Building Transparency, a non-profit dedicated to open-access data for a sustainable built environment, has announced the development of Tally® 2.0. This next iteration of their popular tallyLCA tool is being created in collaboration with KieranTimberlake, a renowned architecture firm. The initiative aims to enhance the building industry’s ability to understand and reduce the environmental impact of construction materials and design choices.
“We are honored to partner with Building Transparency on the development of Tally 2.0,” stated Ryan Welch, Principal and Research Director at KieranTimberlake. “By transitioning Tally to a free and open-access tool, we aim to move the AEC industry towards design strategies that minimize environmental impact.” This move signifies a commitment to democratizing access to crucial environmental assessment data, empowering more professionals to make informed decisions.
Tally 2.0 is designed to build upon the existing tool’s capabilities, introducing new features that will better facilitate environmentally conscious and carbon-smart decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. This aligns with Building Transparency’s core mission of providing accessible and transparent life cycle assessment (LCA) data. Stacy Smedley, Executive Director of Building Transparency, emphasized, “Our mission at Building Transparency is centered around providing the tools and resources needed to drive embodied carbon reductions in the building industry. With Tally 2.0, we are continuing this commitment by giving a major update to a tool that we know is working well but can be further improved to support our users.”
The Evolution of tallyLCA
The development of Tally 2.0 marks the latest phase in a productive partnership between Building Transparency and KieranTimberlake, focused on creating an ecosystem of tools that support carbon reduction efforts in the AEC sector. In 2021, KieranTimberlake gifted tallyLCA to Building Transparency, entrusting them with its ongoing management, hosting, and development. TallyLCA was groundbreaking as the first LCA application that enabled designers to calculate the environmental impacts of their buildings directly within Revit®. Its primary focus has been on empowering designers to make higher-level design and material type choices, which are critical first steps in minimizing a project’s environmental footprint. Currently, tallyLCA serves a substantial user base of nearly 3,500 professionals in the AEC industry.
What to Expect in Tally 2.0
The public release of Tally 2.0 is anticipated in 2025. Building Transparency and KieranTimberlake are currently in the early stages of development, actively engaging with key industry stakeholders to ensure the roadmap for the tool’s advancement is aligned with user needs and industry standards. Several features are being planned for the new version, including:
- Interactive, in-tool reporting: Enhanced reporting capabilities directly within the Tally interface for greater efficiency.
- Alignment with industry reporting standards: Ensuring that the data and reports generated by Tally 2.0 meet recognized industry benchmarks.
- Improved user interface: Designs focused on increasing flexibility and the overall quality of LCA modeling for a more intuitive user experience.
Professionals interested in Tally 2.0 can connect with the development team. For specific inquiries or to request a free trial of the current tallyLCA, please email support@choosetally.com. This development represents a significant step forward in making sophisticated environmental assessment tools more accessible and user-friendly.