Architects, engineers, and construction professionals should move aggressively to encourage more clients to build to net zero, says Gunnar Hubbard, FAIA, LEED Fellow, in a column posted at Real Estate Weekly.
Dire warnings in the latest climate report by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change require bold action in the built environment, Hubbard writes. “Not all clients are environmentally aware or proactive to the same degree,” he writes. “Regardless, we must do everything in our power to educate them, and should not wait for them to ask how their projects can be more sustainable.”
The AEC profession has the knowledge and the tools to achieve net zero, and in many cases the budget allows that standard to be reached, he writes. This can be done by making the investment and ROI clear, “and getting away from unreasonable paybacks of 3-5 years as a cap on improved performance.”
Thermally sound, climate-responsive architecture including taking into account sun path movement and wind direction, and defining levels of comfort for the building type are critical. That approach, combined with smarter system selection for ventilation and comfort that can be tuned for increased controllability and performance will help achieve the net zero goal.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2016
Ontario planning to spend $7 billion on wide-ranging climate change plan
Includes financial incentives to retrofit buildings.
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2016
Facility managers say Internet of Things, analytics will impact maintenance soon
More reliable data needed for optimal results from the technology.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2016
Industry leaders call for wider use of bamboo as a building material
Benefits include seismic resiliency and sustainability.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2016
Asphalt roofing group publishes updated shingle installation guide
Technical manual provides best practices for roofing professionals.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2016
EPA proposes new stormwater discharge regulations for construction sites
Would apply to sites of one or more acres.
Roofing | May 16, 2016
New guide focused on increasing energy and structural performance with raised-heel trusses
Higher trusses simplify attic ventilation, leave more space for insulation.
Codes and Standards | May 11, 2016
Current California seismic codes provide safety, resiliency, but needed upgrades present challenge
Los Angeles requires seismic retrofits, but other cities do not.
Codes and Standards | May 10, 2016
Apple spars with Cupertino, Calif., mayor over strained city infrastructure
Apple’s new ‘spaceship’ campus project prompts questions about whether the company should pay more to offset traffic woes.
Codes and Standards | May 9, 2016
Safety Stand-Down yields proposals to boost construction safety
One example: Gilbane encourages safety harnesses for all working above 6 feet.
Codes and Standards | May 9, 2016
EcoDistricts unveils sustainable neighborhood framework
Focus is on equity, resilience, and climate protection.