AIA Framework for Design Excellence

https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/aia-framework-design-excellence

The AIA Framework for Design Excellence outlines ten principles for achieving sustainable, resilient, and inclusive design. These principles guide architects toward creating zero-carbon, healthy, just, and equitable built environments. The framework emphasizes integration, community impact, ecosystem balance, water conservation, economic value, energy efficiency, well-being, resource management, adaptability, and continuous learning. It serves as a comprehensive guide for architects to enhance their design process and outcomes.

Build Beyond Zero

Build Beyond Zero: New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture

In Build Beyond Zero, carbon pioneers Bruce King and Chris Magwood re-envision buildings as one of our most practical and affordable climate solutions instead of leading drivers of climate change. They provide a snapshot of a beginning and map towards a carbon-smart built environment that acts as a CO2 filter. Professional engineers, designers, and developers are invited to imagine the very real potential for our built environment to be a site of net carbon storage, a massive drawdown pool that could help to heal our climate.

Carbon: A Field Manual for Building Designers

Carbon: A Field Manual for Building Designers: Kuittinen, Matti, Organschi, Alan, Ruff, Andrew: 9781119720768: Amazon.com: Books

This is a book about designing to reduce emissions and embodied energy. This includes design phase-based recommendations for what designers can do to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects.

Building Transparency Bootcamp: Tools for Building LCA

Building Transparency Bootcamp: Tools for Building LCA – EPIC, tally & EC3

This YouTube video by Carbon Leadership Forum, "Building Transparency Bootcamp: Tools for Building LCA – EPIC, tally & EC,3"  is a walkthrough by Building Transparency staff of various embodied carbon tools, highlighting the ways to leverage carbon reductions through various stages of the design and construction process.  The tools include

1. EPIC
2. tallyLCA
3. EC3

These are some tools you can use to account for the carbon in your projects.  You may remember some of these tools from our January 2025 presentation of three videos from AIAU’s Embodied Carbon 101 Series. This video is over an hour of guided tours of each software tool, given by the program director and policy and 

AIA and Carbon Leadership Embodied Carbon Toolkit

AIA-CLF Embodied Carbon Toolkit for Architects

The AIA-CLF Embodied Carbon Toolkit for Architects provides architects with essential guidance to reduce embodied carbon in their projects. It includes an introduction to embodied carbon, methodologies for measuring it through life cycle assessments, and strategies for reduction. The toolkit also offers various resources and tools for implementing these strategies, aiming to empower architects to contribute to decarbonizing the building industry.

AIAU Embodied Carbon 101 Series

https://aiau.aia.org/course/details/embodied-carbon-series

The Embodied Carbon Series on AIAU offers 12 courses designed to educate AEC professionals on embodied carbon, its measurement, management, and reduction strategies. The series emphasizes the importance of addressing embodied carbon in construction to achieve zero carbon buildings. Presented by the Boston Society for Architecture and supported by various organizations, it features expert practitioners who share practical solutions and guidance on communicating carbon strategies to clients and collaborators.

The AIA Materials Pledge Starter Guide

https://www.aia.org/resource-center/materials-pledge-starter-guide

The AIA Materials Pledge Starter Guide is a comprehensive resource that helps architecture firms evaluate building products holistically. It focuses on five key areas: human health, social health and equity, ecosystem health, climate health, and circular economy. The guide provides actionable steps, such as requesting ingredient transparency, eliminating hazardous substances, supporting equitable supply chains, and promoting sustainable and low-carbon materials. It aims to inspire architects to make informed decisions that benefit both people and the planet.

Mindful MATERIALS Platform for Sustainable Building Materials

https://www.mindfulmaterials.com/a-common-language
How do you define health or sustainability for materials? How do you use that definition to drive better decisions when making or specifying products? The Common Materials Framework (CMF) solves that.  Check out the Common Language Format video series, reference guide, and the product search portal

Ecomedes - A Platform for Sustainable Building

https://www.ecomedes.com/

Ecomedes is a platform simplifying sustainable building by providing a comprehensive database of over one million products with green certifications. Automating compliance and sustainability analysis helps organizations track and reduce costs, carbon, and environmental impacts. The platform supports manufacturers, property managers, and owners in making informed, sustainable decisions and closing the gap between pledges and compliance.

The Transparency Catalog

https://transparencycatalog.com/

The Transparency Catalog is a comprehensive resource for finding, specifying, and procuring sustainable building materials. It provides access to over 2,190 manufacturers and thousands of products with transparency documentation, including EPDs and material ingredient disclosures. The platform offers powerful search and filtering tools based on CSI MasterFormat divisions and sections, making it easier for industry professionals to find greener, healthier products and manage compliance with green building standards like LEED and Living Building Challenge.