Certificate Program: Low-Carbon Concrete: Quantification, Design, and Compliance

Notes/Preview

ACI Certificate Programs, delivered through ACI University, encourage concrete professionals to gain in-depth knowledge about particular topics in concrete materials, design, or construction by following a defined online course of study. Once a certificate program has been completed, the participant will receive a certificate and digital badge from ACI. Learn more about ACI Certificate Programs.

Description

The primary purpose of this program is to educate attendees on the principles, tools, and practices used to understand, quantify, and reduce the embodied carbon of concrete. The program provides a structured introduction to how carbon considerations are integrated into modern concrete design, material selection, specification, and construction, while maintaining required performance, durability, and constructability.

The program addresses the technical foundations of embodied carbon in concrete, including the role of cementitious binders, mixture design, and structural efficiency, as well as the use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and Product Category Rules (PCRs) to measure and communicate environmental impacts. Participants are introduced to current and emerging codes, standards, and policy frameworks including ACI Code 323 Low Carbon Concrete along with an overview of on-going international and federal initiatives that influence low-carbon concrete requirements and decision-making. The certificate further examines practical strategies for reducing carbon at the material, mixture, and structural system levels; the use of performance-based and carbon-focused specifications; and the responsibilities and risks associated with achieving low-carbon objectives in practice. Emerging innovations, including high-performance materials, durability-driven design, and circular-economy approaches, are discussed to provide context for future pathways toward low- and zero-carbon concrete.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the sources of embodied carbon in concrete and the role of design and material decisions in reducing it.

2. Interpret and apply codes, standards, policies, LCAs, and EPDs related to low-carbon concrete.

3. Evaluate and implement mixture, material, and structural strategies to reduce carbon while meeting performance requirements.

4. Apply carbon-informed specification, submittal, and project delivery practices to manage risk and accountability.

5. Recognize emerging technologies and circular-economy approaches shaping the future of low-carbon concrete.

Document Details

Publication Year: 2026

ISBN:

Categories: Buildings, Carbon Neutral, Codes, Definitions, Specifications, Sustainability

Formats: Online Learning

Table of Contents

On-demand courses included in the Low-Carbon Concrete Certificate Program:

1. The Why and the What: Understanding Carbon in Concrete (1.5 PDH)

2. Frameworks and Provisions: Codes, Standards, and Policy (2 PDH)

3. Measuring and Managing Carbon in Practice (1.5 PDH)

4. Materials and Mixture Strategies for Low Carbon Concrete (2 PDH)

5. Structural Efficiency and High-Performance Materials (1 PDH)

6. Specifications, Submittals, and Responsibility in Practice (2 PDH)

7. Innovations and the Circular Future of Concrete (1 PDH)

ERRATA INFO

Any applicable errata are included with individual documents at the time of purchase. Errata are not included for collections or sets of documents such as the ACI Collection. For a listing of and access to all product errata, visit the Errata page.

Return/Exchange Policy

Printed / Hard Copy Products: The full and complete returned product will be accepted if returned within 60 days of receipt and in salable condition. A 20% service charge applies. Return shipping fees are the customer’s responsibility.

Electronic /Downloaded Products & Online Learning Courses: These items are not eligible for return.

Subscriptions These items are not eligible for return.

Exchanges: Contact ACI’s Customer Services Department for options (+1.248.848.3800 – ACICustomerService@concrete.org).

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