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Embodied Carbon Investment Guide

Resources to help developers build business value while reducing embodied carbon in commercial real estate.

By Aurimas Bukauskas and Anish Tilak

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The race to reduce embodied carbon in commercial real estate is on. But how can real estate investors and developers turn this challenge into a business advantage? RMI’s Embodied Carbon Investment Guide hub provides resources to answer this question, and more.

 

Key insights:

  • Real estate investors can drive meaningful climate mitigation by requesting embodied carbon reporting as part of ESG and climate disclosure criteria.
  • Reducing embodied carbon can both save developers money up-front and make them more competitive long term.
  • Combining integrative design, efficient use of materials and space, retrofits, and circular construction can cut embodied carbon while growing profitability.
  • Climate-aligned procurement, reporting, and marketing allows developers to reduce embodied carbon today while creating long-term business value.
C-PACE Embodied Carbon Policy Primer

C-PACE Embodied Carbon Policy Primer

February 5, 2026
Harmonized, flexible, data-backed pathways for including embodied carbon in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing programs.
The Business Case for Reducing Embodied Carbon:  9 Investments Commercial Real Estate Developers Can Make Today

The Business Case for Reducing Embodied Carbon: 9 Investments Commercial Real Estate Developers Can Make Today

ARTICLE Buildings
July 25, 2024
Embodied carbon, the climate pollution associated with material production and construction activities, is responsible for an estimated 11% of global emissions.
A Primer on Embodied Carbon in Climate Disclosure

A Primer on Embodied Carbon in Climate Disclosure

October 5, 2023
Climate disclosure has become a primary focus of investors and governments seeking to understand climate impacts and risks associated with businesses.
Embodied Carbon Regulations Are Coming. The Real Estate Industry Can Get Ahead with Improved Portfolio Carbon Accounting

Embodied Carbon Regulations Are Coming. The Real Estate Industry Can Get Ahead with Improved Portfolio Carbon Accounting

ARTICLE Buildings
July 12, 2024
You may not realize it, but the past 12 months have been a reckoning for the emissions from building materials and construction — otherwise known as embodied carbon.

About the Authors

Aurimas Bukauskas

Aurimas Bukauskas

Senior Associate

Anish Tilak

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