Zonda - Resource Library

This course explores how architects and designers can more accurately evaluate the carbon impact of building enclosure assemblies by moving beyond product-level comparisons and considering full assembly performance. Participants will examine the relationship between embodied and operational carbon, learn how Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are used in practice, and compare the thermal, moisture, and carbon performance of common insulation systems including mineral wool, fiberglass, rigid foam boards, and spray polyurethane foam (SPF).

Through assembly-level comparisons, climate zone considerations, and real-world case studies, the course demonstrates how enclosure design decisions influence both embodied and operational carbon outcomes. Participants will gain practical strategies for specifying lower-carbon enclosure systems while maintaining durability, energy efficiency, moisture control, and occupant health and safety.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the role of embodied and operational carbon in construction, understand how environmental impact is measured using LCAs and EPDs, and identify why embodied carbon is a growing priority.
• Compare the thermal properties, assembly requirements, embodied carbon performance, and appropriate applications of common exterior and interior insulation types, including the role of blowing agents and transportation in total carbon impact.
• Understand the value of full-assembly assessment and full life cycle performance vs. evaluating individual materials in isolation.
• Explore aspects of specification for low-carbon enclosure design, including a sample full-assembly comparison, climate zone considerations, a real-world case study, and practical tips for specifying lower-carbon enclosures.