Green Buildings and the U.N. Report on Climate Change
Green Buildings and Climate Change
By now, you’ve probably heard about the United Nations’ latest report on climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is calling for immediate and comprehensive reductions in global emissions to avert the climate disaster we will otherwise face in the next two decades. (Because climate science denial leads to irreparable harm, we encourage you to educate yourself on this topic using reputable sources. This article from The New York Times is a place to start.)
At Peckham Architecture, we feel a personal responsibility to take action. According to the United Nations, buildings consume about 40 percent of global energy and produce nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions. Green buildings are essential for stemming the rise of global temperatures.
Here’s one example—Peckham Architecture’s LEED Platinum, net-positive home headquarters. It is Missouri’s first Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) Certified building, designed to be the greenest house on earth:
Green Buildings: Our Part of the Solution to Climate Change
There’s no way around it—human action is the only solution to climate change. Cities play a central role, and green buildings and energy-saving retrofits could make a massive impact.
Here’s some hopeful news: At the 2015 climate summit in Paris, mayors from 96 cities agreed to implement carbon budgets that would help limit rising temperatures. Emissions in 27 of those C40 Cities have already peaked. This article from Curbed is full of resources on the challenge these cities have taken on.
For our part, Peckham Architecture designs buildings as energy efficient as science allows. Our deep green building practices create eco-friendly homes and businesses with net-positive energy. This means our green buildings produce more electricity than they consume!
Our Green Building Series shows how we achieve such extraordinary efficiency. Here’s Episode 1: How a Passive House Can Fight Global Warming.
Take Action
Join Peckham Architecture in our mission to be part of the solution to climate change. If you’re considering a new construction, renovation or historic preservation project, make it as green as possible.
A 1-hour consultation with Peckham Architecture includes project meeting notes, cost estimate and fee proposal for $250.
Contact us today to see what’s possible: 573.777.4444
NEXT: Eliminate drafts with airtight building design
Airtight Building Design: How our Passive House Aced the Blower Door Test