Carbon Calculator
The Center for Sustainable Building Research and the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects Minnesota and the Green Institute, propose to develop the Minnesota Zero Emission Design Protocol (mnZED Protocol). This protocol will provide the necessary design methods and tools to evaluate and implement zero emission design (ZED) strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.
The protocol will include:
- a decision-making and accounting process to integrate ZED into building design, construction and operation,
- ZED strategies to support design decisions for site, water, energy, materials and waste,
- a Minnesota Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Design Calculator to provide instantaneous GHG equivalencies during the design process.
The mnZED Protocol will be compatible with, yet not limited to, the State of Minnesota's Building Benchmark and Beyond Guidelines and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Guidelines. Educational and outreach programs and an online resource will disseminate the protocol and tools to the Minnesota design community. Outreach will also occur to public agencies and local governments so they can require their design teams to follow the protocol.
| Project: | Carbon Calculator |
| Principal Investigators: | John Carmody and Richard Strong |
| Project Team: | Mary Guzowski, Douglas Pierce, John Carmody, and Richard Strong |
| Sponsor: | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency |
| Status: | Ongoing |
Tools
Buildings, Benchmarks & Beyond (B3)
U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Guidelines