ABSTRACT
Structural engineers play a key role in reducing CO2 emissions, as structures can contribute up to 50% of a building’s embodied carbon. While tools for calculating embodied carbon in life cycle analyses exist, their use is often limited to experts or specific projects. Case studies show that significant CO2 reductions can be achieved with moderate costs, highlighting the need to integrate these practices into standard workflows. This paper reviews Bollinger + Grohmann’s five-year effort to embed sustainable multimodal planning into structural and façade design. Key steps included creating a sustainability-focused vision, developing expertise, crafting user-friendly tools, and motivating teams to adopt these methods. Challenges such as reluctance to change and workflow complexity were addressed through iterative improvements and feedback. Case studies of completed projects illustrate the effectiveness of these initiatives, offering valuable insights to promote wider industry adoption of sustainable practices.
