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The Large Firm Round Table (LFRT) Sustainability Committee's Firm Carbon Neutrality Working Group has developed a resource to help architecture and design firms navigate the complexities of measuring and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recognizing that calculating a firm's carbon footprint can be daunting, the guide aims to demystify the process and provide a practical, accessible starting point. This industry-specific roadmap simplifies GHG concepts and provides a step-by-step guide to building a credible emissions inventory for your firm. It features preliminary budgeting formulas for estimating offset costs, recommendations for securing executive buy-in, and addresses key Scope 3 categories. Additionally, the guide offers a framework for selecting high-quality carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs). With links to essential tools and standards, this resource compiles lessons learned across member firms to encourage meaningful progress toward carbon neutrality.

The LFRT Firm Carbon Neutrality Working Group is pleased to share this guide with the broader AIA community and welcomes continued feedback and collaboration to enhance its usefulness over time. The WG is currently working on developing recommended and pertinent reduction strategies that will be released in a follow-up publication.

Download or view the document here (make sure you have joined the Committee on the Environment to access it): LFRT's Guide to Carbon Neutrality for Architecture Firms

Questions or comments that will improve this document? We welcome your reply to this discussion!