Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti committed all new or substantially rehabilitated buildings owned by the city to be 100 percent carbon free. Los Angeles also will be the first local government to adopt the state’s Buy Clean California Act, requiring carbon emissions reductions from construction materials beginning in 2021.
The news from L.A. is relevant to two thought leadership articles we’re highlighting this month...
Sorry, I’ve Got Gas
Rocky Mountain Institute’s Mike Henchen says 2020 could be a turning point for building-sector emissions as cities in the U.S. turn a critical eye to the debate over natural gas vs. electric. He points to compelling figures regarding carbon emissions, climate goals and aging infrastructure. Currently 500,000 new customers are added to the U.S. natural gas system each year, but to reduce direct building emissions in line with 2050 goals “cities will have to pursue policies that end the expansion of new gas infrastructure and accelerate the transition to electric heating and cooking,” he wrote.
In Greentech Media (850 words)
Why States Need to Ban New Gas Hookups in Buildings (in 5 Charts)
Embody and Spirit
A 10 to 25 percent reduction in embodied carbon is achievable for most building projects today, says Jennifer O’Connor, president of the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. But getting to zero embodied carbon by 2050 will be a massive undertaking requiring new supply-side solutions, demand-side drivers, and a leap forward in whole-building LCAs. "There are a lot of hurdles to be cleared before embodied carbon becomes a common focus in mainstream design and construction," she wrote.
In Canadian Architect (2,750 words)
What Can We Do About Embodied Carbon?
If You Don’t Have Your Health...
Here’s a perfect example of a reactive thought-leadership opportunity. Harvard professor Joseph Allen penned an important op-ed about the role building systems play in controlling the spread of illnesses like coronavirus. It was also a great time to raise awareness of his forthcoming book, Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity. “We need to put our buildings to work for us in the fight against infectious diseases. This includes coronavirus and influenza, which kills between 300,000 and 500,000 people every year,” he wrote.
In Financial Times (750 words)
How Healthy Buildings Can Help Us Fight Coronavirus
Step Up To the Mic
Common wisdom tells us people who don’t want power often make the best leaders. Similarly, quiet people often have the most interesting things to say. Both situations can be a dilemma when it comes to promoting thought leadership.
From New Growth
Practical Tips for Reluctant Thought Leaders
Free Download For You (PDF)
21 Green Building Publications That Want Your Articles
Includes descriptions, rankings and tips on submission
New Thought Leadership Resources
International Living Future Institute (ILFI) released two new resources. One is a policy toolkit for advocates working to create local incentives for ILFI projects. The other is an Embodied Carbon Guidance Document that aims “to provide rigorous and authentic practices and methodologies that help draw a common understanding of embodied carbon.”
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) co-produced a report on energy efficiency and green leasing strategies for Class B/C office buildings. Unlocking Hidden Value in Class B/C Office Buildings suggests owners can achieve up to 6 percent higher net operating incomes and $11 per square foot higher property values.
Dodge Data & Analytics published Prefabrication and Modular Construction 2020. It’s a 65-page document that looks at the current state of the market for these construction methods, as well as the benefits and obstacles to adoption.
On a personal note...
I’m proud to have joined the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Georgia’s College of Environment + Design, which has one of the top-ranked landscape architecture programs in the U.S. according to Design Intelligence.
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Until next month,
Bart King
