Decarbonizing America’s Buildings
Source: Medium, Mike Hassaballa
Photo: Biel Morro on Unsplash
Shifting to Renewable Energy Technology and Low-Carbon Heating/Cooling Systems for a Net Zero Future
Inrecent years, the concepts of net zero and decarbonization have gained increasing attention as the world confronts the urgent challenge of addressing climate change. Achieving building decarbonization is a vital part of that, as the built environment generates 40% of annual global CO2 emissions.
This article explores the concepts of net zero and decarbonization, their significance, and their relationship to each other. We also examine the findings and recommendations of the International Energy Agency (IEA) net zero report and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, as they pertain to building decarbonization in the commercial sector. Ultimately the potential solutions, and the potential gains for us all, far outweigh the barriers.
Understanding ‘Net Zero’ and Decarbonization
Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere. This balance is critical to mitigating the impacts of climate change and achieving a sustainable future.
A net-zero building is a building that generates as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis, resulting in a net-zero energy consumption. These buildings typically employ a variety of sustainable design strategies and technologies, such as energy-efficient building materials, renewable energy sources like solar panels, geothermal systems, and efficient heating and cooling systems.
The concept of net-zero building extends beyond just energy use and includes considerations for water conservation (water delivery itself being energy-intensive), waste reduction, and other sustainable practices. These buildings can be residential, commercial, and institutional buildings, and they offer significant environmental and economic benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering energy bills, and providing a healthier living and working environment.
Decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating carbon emissions from various sources, including transportation, energy, and buildings. Achieving building decarbonization in the commercial sector is essential to reducing emissions and meeting net-zero targets. This can be achieved through various strategies such as improving energy efficiency, using renewable energy sources, and implementing carbon capture and storage technologies. The ultimate goal is to transition commercial buildings to a net-zero carbon emissions status.
Decarbonizing commercial buildings is a vital step towards decarbonizing the entire economy, as shown by the infographic below from Visual Capitalist:
Commercial buildings alone in the US are responsible for about 16% of the greenhouse gas emissions according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). By implementing sustainable energy practices, such as using renewable energy technology and low-carbon heating and cooling systems, commercial buildings can reduce their emissions by up to 80%, as estimated by the World Green Building Council. Such a reduction would — and must — play a significant role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and achieving a net-zero future.
Building Decarbonization is Key in Addressing Climate Change
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero by 2050 report and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) reports underline the critical role of building decarbonization in the global effort to address climate change.
According to the IEA report, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires a significant reduction in carbon emissions from buildings, with commercial buildings accounting for a significant portion of these emissions. Other reports suggests that North America will need to retrofit over 1 billion square meters of commercial buildings per year to achieve building decarbonization targets.
Similarly, the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report estimates that global emissions from buildings, including commercial buildings, will need to decrease by 84–87% below 2005 levels by 2050 to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
These reports highlight the urgent need for building decarbonization in the commercial sector in North America and beyond. To achieve this, the reports recommend the implementation of energy-efficient building designs, renewable energy technology, and low-carbon heating and cooling systems. These solutions will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs for building owners and tenants. So why isn’t it happening?
Overcoming Obstacles
Building decarbonization in the commercial sector in North America presents several challenges and opportunities. Financial, technical, and regulatory barriers are among the obstacles that must be overcome to achieve building decarbonization targets.
Financial barriers include the high upfront costs of implementing sustainable energy practices and the lack of financial incentives for building owners and tenants. According to the The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), retrofitting commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency can result in annual energy savings of up to 30%, but the high upfront costs are a significant deterrent for building owners and tenants.
Technical barriers include the lack of expertise and knowledge among building owners and contractors on sustainable energy practices and the lack of access to innovative technologies. This presents a challenge in implementing effective energy-efficient solutions.
Regulatory barriers include the lack of strong policies and regulations that require building owners and tenants to reduce carbon emissions. According to a report by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, building codes and standards can accelerate building decarbonization by promoting energy-efficient building designs and technologies.
To overcome these barriers, several potential solutions can be implemented. One approach is to provide financial incentives for building owners and tenants to invest in sustainable energy practices. This can include tax credits, rebates, and grants. In addition, improving public awareness and education on sustainable energy practices can help building owners and contractors develop the necessary skills and knowledge to implement effective solutions.
Another potential solution is to create strong policies and regulations that require building owners and tenants to reduce carbon emissions. This can include mandatory building performance standards, carbon pricing mechanisms, and building codes that promote energy-efficient designs and technologies.
Progress
There are several commercial buildings in North America that have made progress towards achieving building decarbonization. Here are a few examples and the strategies they have employed:
The Bullitt Center, Seattle, USA: This six-story office building is designed to produce more energy than it consumes, making it a zero carbon building. It generates all of its electricity from a rooftop solar array and uses a rainwater harvesting system to meet all of its water needs.
Mohawk College Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation, Hamilton, Canada: This net-zero energy building is designed to generate as much energy as it uses on an annual basis. It features a range of sustainable design features, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar panels, and a green roof.
The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, Vancouver, Canada: This net-zero energy building is designed to be carbon neutral, generating all of its own energy on-site from solar panels and a ground-source heat pump system. It also features a range of innovative sustainable design features, including a rainwater harvesting system and a living roof.
The Philip Merrill Environmental Center by Chesapeake Bay Foundation Headquarters, Annapolis, USA: This one is dear to my heart because it was the first green building I ever visited. It is a net-zero energy building is designed to be carbon neutral, generating all of its own energy on-site from a combination of geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, and a wind turbine. It also features a range of sustainable design features, including a rainwater harvesting system and a green roof.
Museo del Acero Horno3, Monterrey, Mexico: This former steel mill has been converted into a museum and cultural center featuring a range of sustainable design features, including a rainwater harvesting system, a solar-powered water heating system, and a highly efficient HVAC system.
Achieving building decarbonization in North American commercial buildings is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. While significant challenges remain, such as financial, technical, and regulatory barriers, there are also opportunities to make progress by adopting renewable energy technology and low-carbon heating and cooling systems. Such buildings offer cheaper energy bills, and are healthier, more pleasant places to live and work. By working together and implementing these solutions, we can move closer to achieving a sustainable, clean air, net zero future.
https://medium.com/the-new-climate/decarbonizing-americas-buildings