Design Solutions - Fall 2023 - 50

The rapid abundant generation of
greenhouse gases has come under
the microscope. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency, the
current rate of greenhouse gas emissions
exceeds the ability of the earth's natural
systems to stabilize atmospheric
concentration. Accumulation of these
gases in the earth's atmosphere is
believed to be the primary reason
for climate change. These are carbon
dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
(perfluorocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon
and sulfur hexafluoride).
4 Sulfur hexafluoride is a colorless,
odorless, inert gas created
entirely from human activity. It
is used extensively in various
electrical components, the etching
or circuitry patterns on silicone
wafers, and in the production of
magnesium and aluminum.
4 Hydrofluorocarbons are used in
automobile air-conditioning and
refrigeration.
4 Perfluorocarbons are used in
aluminum and semi-conductor
manufacturing. They are very
stable and don't break down until
they reach the mesosphere 60km
above the earth. They remain in
the earth's atmosphere for several
thousand years.
4 Nitrous oxide is from both
natural and manmade sources.
Some of these are agricultural
soil management, mobile and
stationary fossil fuel combustion,
manure management, field
burning of agricultural residues,
wastewater treatment,
and composting. It has an
atmospheric lifetime of 120 years!
4 More than 60% of all methane
gas production is related to
human activity. It is 21 times
more powerful at warming the
atmosphere than carbon dioxide
though it has a much shorter
residence in the atmosphere. Its
primary generators are activities
related to raising animals and
managing their manure, landfills,
natural gas systems and leaks,
coal mining, abandoned coal and
other mines, petroleum systems.
wastewater treatment, iron and
steel production, rice cultivation,
biomass burning and wildfires.
CARBON DIOXIDE
EQUIVALENCE
The media rarely dedicates
much time to most of these gases
individually, referring to them instead
in terms of carbon dioxide equivalence.
Carbon dioxide gets our attention daily.
It is generated directly and indirectly
by fossil fuel combustion, building
operations, non-energy use of fuel,
iron and steel production, cement
manufacturing, production and use
of natural gas, municipal solid waste
combustion, lime manufacturing,
ammonia production, aluminum
production, limestone and dolomite
use, and deforestation -- the permanent
conversion of standing forest land
to other non-timber use. This type of
deforestation is a global concern as
yearly considerable areas of forest land
are cleared for conversion to roadways,
urban growth agricultural land, mining
and quarries, and more.
The construction and operation of
buildings are estimated to account for
over one-third of carbon emissions
globally. Part of these emissions result
from production of materials from which
buildings are constructed. Recognizing
these things, it is important to choose
low carbon generating materials to
build with and to use proven energy
saving measures to operate buildings
comfortably and efficiently.
THE 2030 COMMITMENT
In support of the idea that " zero
carbon " or ' " 'carbon neutral " buildings
can and should be built, the American
Institute of Architects launched the
2030 Commitment and has asked
those in construction and planning to
voluntarily adopt the program. Among
the plan objectives are the following:
4 All new buildings and
developments consume half the
typical fossil fuel consumption;
50 designsolutions I fall 2023
Design Solutions - Fall 2023

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