Building Transparency Launches AI-Enhanced EC3 2.0 for Embodied Carbon Tracking in Construction

Building Transparency, a US-based nonprofit focused on reducing embodied carbon in construction, has launched the public beta of EC3 2.0, an upgraded version of its Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator. Announced on 20 October 2026 at the Greenbuild International Conference in New York, the platform introduces AI-assisted data processing, improved environmental data quality indicators and expanded international coverage to help construction companies compare materials based on their carbon footprints.

The upgraded platform builds on an existing database containing more than 250,000 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across over 200 construction material categories. According to Building Transparency, EC3 currently supports more than 70,000 registered users, 2,000 manufacturers and 19,000 projects across over 80 countries. The latest release aims to make this information easier to access and apply as developers, architects and manufacturers face growing expectations to measure and reduce emissions associated with building materials.

 

AI-Assisted Data Processing Expands Embodied Carbon Analysis

 

EC3 2.0 introduces new data types, AI-assisted data ingestion and quality assessment, alongside updated material comparison and project planning tools. The improvements are designed to help users identify lower-carbon building materials and incorporate environmental data into procurement, construction planning and project-level carbon accounting.

Environmental Product Declarations provide information about the environmental impacts of products across defined stages of their lifecycle. In construction, they are used to assess embodied carbon associated with materials such as concrete, steel, timber and insulation. However, comparing EPDs can be difficult when products are assessed using different methodologies, geographical assumptions or reporting boundaries. EC3 2.0 aims to improve data accessibility and transparency through clearer quality indicators and more consistent digital workflows.

The initial public beta focuses on the Find & Compare Materials functionality, with additional data and features scheduled for release in subsequent phases. Development is supported by funding from the ClimateWorks Foundation, Amazon and Google, alongside other partners. Alison Kinn Bennett, Executive Director of Building Transparency, said, "EC3 2.0 builds on years of progress while expanding access to trusted data, strengthening our global reach and engaging the community that relies on these tools every day."

 

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Global Initiative Targets Gaps in Construction Carbon Data

 

Alongside the platform update, Building Transparency is advancing its Open Data for Climate Initiative (ODCi), which aims to address the shortage of reliable construction material lifecycle data in many international markets. While product-specific EPDs are increasingly available in established markets, limited environmental information can make it difficult for developers in other regions to conduct credible lifecycle assessments or compare material alternatives.

ODCi is developing geographically relevant, generic lifecycle assessment datasets across 58 construction material categories and seven global regions. The current pilot, funded by the Autodesk Foundation, focuses on cement, ready-mix concrete, timber and steel sections. The initiative is developing a shared quality framework under which datasets will undergo independent verification against common guidelines before being made publicly available.

Building Transparency is working with partners including ECO Platform and the University of Washington Life Cycle Lab. Verified datasets are expected to become available through EC3 and the ECO Portal, complementing existing product-specific EPDs. This could improve access to baseline environmental information in regions where manufacturers have not yet developed individual product declarations. However, generic datasets cannot provide the same product-specific evidence as verified EPDs and must be used with appropriate assumptions.

 

Keeping Embodied Carbon Data Open and Accessible

 

Building Transparency is also introducing a membership programme to support the maintenance and future development of EC3. The nonprofit says its core tools and functionality will remain free, while memberships will provide additional features, access to insights and opportunities to participate in product development.

The membership model aims to establish longer-term financial support for open environmental data infrastructure as embodied carbon measurement becomes increasingly relevant to procurement policies, building standards and corporate reporting. Shane Mulligan, Manager of Market Solutions and Development at Heidelberg Materials, said, "Reliable, comparable EPD data is the foundation for every low-carbon decision our customers make." The initiative reflects the growing importance of independent digital platforms that allow manufacturers and project developers to assess materials using consistent environmental information.

 

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What EC3 2.0 Means for Construction Decarbonisation

 

Reducing embodied carbon requires reliable information about emissions generated during material production, transportation, construction and other lifecycle stages. For developers, access to comparable datasets can help identify lower-emission material alternatives during design and procurement, when decisions can have a substantial influence on a building's overall carbon footprint.

EC3 2.0 represents an effort to improve the digital infrastructure supporting these decisions. Its AI-assisted processing capabilities could reduce the effort required to organise environmental data, while the ODCi initiative seeks to extend credible baseline information to less-covered markets. The platform's environmental contribution will depend on the quality of the underlying datasets and whether developers use the information to make measurable changes in material selection and construction practices.

The broader release of EC3 2.0 remains underway, with functionality beyond the initial beta to follow in phases. Its development reflects a growing shift towards making embodied carbon data more accessible and useful throughout construction planning, procurement and reporting.