Author: Amanda Jara
ABSTRACT: Operational Carbon is the CO2 emissions that are associated with the operations in the buildings / infrastructures themselves.
MAIN
Operating carbon is the most basic term used to describe the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gases into the world when buildings are built and in full operation. Energy is the most basic need that is used by everyone in the world, so, how it is being used, where it is coming from, and how it could be used better, is what is on everyone’s mind. How we can get the world to be a carbon neutral place, is the main question proposed by many when a new infrastructure is being built. With all of this in mind, there are actions that need to take place for the world to become carbon neutral.
There are several actions that researchers have said need to take place to help combat operation carbon and help make the world a carbon neutral place by the year 2030. The biggest impact to global energy consumption and CO2 emissions are cities itself. Cities create almost 70% of the emissions because of the buildings and the urban environments. After tons of research, it has been proven over the years that the main contributor to operation carbon being so high would be the lighting, ventilation (heating/cooling), water heating, and just regularly used energy itself (Architecture, 2030). In several reports done by many professionals in the field, it has been shown that in an average building today their operating carbon energy usage is up to 70% of their overall energy consumption. All efforts have been made to make a big change in the world to impact carbon completely and become completely carbon neutral. All the strategies include using renewable energy sources, completely reducing energy usage, completely changing the way the buildings are being powered, change lighting to a renewable source, etc.
Becoming Carbon neutral has been the most important thing in the world for the best change to happen. With the change in operating carbon happening in the urban environment it will take not only the existing buildings but also the new upcoming buildings to a whole new level with being carbon neutral and impacting climate change not only now but in the future as well. There have been a number of cities that have talked about making these commitments and have tried to put plans into place, but still do not have clear plans for a complete change.
The prediction that has been made by the group of architecture 2030, is that by the year 2030 the world will be completely neutral in the new constructed building and will be at 50% in the existing building. With these predictions the world is in for a completely big change, the world will be carbon neutral in no time, with the small steps taken with change the world can combat climate change and make the world a better place.
RESOURCES:
The Gensler CITIES climate CHALLENGE: Impact by design 2020. (2020, April 20). Retrieved February, 2021, from https://www.gensler.com/the-gensler-cities-climate-challenge-impact-by-design-2020
Operational carbon. (n.d.). Retrieved February, 2021, from https://www.steelconstruction.info/Operational_carbon#Introduction
Architecture, 2030. (2020). Existing buildings: Operational emissions. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://architecture2030.org/existing-building-actions/