Saved by Zero
Image: Bullitt Center in Seattle, WA
300B square meters of building space in the world by 2030, with 65B of those square meters to be added this decade, as noted in Section 1.5 of the Drawdown 2020 Review, and zero net energy goals gaining traction. Without replacement or retrofit, each new building will have its climate impact literally built-in for decades. The building industry sector accounted for 38% of carbon emissions in 2019 per a United Nations study. Buildings and how we live is one of the measurable five grand challenges.
The increase in green building materials and systems is encouraging: heat pumps, smart windows, shared community solar systems, roof water collection systems, laminated wood beams to replace concrete and steel. The art of biophilic design and initiatives like the World Green Building Council living building challenge is integrating the science. Measurement is reflected by indices like the American Clean Power Association clean power by state and Power Sector Carbon Index. A common scoreboard to track when the green premium can be zero or negative would be handy indeed.
Source: Bullitt Center, Seattle WA
Getting the math aligned with design is work in progress: Zero Net Energy (ZNE) efficiency construction and CA Residential Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, EU Building Energy Performance Directives, Powerhouse in Norway, and US Green Building Council and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. Inspiring to see buildings like The Crystal in London and Bullitt Center in Seattle combining art, science, and wellness.
Source: American Clean Power Association
Good to see doers in action: subcontractors like Goldfinch Brothers for living buildings, PAE Consulting Engineers for broader energy consulting, and local consultants like Soldata in Santa Rosa with whom I have some personal business experience. Autodesk Green Building Studio, EnergyPlus, and IES Energy Modeling are a few tools currently available to designers and builders. Seems more everyday decision making tools are still needed to enable an army of doers.
Cheering on startups like Audette (carbon tracking for commercial projects) and BlocPower (heat pumps and other electrified infrastructure for underserved neighborhood buildings).