In this new episode of the Share Green Design podcast, hosted by Juan A. Morillas, Chris Magwood, an expert in sustainable building, discusses his career and insights. Chris began his career in straw bale construction, which sparked his interest in embodied carbon—the total greenhouse gas emissions from building materials. Emphasising energy efficiency, Chris and his team meticulously measured the environmental impact of their projects, including waste, chemical content, and carbon footprints. They champion the use of natural materials in construction, aiming to reduce reliance on synthetic products and lower the carbon footprint of buildings.

Chris advocates for a holistic approach to sustainable construction, considering not only embodied carbon but also operational efficiency, health impacts, and circular economy principles. He highlights the importance of collaboration over competition within the construction industry, working with various stakeholders to advance shared goals and foster innovation.

As a member of Builders for Climate Action and the Carbon Leadership Forum, Chris is part of a community dedicated to transforming the construction industry through sustainable practices and cooperative efforts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris Magwood is Manager of the Carbon-Free Building at RMI, working with the Embodied Carbon Team in the Carbon-Free Buildings Program, where he focuses on carbon-storing materials and the residential sector. He uses his experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies and policy development to support the team's work.

Chris holds an MD in Sustainability Studies from Trent University.

Throughout his 25-year career, Chris has been involved in designing and constructing zero-carbon buildings. From 2005 to 2018, he was a lead instructor at the Endeavour Centre, where he was responsible for numerous zero-carbon, zero-toxin, and zero-waste buildings.

In 2019, Chris co-founded Builders for Climate Action and co-developed the BEAM tool, which measures material emissions in residential buildings. He has authored four major studies on embodied carbon in new construction for Canadian governments and has assisted Canadian cities in developing an embodied carbon policy.

Chris has published eight books on green construction, with his most recent publication being "Build Beyond Zero: New Ideas for Carbon Smart Architecture" (Island Press, 2022), co-authored with Bruce King.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.