Synapse: This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings
The Imperative of Science-Based Pathways to Net Zero
The world has delayed addressing the climate crisis for so long now that some disastrous impacts of climate change are now inevitable, according to the sixth assessment report released by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Released in August, the monumental report covering the physical science basis for climate change states that “global surface temperature will continue to increase until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered.”
Building Resilience: Preparing for an Unpredictable Future
Resilience is the ability to resist being affected by or bounce back from an extreme or disastrous event, and it is increasingly important for all building owners. 87% of organizations polled in the 2019 EEI survey indicated that resilience is very or extremely important when considering future investments – almost a 20% increase over 2018.
Why Heat Pumps Are the Answer to Heat Waves
As a record-breaking heat wave scorched the Pacific Northwest earlier this summer and again this week, killing hundreds of people in the United States and Canada, many residents realized the predictably mild summers they knew no longer exist. Scientists are clear that climate change will make these extreme heat events more common in the coming years, prompting people in areas like Seattle, Portland, and Northern California to add air conditioning (AC) to their homes.
The New Report on Climate Change is Dire. What Can I Do About It?
We knew the latest United Nations report on climate change wasn’t going to be good news, but it’s still tough to hear: We haven’t come close to getting a handle on global warming — and that failure is triggering disastrous environmental consequences.
For Commercial Real Estate, Shift in Focus on Air Quality, Health Measures Will Endure
A survey of ULI members suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in commercial building management and operational changes that make occupants’ health and wellness a top priority, according to participants in a recent webinar hosted by the Institute’s Building Healthy Places Initiative.
The Energy Future is Smart: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy released a National Roadmap for grid-interactive efficient buildings, or GEBs. These ultra-smart buildings combine energy efficiency and demand flexibility with technologies and communications that enable greater affordability, comfort, productivity and high performance to our homes and commercial buildings.
In July, LABBC was joined by roadmap authors Andy Satchwell of Berkeley Lab and Ryan Hledik of Brattle Group, alongside David Jacot of the LA Department of Water and Power and Kevin Powell of the GSA’s Green Proving Ground program.
Check out the excerpt of some of the key points our guests covered, edited for brevity and clarity. Watch the full webinar for more details.
Source: 'Changing' by Alisa Singer