Nonprofit Invites Industry Professionals to Access Pilot Material Categories and Other EC3 Features, Accelerating Public Release and Supporting Continued Tool Development
June 11, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Building Transparency, a nonprofit organization that provides open access data and tools to foster a better building future, today announces it has expanded access of the pilot version of its Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) to individual users. Alongside existing corporate partners, pilot users will help enhance development and accelerate public release of additional material categories and other EC3 features.
“EC3 users are passionate about eliminating embodied carbon, and they represent diverse backgrounds in architecture, engineering construction, and beyond – so I’m looking forward to the feedback we’ll receive from those who elect to become pilot users.”
Currently, all users also have access to 50 material categories within the free version of EC3, but there are more than 100 additional material categories in pilot development that require beta testing and refinement before public launch. Pilot users will have access to these and other pilot features as part of a larger beta testing group. They will be responsible for helping the Building Transparency team improve the tool by providing feedback and serving as advocates for EC3’s future development and continued public access.
In addition to access to pilot material categories and features, pilot users are invited to attend quarterly “Office Hours” with the Building Transparency team, during which they can learn about new and upcoming tool developments, ask questions, and share their experiences utilizing pilot features.
“Our existing corporate partners have made invaluable contributions to the development of EC3, so we’re thrilled to offer this opportunity to individual pilot users,” said Stacy Smedley, Executive Director of Building Transparency. “Every new material category or EC3 feature is intended to be freely accessible by the public, but it’s impossible to achieve that without input from trusted collaborators in the development process. EC3 users are passionate about eliminating embodied carbon, and they represent diverse backgrounds in architecture, engineering construction, and beyond – so I’m looking forward to the feedback we’ll receive from those who elect to become pilot users. Their insights will help us ensure the public has the best version of EC3 possible, allowing all users to enhance their efforts to decarbonize the built environment.”
Interested users can join the pilot program at a cost of $50 monthly or $500 annually. This funding directly supports the nonprofit’s mission and will be used to further the development of EC3 for the benefit of all users. Companies interested in accessing the pilot version of EC3 can consider becoming a Corporate or Enterprise Partner, which offer additional benefits to better help organizations minimize their embodied carbon footprints.
To become a pilot user of EC3, please visit https://ec3pilot.org/.
About Building Transparency
Building Transparency is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides open-access data and tools that support broad and swift action across the building industry in addressing embodied carbon’s role in climate change. Formed in 2020, Building Transparency hosts, manages and maintains the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, which provides thousands of digitized EPDs in a free, open-source database, and tallyLCA, the nonprofit’s life cycle assessment tool. Building Transparency strives to provide the resources and education necessary to shape a better building future through promoting the adoption of the EC3 tool and tallyLCA, establishing the official materialsCAN and ownersCAN program, and working with global policymakers.
Contacts
Katie Huff
Trevelino/Keller
khuff@trevelinokeller.com