Podcast appearances and mentions of chris magwood

In this episode of the Passive House Podcast, Zack Semke talks with Chris Magwood of RMI. Chris shares his journey from running a design-build company and school in Ontario to becoming a leading voice in embodied carbon and sustainable building practices. The conversation delves into the evolution of green building, the importance of upfront carbon reduction, and the potential of biomaterials to achieve net-zero carbon construction. Chris also highlights tools, research, and insights for advancing climate-positive solutions in residential building.https://rmi.org/https://www.reimaginebuildings.com/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this special bonus episode recorded at the PhiusCon 2023, Co-Hosts of the Passive House Podcast, Shaun St-Amour and Mark Wille interview Chris Magwood of Rocky Mountain Institute.https://phius1.zohobackstage.com/PhiusCon2023Thank you to our sponsor, Zola Windows for making the Passive House Podcast at the Passive House Network Conference possible.https://www.zolawindows.com/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

In this special bonus episode recorded at the Passive House Network Conference, Co-Host of the Passive House Podcast Ilka Cassidy interviews Chris Magwood of Rocky Mountain Institute.https://rmi.org/https://phnconference.org/Thank you to our sponsor, ENERsign for making the Passive House Podcast at the Passive House Network Conference possible.https://www.enersign.com/en/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress; working together is success. -Edward Everett Hale   On today's podcast we welcome Clara Hedrick and Emma Bennett to give us up to date and inside information about the Upcoming RESNET conference: Nov 15-17, 2023 in San Diego, CA. Since the last face to face conference was in 2020, and after virtual conferences in 2021 and 2022, Emma shares what will be the same and what will be different as compared to past conferences. We also over a few of the specific events that attendees can look forward to as well as recommend activities outside of the conference. Breakout session topics include Carbon/ESG, Water Efficiency & HERSH2O®, HERS® as the Gold Standard, California – Here We Come, New Opportunities for the Rating Industry, Energy Codes, Tapping the Existing Homes Market, Latest Developments in Building Science, Workforce Development, and Financing Improving the Energy Efficiency of Homes We close by sharing what we are each most looking forward to about the conference.   Links Mentioned in the episode: View the schedule, find travel details and learn more about the conference at: https://www.resnet.us/conference-2023/ Find details on the KB Homes Microgrid home tour: https://www.resnet.us/conference-2023/kb-homes-microgrid-tour/ Learn more about the RESNET Emerging Leadership council at: https://www.resnet.us/raters/emerging-leadership-council-elc/ The RESTALK Podcast EP 115 with Chris Magwood on the Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee: https://restalk.libsyn.com/ep115-the-new-resnet-embodied-carbon-advisory-committee-with-chris-magwood-from-rmi   RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier. This is why we've partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam's desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business meets compliance - just to name a few. Employees - they just download the app to their mobile - to clock in and out, share safety reports, get updates - and so much more, all in one place, ensuring they've got what they need to perform at their best. Connecteam got a free plan and a 14-day free trial - check out the link in the show notes https://connecteam.cc/3DvnSVh Chris Magwood from Builders for Climate Action joins us to talk about natural material buildings and carbon footprint. He tells us about building straw bale homes, innovations in natural products, material toxicity and carbon footprints, and the challenges in getting the industry to change. We also discuss being holistic about upfront and operating costs of natural, passive building. Learn what's out there on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Builders for Climate Action? Check out their website BuildersforClimateAction.org, find them all over social media, or reach out to Chris at Chris@BuildersforClimateAction.org.Also check out the Rocky Mountain Institute at RMI.org. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@theconstructionlife.com to schedule a time to join us in studio. Are you interested in the latest trends in building, renovation, home improvement, real estate, architecture, design, engineering, contracting, trades, and DIY? Look no further! Our construction podcast and social media content cover a wide range of topics, including project management, safety, best practices, business development, leadership, marketing, customer service, productivity, sustainability, technology, innovation, and industry news.

You're in for a feast of ideas here. Join us as Kristof talks with Bruce King about his work as a stubborn optimist and powerful motive force in the realm of low carbon buildings. Bruce joins a wise heart with a clever mind and a deep understanding of the technical aspects and implications of the role of energy and carbon in how we, as a society, deliver buildings to ourselves. Today's interview discusses themes from Bruce's new-at-the-time book Build Beyond Zero written along with friend and co-conspirator, Chris Magwood, and a host of superstars in the low carbon buildings space, to remind us that the very buildings we live and work in are currently poised to be “one of the most practical and affordable climate solutions instead of leading drivers of climate change.” We all have power and agency in the future of buildings and it benefits us to listen to folks like Bruce King to show us the way and motivate us to move forward. ____Bruce KingBruce King is the founder of the Ecological Building Network (EBNet), and a registered engineer with 35 years of worldwide experience in structural engineering and construction. He is the author of Buildings of Earth and Straw, Making Better Concrete, Design of Straw Bale Buildings, ASTM International E-2392, earthen building guidelines, and dozens of papers and articles for conferences and journals. He has organized three international conferences on ecological building, and is the founder of BuildWell Source, a user-based collection of low-carbon materials knowledge, and of the BuildWell Symposia. www.bruce-king.com www.ecobuildnetwork.org____About Bruce's BooksBuild Beyond ZeroAuthors Bruce King and Chris Magwood re-envision buildings as one of the most practical and affordable climate solutions instead of leading drivers of climate change. Build Beyond Zero provides a snapshot of a beginning and map towards a carbon-smart built environment that acts as a CO2 filter. Professional engineers, designers, and developers are invited to imaging the very real potential for our built environment to be a site of net carbon storage, a massive drawdown pool that could help to heal our climate. And if you have not yet read, or recently re-read his first book, please feel encouraged to do so!New Carbon ArchitectureImagine a building made of sky. For the first time in history, we can build pretty much anything out of carbon that we coaxed from the air. We can structure any architectural style with wood, we can insulate with straw and mushrooms, we can make concrete - better concrete - with clay, microbes, smoke, and a careful look in the rear view mirror and the microscope.All of these emerging technologies - and more - arrive in tandem with the growing understanding that the so-called embodied carbon of building materials matters a great deal more than anyone thought in the fight to halt and reverse climate change.The built environment can switch from being a problem to a solution - much nicer places to occupy that just happen to pull carbon out of the air.____TeamHosted & Produced by Kristof IrwinEngineered & Edited by Nico MignardiProduced by M. Walker

“Doing your best in this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” -Oprah Winfrey    A critical element in the decarbonization of homes is the embodied carbon produced in the construction of homes. As the current RESNET Carbon Index® only covers the carbon produced due to energy used in a home, what do we do next? What type of standards exists to perform this assessment? What are the challenges and roadmap ahead? Recently, the RESNET Board of Directors formally authorized the creation of an effort to explore the development of a residential embodied carbon standard. The first step in this process is the creation of an advisory committee that will review the development of the standard, provide suggestions on how to proceed, and vet drafts of the guidelines. Our guest today is Chris Magwood, Chair of the RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee. Chris' full-time role is the Manager of Carbon-Free Buildings at RMI. I found this topic fascinating as we explored the data and the impact on people, businesses, and the environment. My big takeaway was that the stacked benefits are wins all the way around, and pursuing these efforts is not likely to be cost-prohibitive, perhaps cost-beneficial. LINKS: Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-magwood-8a8a9738/ RESNET blog post on The RESNET Embodied Carbon Advisory Committee:  https://www.resnet.us/about/resnet-carbon-rating-index/resnet-appoints-advisory-committee-to-investigate-development-of-standard-to-calculate-the-embodied-carbon-in-homes/   RESTalk EP113 on the Carbon Index update: https://restalk.libsyn.com/ep113-update-on-resnet-carbon-index-with-philip-fairey-and-david-goldstein   Info on the RESNET Carbon Index: https://www.resnet.us/about/resnet-carbon-rating-index/     RESTalk: To the RESNET community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us Or for more info on this topic contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US  

FHB Contributor Ian Schwandt talks to Chris Magwood, Director of Research at Builders for Climate Action, about tools for measuring the embodied carbon of building materials and how to build using carbon-storing materials.

In this episode of This Must Be the Place, Shawna chats with Chris MagWood, a crusader for reversing climate change and for the past 25 years he has dedicated his career to inspiring and assisting others to do the same. He currently holds two positions—Manager in the Carbon Free Buildings program at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and as Director at Builders for Climate Action, an organization which he helped to establish. Highlights from this episode: • Find out why Chris “got really obsessed with metrics”. • Learn about the tool that Chris created that measures embodied carbon that you can download. • Hear what Chris has to say about moving the needle to meet our embodied carbon benchmarks by 2030 and beyond. buildersforclimateaction.org rmi.org Host/Producer - Shawna Henderson shawna@bluehouseenergy.com Producer - Tanya Chedrawy tanya@tanyamedia.com Technical Producer - Michael Boyd michaelboyd@podcastatlantic.com Social Media – Anita Kirkbride www.twirp.ca A Production of: Blue House Energy bluehouseenergy.com/ Tanya Media tanyamedia.com Podcast Atlantic podcastatlantic.com/ Blue House Energy's Website by R & G - The Sustainability Agency https://www.rgstrategic.com/ Music from Arches Audio - https://archesaudio.com/ Title of Song - "Road Trip"

Frances Yang is a Structures and Sustainability Specialist at Arup. In addition to her work on projects defining embodied carbon leadership, she has been a mobilizer and leader in the movement, serving on the Carbon Leadership Forum Board, vice chairing the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment, and co-founding the All for Reuse Initiative, among a host of other advocacy work. Frances talked about the importance of collaboration across disciplines. “No single profession can tackle climate change alone,” she says. She is dedicated to setting ambitious and achievable targets and frameworks to help disciplines meet them. She sees potential for cultural change around waste associated with construction. Frances cites the intelligence in the community and points to Bruce King as an inspiration (he and Chris Magwood have a new book out: Build Beyond Zero). “I am also very inspired by the young people -- they want purpose-driven careers. Seeing more and more of this gives me hope.”

Chris Magwood is once again our guest on the podcast. Today we are discussing calculating materials carbon emissions, which might also be called up front carbon or embodied carbon. Chris and his team at buildersforclimateaction.org have created the BEAM calculator to do just that. We discuss the calculator, what it can do and what its limitations are. Whether it's ok to offset biogenic carbon against higher carbon emitting materials? Some excellent reports into current house construction in Canada and how they can be improved, new and exciting materials coming onto the market and Chris' new book - Build Beyond Zero. Episode Links:https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/BEAM Calculator - https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/beam-estimator.htmlRocky Mountain Institute - https://rmi.org/Build Beyond Zero - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Build-Beyond-Zero-by-Bruce-King-Chris-Magwood/9781642832112Biomason - https://biomason.com/Living Materials Laboratory - https://spot.colorado.edu/~wisr7047/Link for sharing this episode: https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/s1e82Suggested Episodes to listen to Next:How buildings are going to save the world? - Chris Magwood - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/how-buildings-are-going-to-save-the-world-chris-magwood-bs044/Life cycle analysis in construction - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/life-cycle-analysis-in-construction-jane-anderson-bs079/Connect with me:IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilderTwitter - @JNaturalBuilderFacebook - JeffreythenaturalbuilderLinkedIn - JeffreythenaturalbuilderStop Drinking and Start Living PodcastPractical tools and strategies that help you get alcohol out of your way.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Becoming You AgainBecoming You Again is for women going through divorce who need guidance and support. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Smells Like HumansLike spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Chris Magwood  is obsessed with making the best, most energy efficient and carbon-storing, beautiful and inspiring buildings without wrecking the whole darn planet in the attempt. Currently he resides as a manager for Carbon-Free Buildings and a Director with Builders for Climate Action 1:25 Casey Introduction  2:33 Chris introduction   5:30 Straw bale  10:00 Pre- fab considerations  12:00 Hard property costs, development cost, services  14:40 Don't use brick, don't build a basement  18:30 Hempcrete not replacement for concrete  24:30 Nexcam  - wood fiber ICF product - - have a cork insulation option  26:30 BEAM  - build emissions accounting materials, release end of april, free, just materials  38:00 Products to avoid  -  formaldehyde (glued wood particles), plastic and foam, flame retardants, voc's, no VOC paint,   For more from The Conscious Builder and The Conscious Builder Academy: Conscious Builder Academy: www.consciousbuilderacademy.com How to Market and Sell Passive Houses PRE-SALE: https://www.consciousbuilderacademy.com/course/market-and-sell-passive-houses The Conscious Builder: www.theconsciousbuilder.com

We discuss the report created by Material Cultures and ARUP which examines the potential positive impacts of a bioregional construction economy, from improvements in biodiversity to an increase in construction jobs and security; building a case for redistributing the values of the construction industry towards a cleaner, sustainable methodology for growth that is beneficial to all. It can be viewed here.Until recently, little attention has been paid to the carbon impacts of the construction and refurbishing of buildings, with the majority of focus on their operational performance. Substituting carbon intensive technical materials with regenerative resources and materials from the biosphere, which absorb and store natural carbon, could have a significant impact on both the carbon footprint and economy of the UK.The built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. If we intend to halt the progress of the climate and ecological breakdown, we must find new ways to design and to build.List of resources, suggested materials, and social media handles:https://materialcultures.org/Research website - https://materialcultures.org/research-ney/The Report https://materialcultures.org/2021-circular-biobased-construction-in-the-north-east-and-yorkshire/https://www.arup.com/Carbon Copies - https://materialcultures.org/publication-carbon-copies/Adaptavate - https://adaptavate.com/Central Saint Martins, UAL - https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martinsInsulate Britain Interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJOFANOC4EWholewoods (Adrian Leaman) Roundwood timber framing course - http://wholewoods.co.uk/roundwood-timber-framing-course/Spotify invests in AI defence Tech - https://www.nme.com/news/music/artists-criticise-spotify-ceo-daniel-eks-investment-in-ai-defence-tech-3107864Suggested Episodes to listen to:Chris Magwood - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/how-buildings-are-going-to-save-the-world-chris-magwood-bs044/Janna Laan Lomas - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/sustainable-architecture-design-materials-and-cost-janna-laan-lomas/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability)

Chris Magwood not only has a huge wealth of experience building straw bale homes, but has the building science Masters degree to back up his experience.  We discuss how the built environment can go from being the worst offender for climate change, to every building being a carbon store, so actively reversing climate change. LinksChris Magwood website - https://www.chrismagwood.ca/Endeavour Centre website - https://endeavourcentre.org/Canada's Greenest Home - https://endeavourcentre.org/project/canadas-greenest-home/Living Building Challenge - https://living-future.org/lbc/Video showing waste water heat recovery - https://youtu.be/QuFF_U2YW3o?t=419Encyclopedia of sustainable materials - https://endeavourcentre.org/resources/sustainable-building-encyclopedia/Building Emissions Accounting for Materials (BEAM) - https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/beam-calculator.htmlLow-Rise Buildings as aClimate Change Solution (Whitepaper) - https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/whitepaper1.htmlUniversity of Bath Embodied energy and carbon in construction - https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/embodied-energy-and-carbon-in-construction-materialsGramitherm (Grass insulation) - https://gramitherm.ch/?lang=enLloyd Alter - Rename embodied carbon to upfront carbon - https://www.treehugger.com/lets-rename-embodied-carbon-upfront-carbon-emissions-4855487Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability)

On the eve of the 1st anniversary of when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, I mourn the loss of my best friend who lost his short-lived fight to it last month. I made this mix in an attempt to process my shock, my disbelief that years of talking to him every single day have been undone, and came to an indisputable irreversible end, in a matter of a week. He was my rock through thick and thin and I never imagined losing him this soon, at the young age of 36. But I also made this for all of you out there who lost a dearly beloved, be it to any cause, foreseen or sudden. Much has been written about grief, but contending with it and living in a post-traumatic shock is something no one can prepare you for. Words escape me and I find myself in whirlwind of emotions that come in unpredictable waves. Emotions like anger, denial, sorrow, disbelief and regret. I go about my day feeling numb, aimless and dejected. I'm told time is a healer, but what if I don't want to be healed? I'm scared of our memories fading into oblivion. Maybe this mix will be a solace for all of us who grieve. It has the highs and lows, the ebbs and flows, the wave of emotions that come to define our experience living with such insurmountable loss. And to Chris I whisper: Goodbye, my friend; your journey has ended. Your struggles have now begun to cease. Time to close your eyes to happy dreams And wake to eternal peace. Goodbye, my friend; I don't want to let go. We've been together many years. It's hard to see what lies ahead. It's blurry through the tears. Our two souls are forever entwined. There will always be a hollow spot. I will miss you until it becomes my time. Making this mix was a labor of love. If you feel like showing your appreciation, buy me a cup of a coffee (uppmixes.com/donate). You can also share this with your friends, rate it or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you subscribed to this podcast. Thank you. For something calmer and quieter, check out my other podcast: Calm Pills, which are soothing atmospheric ambient albums, seamlessly mixed to help with relaxation, meditation, reading or deep sleep. Mostly consisting of instrumental ambient sounds and soft piano music, these mixes will help you completely relax your mind and body. https://link.chtbl.com/CalmPills The post Chill Pill 39 first appeared on Uplifting Pills.

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt1-will-stanwix-bs24In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too.This is the first part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. We recorded a conversation right at the beginning of lockdown , then decided to shelve that on and do something better! For this, we took turns to ask each other questions and go off on geeky/silly tangents. I've always enjoyed talking to Will as he isn't afraid to talk about failures. His honesty about not knowing all the answers is refreshing and really helps you to learn. Episode sponsored by https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/In this episode we discuss -Our favourite bindersRebecca Reid (Our favourite plasterer)Our favourite toolsClay floor mixesOur natural building herosIf you'd like to hear the original recording, where Will talks about the writing of the Hempcrete book, and how he built and financed building his own home - you can find this on the building sustainability Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability BS24 - Natural Builder Question Time Pt1 - Will Stanwix LinksThe hempcrete book - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/William-Stanwix/The-Hempcrete-Book--Designing-and-building-with-hemp-lime/16155784Emily Reynolds - Japan's Clay Walls - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9064462-japan-s-clay-wallsJames Henderson - Clay walls - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3592234-earth-render---the-art-of-clay-plaster-render-and-paintsGraham Durrant - http://hemplimespray.co.uk/HG Matthews - https://www.hgmatthews.com/Barbara Jones - https://strawworks.co.uk/Sun Ray Kelly - https://www.sunraykelley.com/Lloyd Kahn Books - https://www.shelterpub.com/Sukita - https://www.claylin.com/Bill & Athena Steen - http://www.caneloproject.com/Chris Magwood - http://endeavourcentre.org/Japanese plastering tools - https://japaneseplastering.com/My mixer - https://multiquip.co.uk/product/multiquip-concrete-mixer/Refina trowels https://www.refina.co.uk/polishing-trowels/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability)

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt2-will-stanwix-bs25In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too.This is the second part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. For this, we took turns to ask each other questions and go off on geeky/silly tangents. I've always enjoyed talking to Will as he isn't afraid to talk about failures. His honesty about not knowing all the answers is refreshing and really helps you to learnIn this episode we discuss -What would you tell the younger version of yourself about natural buildingWet trades Vs Dry tradesOur favourite booksWhat do you call your job title?Favourite natural building productIs Natural Building cheap?If you'd like to hear the original recording, where Will talks about the writing of the Hempcrete book, and how he built and financed building his own home - you can find this on the building sustainability Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainabilityBS25 - Natural Builder Question Time Pt2 - Will Stanwix LinksFoamglas - Glapor - https://www.lime.org.uk/products/glapor-foamed-glass-gravel/glapor-recycled-foamed-glass-rfg.htmlLeca clay balls - https://www.leca.co.uk/Lime green warmshell wood fibre board - https://www.lime-green.co.uk/warmshellEmily Reynolds - Japan's Clay Walls - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9064462-japan-s-clay-wallsJames Henderson - Clay walls - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3592234-earth-render---the-art-of-clay-plaster-render-and-paintsLloyd Kahn Books - https://www.shelterpub.com/Chris Magwood - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Chris-Magwood/Making-Better-Buildings--A-Comparative-Guide-to-Sustainab/16005285Franz Volhard - https://www.waterstones.com/book/light-earth-building/franz-volhard/9783035606348Historic England practical conservation - https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/practical-building-conservation/Tom Woolley - Health and Indoor Air Quality - https://www.celticsustainables.co.uk/building-materials-health-and-indoor-air-quality-tom-woolley/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability)

This episode features Chris Magwood, who is our neighbor to the North. He talks to us about the industry's successes and struggles and what he hopes for the future. But...we don't just talk about hemp, Chris is a natural building omnivore and you'll never be able to guess the other plants he uses to build houses!

In 2017, the Endeavour Centre set out to make a prototype home that would meet several key criteria. First the building needed to be completely modular, able to be constructed on site in less than a week and also be able to taken apart and reassembled multiple time. Secondly, the building needed to have a zero carbon footprint, contain zero toxins and produce zero waste. Casey Grey is joined by Chris Magwood from the Endeavour Centre and Cheryl Atkinson, Architect and Associate Professor of Architectural Science at Ryerson University in Toronto. Together, along with the help of some students, they made this project a reality.

We discuss the evolution of sustainable construction and how issues like embodied carbon inspired a rethink The post Making Better Buildings for People & Planet: Chris Magwood of Endeavour Centre appeared first on SEE Change Magazine.

I've been looking forward to speaking with my next guest for a long time now. Chris Magwood is the founder and director of the Endeavour center, which provides experiential education at the intersection of high-performance and natural building. Chris is a self proclaimed building “omnivore” who experiments with any and all materials and techniques he can get his hands on. He has dedicated his career to making the best, most energy efficient, beautiful and inspiring buildings without wrecking the planet in the attempt. I've followed his work and especially his books as I've been learning about all sorts of natural building innovations because Chris has done an amazing job of comparing and contrasting various natural materials to make it easier to choose which of the options available would be best suited for the context and design of a building. In this interview Chris talks about how he fell in love with natural building as he aspired to build his own home. From there we go into detail about some of the most important considerations when designing a sustainable home and how even natural buildings can be consumptive and wasteful if designed incorrectly for their place and climate. Chris also unpacks some of the popular building standards and why using them as design guides can limit the full potential of an ecologically responsible project if followed too rigidly. We also discuss one of the biggest challenges for natural builders, and that's the codes and regulations that can be tricky to navigate if the regulatory bodies are treated as adversaries from the beginning. I especially like his observations from his extensive experience working with, rather than against the building inspectors in Canada for so many years. This is a really practical and pragmatic look at the wide variety of options and considerations for natural builders and owner-builders. This episode kicks off a series dedicated to all aspects of building and design that facilitates a regenerative lifestyle. Be sure to stay tuned to the next few weeks of episodes as I'll be speaking with builders and designers focusing on in-depth topics and natural building materials. Resources: Workshop Schedule from the Endeavour Center The Endeavour Center Buy Chris' books from New Society Publishers If you're like me, you've dreamed of having a permaculture farm for a long time, but knowing where to start can be tricky, even if you've taken a PDC or other design courses. That's why I want to tell you about the Permaculture Farm Design Course, put together by my friend and frequent contributor to this podcast, William Horvath from thepermacultureapprentice.com. This course is the simplest, easiest way to design your permaculture farm without spending thousands of dollars on in person PDCs, or hiring professional designers or consultants.   This course is the culmination of William's research and the most important lessons he learned from permaculture giants like Geoff Lawton, Darren Doherty, David Holmgren, and Mark Shepard, all boiled down to a simple step-by-step roadmap that anyone can follow. William has simplified the entire design process and meticulously laid down how each phase of the process works, with simple instructions and design examples so you can come up with a design for your permaculture farm in as little as one week.  You don't even need any previous design experience or a PDC to get the most out of this course, just a willingness to learn and follow the system outlined in the program. In a short time you'll have a plan that has a clear set of goals to allow you to make your vision a reality  What's more, when you type in the code “design” at checkout, you'll receive 10% off the price of the course. Make your dream of regenerative living a reality today. Click on the link in the show notes of this episode and fast-track your way to natural abundance with the Permaculture Farm Design Course.

For More on Mike Maines Residential Design click HERE!For More on Bob Swinburne click HERE or HEREAnd Bob mentioned the keynote speaker Chris Magwood during our discussion, so you can learn more about him HERE

Can construction be zero waste? Better yet, can natural building actually help reverse climate change?! This week I talk to Chris Magwood from The Endeavour Centre Building School all about sustainability in construction projects. Everything from sourcing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved materials to sequestering carbon in the homes we build, zero waste construction is absolutely possible! Endeavour Centre Website: http://endeavourcentre.org/ Drawdown - 100 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming: https://www.drawdown.org/ New episodes every Sunday. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor, Overcast and more. Contact us at practicallyzerowaste@gmail.com Instagram @practicallyzerowastepod and @elsbethcallaghan Facebook Practically Zero Waste Podcast Support the podcast at www.anchor.fm/practicallyzerowaste/support Have a great week! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/practicallyzerowaste/message

Chris Magwood, a director at the Endeavour Centre in Canada, explains the importance of embodied carbon and how building with plant-based materials could transform our new homes into carbon sinks. Check out the show notes for more information.

Buckminster Fuller famously said that “waste materials are simply resources we haven’t found a use for.” So, what if we could use agricultural waste products like corn husks or coconut coir as building materials? The truth is that we can, and a number of innovative sustainable builders are working to not just reduce the carbon emissions associated with construction but turn homes and commercial buildings into carbon storage units.  Chris Magwood is the executive director of The Endeavour Centre, a nonprofit sustainable building school in Ontario. He is also the author of seven books on sustainable building and the former operator of Camel’s Back Construction, a company responsible for the design and construction of 30-plus straw-bale homes and commercial buildings. Jacob Deva Racusin is the co-owner of New Frameworks, a carbon responsive building company offering services in green remodeling and new construction. He is a BPI-certified contractor and Certified Passive House Consultant and an active member of the Embodied Carbon Network’s Renewable Materials Task Force. Today, Chris and Jacob join Ross, Christophe, and Alexsandra to explain how they each came to build straw-bale homes for their families—and how those independent ventures grew into businesses. They discuss the top themes covered at the Living Future Conference, including the connections between climate action and social justice and the need to leverage systems thinking as we scale climate solutions in building. Chris and Jacob share the possibilities around carbon beneficial multifamily buildings and walk us through the benefits of several carbon responsive building materials. Listen in for insight into end-of-life considerations for drawdown buildings and learn how we might leverage agricultural waste in a particular region to construct buildings that store carbon and reverse climate change now!   Resources  Endeavour Centre New Frameworks Living Future Conference Making Better Buildings: A Comparative Guide to Sustainable Construction for Homeowners and Contractors by Chris Magwood Chris, Jacob & Ace’s Carbon Drawdown NOW! Presentation Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows Kate Simenon on RCC EP061 The Tyranny of Metrics by Jerry Z. Muller Ann Edminster Amanda Ravenhill on RCC EP019 ICAO Biomimicry Institute WWF’s Greener Skies? Presentation Fibersheds on RCC EP070 Carbon Leadership Forum Embodied Carbon Network Architecture 2030 Carbon Smart Materials Palette   Connect with Ross & Christophe Nori Nori on Facebook Nori on Twitter Nori on Medium Nori on YouTube Nori on GitHub Nori Newsletter Email hello@nori.com Nori White Paper Subscribe on iTunes Carbon Removal Newsroom   Key Takeaways [0:45] Chris’ path to reversing climate change Built first straw-bale house in Ontario for family Grew into contracting + teaching business Master’s to study climate impacts of building [6:26] Jacob’s path to reversing climate change Search for home (wife chemically sensitive) Solution to build own straw-bale house Cofound carbon responsive building company [10:57] The top themes at the Living Future Conference Climate action + social justice simultaneous Approach from systems thinking perspective [14:19] The concept of decolonizing buildings Put life back in soil AND plant stock in building Connection between ecological + social justice [18:26] The value in both reductionist AND systems thinking Start with simple answer (e.g.: switch out foam for fiberboard) Consider product chain as scale up, look at systems Example to study embodied impact of passive house [24:41] The possibilities around carbon beneficial multifamily buildings Biogenetic materials in interiors (non-toxic certifications) Moderate-story, mixed-use can store more carbon than skyscrapers [32:24] Other innovative carbon beneficial building materials Hempcrete Coconut coir Aggregate from carbonated waste Agricultural residue [40:59] How to identify ag waste for building materials 10% of straw grown in US annually could insulate 2M homes Map ecological services provided by developing regions [45:38] The end-of-life considerations re: carbon stored in buildings Build new construction to last long time Make dismantlable Turn into biochar, use stalk for fuel [48:36] Why it’s easy to measure carbon storage in buildings Variables skew numbers in energy-efficient buildings One pound of straw = 48% carbon  [50:44] How listeners can promote drawdown building Organizations like Carbon Leadership Forum, Architecture 2030 Encourage alignment of regenerative ag + building industries Support regional manufacturing (e.g.: micro-factories on farms) Involvement in execution of climate policy

More on Chris Magwood and the Endeavor Centre at: http://endeavourcentre.org/ and https://www.chrismagwood.ca/

In this interview Chris Magwood from the Endeavour Centre talks about sustainable building practices that we can incorporate into our builds now. Chris Magwood Contact:   chris@endeavourcentre.org http://endeavourcentre.org/ Instagram: Endeavour_centre Watch the interview on youtube here: https://youtu.be/JRt0GAKoRvM and stay tuned for our campus and work site tour that we'll be sharing on our youtube channel. Make sure to subscribe to our channel so you don't miss it. Enquiries: Email: info@TheConsciousBuilder.com Direct: 613.693.0914   Social Media www.theconsciousbuilder.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theconsciousbuilder https://twitter.com/buildconscious https://www.instagram.com/the_conscious_builder/   Disclaimer   Videos produced by The Conscious Builder Inc. are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in the videos is intended to give general guidance to simplify residential construction projects. Because tools, products, materials, equipment, techniques, building codes and local regulations are continually changing, The Conscious Builder Inc cannot and does not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained therein. Further, The Conscious Builder will not accept any claim for liability related to, but not limited to, omissions, errors, injury, damage or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project. If there are any questions or doubt in regards to the element of a plan, please consult with a licensed professional.  

Chris Magwood is the Executive Director of The Endeavour Centre, a not-for-profit sustainable building school based in Peterborough Ontario.  In 2012, his organization built “Canada's Greenest Home”, an amazing example of sustainable building practices applied in a mainstream, urban setting. Chris has written books and articles on the “building green” subject, including his book, Making Better Buildings: A Comparative Guide for Sustainable Construction. Chris is an absolute inspiration and one of the top change makers in the sustainable building industry!