Reduce professional risk by learning how to interpret data correctly and challenge misleading product claims.

Professional development is an investment in career growth and regulatory compliance. Take the next step today.

Enroll Now