Reimagining Building Codes for a More Sustainable Future
At the NCSEA Foundation, we believe structural engineers are key to building a more sustainable world. Through the CURE initiative (Code Updates for Reduction of Embodied-carbon), we’re helping reshape the standards that shape our skylines—making buildings smarter, more efficient, and better for the planet.
The People Behind the Progress
Leadership from NCSEA is at the heart of the CURE initiative. Ron Klemencic, Secretary of the NCSEA Foundation Board of Directors, is spearheading the effort, bringing together key stakeholders and guiding the project’s collaboration with industry partners. Supporting him are Kelly Roberts, who represents the Foundation on the Advisory Board Panel, and Emily Guglielmo, serving as NCSEA’s representative on the Embodied Carbon Code Review Committee. Together, their expertise and commitment are helping ensure structural engineers remain central to shaping a more sustainable future.
Why It Matters
Many of today’s structural design codes haven’t been significantly updated in more than 50 years. That means outdated assumptions and built-in inefficiencies often lead to unnecessary material use—and unnecessary carbon emissions.
Structural engineers influence nearly 15% of the world’s CO₂ emissions through the materials they specify. Even a 1% reduction in steel and concrete use could match the impact of taking 10 million gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year.
What We’re Doing
In partnership with ASCE/SEI, AISC, ACI, the Charles Pankow Foundation, Climate Works, University of Colorado, Boulder, and the MKA Foundation, the NCSEA Foundation is supporting CURE, a first-of-its-kind project to:
- Identify and recommend updates to core design standards like ASCE 7, ACI 318, and AISC
- Improve material efficiency
- Reduce embodied carbon at scale
One of the key benefits of this initiative is early access to the project’s findings and progress, with quarterly updates expected. Our expert-led CURE committee kicked off its work at the 2025 Towards Zero Carbon Summit and will deliver formal recommendations by June 2026.
How You Can Help
With a minimum gift of $1,000, your firm can:
- Join this forward-thinking coalition
- Gain early access to draft recommendations
- Provide input that shapes the next generation of building codes
Your partnership helps make meaningful change possible—not just for the profession, but for the planet. Donate today.