Rethink of Basic Principles - Design According to specific sustainability Issues, not sustainability

Fundamental design & construction decisions — such as loading criteria, new construction versus upgrading, building size and shape, level of insulation, and floor-space flexibility — can have a significant impact on emissions for decades to come.

Design is the most important factor in determining greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions over a building’s lifetime. By the time the construction process begins, the majority of decisions affecting the project’s GHG emissions are locked in. The ability to influence a building’s lifetime emissions is highest very early in a project and before construction has started.

The decarbonization and sustain­ability focus will shift inexorably toward construction and real estate. At the same time, the drive toward sustainability brings significant opportunities for value creation. And capital markets are shifting toward ESG, with more and cheaper capital available for sustainable players. This will be one driver of a rapid increase in demand for ESG-friendly buildings.

Furthermore, consumers are becoming as aware of the emissions generated by their homes and workplaces as they are of the environmental impact of what they drive, how they travel, and what they eat.

We believe the pathway for this vision of net-zero carbon buildings at zero cost increase may require a rethink­ing of design fundamental, basic principles, and a combination of existing and alternative materials - The optimal mix of these will vary for different buildings and locations.

Wishing you a cozy and cheerful Thanksgiving.

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