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Measuring embodied carbon, biogenic carbon, and making credible carbon claims
 
Not all carbon is counted the same way. This PluggedIn session explores embodied carbon, biogenic carbon, and the principles behind credible carbon accounting.
 
Learn how NZGBC's Embodied Carbon Methodology approaches whole-of-life emissions, why biogenic carbon is reported separately, and what this means for low-carbon building design and carbon-related claims.
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What you need to know:

Measuring embodied carbon is becoming increasingly important, but the way carbon is counted matters.

NZGBC’s Embodied Carbon Methodology provides a nationally consistent approach to measuring and reporting the whole-of-life greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings. It is designed to help the sector compare like with like, make better design and procurement decisions, and focus attention on reducing real emissions.

But there are still areas that can cause confusion. How should biogenic carbon stored in timber and other bio-based materials be treated? Why does NZGBC separate it from upfront embodied carbon? What does this mean for claims that a building is “climate positive”, “net positive” or stores more carbon than it emits? And, most importantly, how can project teams use carbon measurement to actually drive better decisions?

Join Jeff Vickers from thinkstep-anz and Sam Archer from NZGBC for this practical Plugged In session exploring the principles behind embodied carbon accounting and what they mean in practice.

We'll unpack:

  • what embodied carbon is and why consistent measurement matters

  • how NZGBC’s Embodied Carbon Methodology approaches whole-of-life carbon

  • the difference between fossil and biogenic carbon and why that distinction matters

  • why biogenic carbon is reported separately rather than used to reduce upfront carbon totals

  • what changing international approaches mean for claims around carbon storage and “carbon positive” buildings

  • where timber and other bio-based materials fit within low-carbon design

  • how practitioners can use carbon data to compare options and make better design and procurement decisions

  • what credible carbon and net zero claims increasingly look like.

pricing
Pricing (excl. GST)

$0 Member price
$40 Non Member price
$0 Future Thinkers

timing
Timing

25/11/2026
12.00 - 1.00pm

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where
Where

Zoom (Online)

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NZGBC CPD Points

1

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Speaker details 

Sam

Sam Archer - Director of Market Transformation, NZGBC

Sam is a Sustainability Consultant and Mechanical Engineer with over 18 years experience in the Construction Industry. As Director Market Transformation at the New Zealand Green Building Council, he is responsible for running the sustainability and energy assessment tools - Green Star, Homestar and NABERSNZ. 

He has a passion for sustainable housing having spent 6 years creating and managing the sustainability framework for a 3000 home development for the University of Cambridge. Sam also has extensive experience in sustainability and energy strategies, including carbon policy work for UK government, sustainable urban design and low energy and passive building design.


 

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Jeff Vickers - Technical Director, thinkstep-anz 

Jeff is a sustainability consultant and life cycle assessment specialist at thinkstep-anz. He works with organisations across the built environment to measure and reduce environmental impacts, with expertise spanning embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and carbon accounting. 

He regularly supports project teams to navigate complex carbon measurement challenges and apply robust, science-based approaches to decision-making and reporting.

 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you are unable to attend live, you will be sent the replay and be able to view it on our growing library of on-demand videos. For more information please visit https://nzgbc.org.nz/explore-on-demand-videos.

If you have a great idea for a NZGBC Webinar, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at events@nzgbc.org.nz. 

With special thanks to our Impact Partners

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