When designers prioritize these techniques, our impact becomes more powerful. Designers should consider how products are dealt with at end-of-life stages, how systems can be installed efficiently using a more standard process that is easy to repeat, or how the design might decrease construction time by eliminating time leeches that are avoidable or not crucial to the product. Building Operations According to Architecture 2030, 27% of all annual carbon emissions are sourced from building operations. By 2040, twothirds of the global building stock will be made of existing buildings. In other words, the choices we make in today’s design of new buildings and retrofitting existing ones will have a significant impact for years to come. HVAC systems, glazing, insulation, etc., all determine the performance of a building, with older systems understandably creating more pollution. Architecture 2030 also notes, “[f]or full building sector decarbonization, every existing building will need to undergo energy upgrades involving a combination of improvements in the energy efficiency of building operations, a shift to electric or district heating systems powered by carbon-free renewable energy sources, and the generation and/or procurement of carbon-free renewable energy.” Steps that can be taken toward this goal include: • Integrating renewable and lowcarbon technologies to supply energy needs, such as solar panels; • Considering water recycling and how a building impacts adjacent stormwater and drainage systems; • Updating antiquated heating and cooling systems; • Recycling or reusing building maintenance materials; • Upgrading older, inefficient window systems for alternatives that better maintain temperature fluctuation; • Adapting building design to changing climate needs; or • Replacing older lights with LED alternatives. Building Demolition Perhaps one of the biggest flaws in the design of today’s buildings is the inability to easily adapt them for new use. Often, little attention is paid to providing systems, materials, and spaces to ensure the building’s existence for centuries to come. Instead, the focus is placed on current needs. According to a 2018 report by the EPA, 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris were generated in the United States. To mitigate the harmful effects of demolition, we can work with our clients to approach design for longevity and adaptability. This may mean designing more flexible spaces with easily adaptable interior spaces or, from the very beginning, thinking about how a building may be utilized in its community down the road after its original use has expired. Additionally, looking at materials that will hold up for decades or are more timeless in their use and appearance. Recycling construction and demolition materials can help the impact of demolition waste. In 2018, 455 million tons of debris were reused in some form, such as material for construction aggregate, whereas 145 million tons were sent to landfills. Other benefits of reducing the disposal of debris include: • Creates employment and economic activities in recycling industries and provides increased business opportunities within the local community, especially when deconstruction and selective demolition methods are used; • Reduces overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs and the donation of recovered materials to qualified 501(c)(3) charities, which provides a tax benefit. Onsite reuse also reduces transportation costs; • Leads to fewer disposal facilities, potentially reducing the associated environmental issues; • Offsets the environmental impact associated with the extraction and consumption of virgin resources and the production of new materials; • Conserves landfill space; or • Use bio-based and bio-degradable building materials. Through Life Cycle Assessment, we unveil the hidden carbon costs of designing and constructing a building. As designers, we have an immense influence on this impact. Our design decisions have a farreaching effect on environmental health and climate goals that can alleviate environmental disasters. By considering the total life cycle of a structure, material or system, our buildings become smarter tools for making a positive impact for our clients, as well as the places we live, work, and play. 32 REFLEXION | 2022-23 | AIA Utah
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