Small Wins, Big Impact: Putting the Initiative into Practice
In 2024, we challenged our engineers to take a closer look at embodied carbon on every project. This is how they delivered.
As an early signatory of the Structural Engineers 2050 (SE2050) challenge, ASPECT has remained committed to achieving net zero embodied carbon structural systems by 2050. Combined with our company-wide commitment to true sustainability more broadly, we continue to seek new ways to reduce carbon emissions associated with our projects – while also recognizing that it isn’t only high-profile developments that can create change.
In early 2024, we encouraged our engineers and designers to make smart and efficient design decisions during all project stages… even if it means very small changes. We call this initiative, “Small Wins, Big Impact” – a nod to how even the smallest adjustments (or re-thinking of accepted norms) can result in a sizable impact.
While we’re focussed on structural efficiency improvements, these Small Wins also hold the potential to create a positive impact on project costs. This initiative motivates our team to think of new ways to save on every project, and participating team members have already been rewarded for their innovation.
Looking back on a year of innovative design, we asked our top savers about what they found, their main takeaways, and how they will continue this initiative as we kick off a new year!
“Small Wins, Big Impact” is all about using less materials. Can you tell us a bit about the project or projects that led to you participating in this initiative, and what specific materials or systems you took a closer look at to reduce carbon?
Rachel Kazaka (Structural Designer): This past year, I’ve been part of the project team for an academic facility, for which ASPECT is designing the building’s roof structure. We were tasked with finding a way to incorporate additional columns to properly support the lateral structure. However, the design included exposed ceilings, so adding columns could start to look quite messy super quickly. The updated design also had to be intentional without being too grand, since adding materials could also add costs.
We reviewed the system and found that if we adjusted the spacing between the steel purlins to be tighter and more evenly spaced throughout, we could achieve a working system in a way that was both visually appealing and equally supportive. This also minimized overall material quantities (equaling some big carbon savings) ... a “small win” that permeates through the entire project.
Max Ngai (Structural Designer): Earlier this year, I stepped in to support our team on one of our on-going post-secondary projects. As the project advanced and small system changes were made throughout the design phase, I was brought in as a fresh set of eyes. Tasked with reviewing if the new end result would match our original intent, I also checked that the modified design remained compliant with building code requirements.
As part of this process, we created an analysis model to review our design, providing us with a more accurate view of the foundation design. The model established that the concrete footings could be dramatically reduced, which led to significant cost, concrete, and carbon savings.
Will Nocka (Project Engineer): I’ve been part of the project team for a large, mass timber wellness resort. ASPECT was brought on as the structural Engineer of Record after the completion of the preliminary design. Once we were engaged, our first step was to review the architect’s project requirements and initial designs. We then followed the “Small Wins, Big Impact” checklist, and found that the previously-designed structural system, while effective, was more complex than it needed to be. Stepping in later in the process, we saw that we could simplify the layout and reduce the steel materials used throughout the system. Less materials ultimately led to more carbon savings… while satisfying all performance requirements!
What were your key takeaways from this process?
Will: It did take time – we were looking at the whole system all over again! But in the end, it was worth it, not only because of the carbon savings, but also because it meant saving money (and savings in both of these areas deeply excited the client). The additional time used to review and ask questions led to an optimal outcome for everyone. To be encouraged to look at something more closely aligns with ASPECT’s values, and this initiative embodies those values. From what I’ve seen, embodied carbon is often less considered in the industry, and it felt exciting to do something that made a difference.
Rachel: It was super interesting that when we reduced the space between the purlins and added materials, we still lowered the overall tonnage, which saved on the embodied carbon side. This was an eye-opening (and exciting!) exercise for me personally, as I saw how easy it can be to make an impact on embodied carbon savings.
Through this experience, my own mindset of how we’re approaching designs and sparking conversations with architects and clients has changed. If we’re noticing and considering changes, it’s helpful to share these ideas with others. People don’t know what they don’t know – it doesn’t hurt to raise it.
Max: I found it great to see that there are opportunities to look for practical ways to decrease the materials used, and in turn lower our overall embodied carbon emissions. You don’t have to wait to be given a reason to review or revisit project decisions – it can be as simple as bringing in a new perspective to review design plans when projects evolve.
Looking to the future, do you think you’ll incorporate your lessons learned?
Max: Given how modelling detailed designs can lead to efficiencies and create savings, I would be interested to see how similar models can be implemented on other projects – highlighting opportunities to reduce concrete volumes in foundations while still providing a robust structural layout. If incorporating the use of models on future projects can help others find savings, it makes a difference to share our findings.
Will: I’ll be paying close attention during the early design phases to see if we can save on materials, or if designs are overly complicated. It takes experience to notice something, so the more we step back and review, the more we can find savings without impacting the project timeline. I hope to continue learning to spot potential areas for carbon savings early in the design process to maximize the positive impact.
Rachel: Reviewing for optimization early on makes a big difference. Going forward, I’ll really be on the look out for that “sweet spot” in terms of the number of materials we’re using, to see if a project can be simplified while still achieving the architect’s vision.
A bit more about our “Small Wins, Big Impact” 2024 Winners:
Will Nocka is a Project Engineer based in our Bern office. After starting in the industry in 2017, Will found an interest in structural engineering, specifically in the design of timber structures, and brings his varied experience in engineering, fabrication, and construction of commercial and retail projects to the team.
Rachel Kazaka is a Structural Designer in our Vancouver office. Specializing in structural and geotechnical engineering, she started in the industry in 2018. Since joining our team, Rachel continues to broaden her experience in residential, post-secondary, and community-centric developments.
Max Ngai is a Structural Designer who joined our Toronto office in 2021. Max has established an extensive portfolio of structural design and engineering for renovation and new construction projects, particularly with mass timber and light wood frame multi-unit residential developments.
Read more about why we started our Small Wins, Big Impact initiative here.
Small Wins, Big Impact
Incremental structural design decisions can save BIG on carbon.
Increasingly frequent extreme weather events around the world continue to underline the importance of changing the way our behaviour impacts our environment. As structural engineers and designers, we can play a crucial role in lowering carbon emissions produced by buildings. Many of our decisions have significant carbon consequences, and it’s important to review the decisions we make on a project-by-project basis to determine if there are efficient alternatives.
In our industry, the narrative surrounding carbon reductions often associates these reductions with higher costs, pointing to the need for high-performance and expensive materials. However, there are strategic design decisions and efficient construction practices that have minimal or even a net positive financial impact that can lead to substantial carbon reductions. Big changes aren’t always necessary to make a big impact — small wins can make a difference.
At ASPECT, sustainability is a core part of our business and, over the years, we have created tools, such as our Embodied Carbon Calculator, to help us make efficient decisions. As we learn more, we continue seeking ways to reduce carbon, and our latest initiative, “Small Wins, Big Impact”, aims to encourage our engineers to make smart and efficient design decisions at all stages in the design process, rather than solely focus on big, sweeping decisions made at project kick-off meetings.
Creating the initiative...
ASPECT’s goal is to foster a company culture that considers carbon as a driver on all projects. By tracking embodied carbon in our structural systems, we can identify trends and establish achievable reduction goals. Paying attention now will provide lessons for future projects.
To foster this approach, our new internal initiative asks our engineers to shift their approach: think Small in order to achieve Big. Often, the impact of our role can feel like “all or nothing” – if we aren’t making the big moves to reduce carbon emissions, are we really doing anything at all? Through this new initiative, we strive to highlight that, in fact, anything that is within their control (which, as structural engineers, is not insignificant) will, indeed, have some measurable impact.
For example, collaborating with the architect and acoustic consultant to eliminate concrete toppings on CLT floor panels, can result in 100 tonnes of carbon saved for a 8000 square metre floor area. That’s equivalent to more than six times the annual carbon footprint of just one of our ASPECT engineers!
Through this initiative, on any given project ASPECT team members are encouraged to:
- Identify opportunities to save on embodied carbon emissions. Specifically, review project details and determine if there are any ways in which carbon can be saved. For example, increasing reinforcement rate and decreasing slab depth can save 50-100 kgCO2e /m2 on a concrete building, or exploring alternatives like ribbed or waffle slabs early-on in design can reduce the embodied emissions of a floor slab by up to thirty-five per cent!
- Calculate the potential savings through the ASPECT Embodied Carbon Calculator. This tool can be used to review the embodied carbon in various materials, compare options, and determine what emissions are worth pursuing for each project.
- Share the idea! Knowledge is power, and all of our team members use this information to have a conversation with the project team.
Through this initiative, our engineers have been finding small ways to save on every project and are rewarded for their innovation and successes are shared with the rest of the ASPECT team. We even implemented a small prize once per quarter for the engineer with the most significant carbon savings through their submissions, and at the end of the year we will celebrate an overall winner.
This initiative demonstrates that small design decisions on any project, not just high-profile developments, can add up, and result in a significant positive impact on embodied carbon.
Looking ahead at the future of embodied carbon in the industry.
ASPECT was an early signatory for the Structural Engineer 2050 (SE2050) challenge, which commits to achieving net zero embodied carbon structural systems by 2050. We are also committed to supporting the Architecture 2030 reduction targets of up to 65% reduction in total global emissions by 2030 — a step that will support reaching our goals for 2050.
These commitments— though they seem large — start small, with changes happening inside organizations like ASPECT. “We need to prioritize embodied carbon reduction on our projects today to meet our goals for 2030 and 2050,” says Caroline Butchart, ASPECT Sustainability Lead, who joined our firm in November 2023. What’s the best way to prioritize these reductions? If you talk to industry leaders like Caroline, it’s through smart changes that make reductions without adding significant project expense.
Structural engineers play a key role in lowering embodied carbon when designing developments. While the overall task may seem large, every small decision made on a project can make a difference. We look forward to sharing what our engineers achieve through this initiative (and beyond)!