It’s the year’s end, a time for a little reflection of things past. So amid all the festivities and holiday rush let’s look back at some of the noteworthy headlines in green building and the environment in general that punctuated and defined 2013.
1. Global Warming Went to the Oceans
Naysayers have always insisted global warming ended during the ‘90s, but new data reveals that global warming hasn’t exactly slowed down. That “lost” heat is actually being stored in the oceans. Global ocean warming is 15 times faster than in the past 10,000 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made an announcement September this year that global and ocean warming are indeed happening and it is unequivocal, and that humans have a clear, and direct influence on the climate. Of course, that last part is something that doesn’t take genius to figure out.
2. LEED v4 Launch
November of this year saw the launch of LEED v4 at the Greenbuild EXPO, finally, after much debate and political roadblocks. LEED’s improved version includes new impact categories, adaptation of new market sectors (such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, and mid-rise projects), and increased technical requirements, especially the Materials and Resources credit category, to ensure maximum performance of buildings.
Perovskite solar cells for the win!
Solar cells are still far from being a perfect green building technology, but this year researchers were able to come up with a breakthrough called Perovskite cells. They’re cheaper and more efficient than traditional silicon cells, with light-converting efficiencies of more than 15{e3829ec1db02d54faaf9fa2de0d48db26af01d7a7944a63c3b26976124791cab}. The journal Science has included Perovkiste cells in its list of science breakthroughs of 2013.
4. Warsaw Talks
This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Warsaw, despite criticisms that the host country itself—Poland—was not actively reducing its fossil fuel use. The conference coincided with the super typhoon Haiyan which so devastated the Philippines, prompting Philippine delegate Naderev Sano to give an impassioned, deeply personal speech about the consequences of global warming. Delegates from almost 200 nations now have a timetable of up to 2015 to prepare a carbon emission reduction plan for their respective countries.
Renewable energy flowing into the power grid isn’t always a clean-cut solution. There’s the problem of syncing, especially since solar power peaks in at high noon, while wind energy ramps up in the evenings—and in between that power plants have to accommodate the influx of energy vis-à-vis customers’ electricity demand. This scenario is what’s forecasted in the graph created by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which accidentally looks like a duck’s profile—complete with tail, belly, neck, and head. As we integrate fossil fuel energy with renewables, it’s important that our power plants become flexible too in revving up and down according to need.
6. Overachieving Karuna House in Oregon
Green builder Hammer & Hand may have gone overboard with the Karuna House project in Portland, Oregon—it’s the first building in the world to earn three different green building certifications simultaneously—and it’s all for the better. There’s Passive House (PHIUS+), Minergie-P-Eco, and of course LEED for Homes Platinum. With a grand total of 101.5 LEED points, far exceeding the required 80 points to become Platinum—this house definitely the greenest. Very inspiring.
7. Clean Tech Comes With a Cost
Think clean renewable energy is the answer to the world’s problems? Not so fast, say three French CRNS scientists. If we intend to match the current energy generated by fossil fuels, renewable energy in the form of solar and wind turbines will have to use “15 times more concrete, 90 times more aluminium, and 50 times more iron, copper, and glass.” While metals and minerals are not exactly in short supply, they exist almost exclusively in certain parts of the world and could create political problems when no mechanism for their even distribution is in place.
8. Green Building Innovations at Greenbuild
From smart HRVs to MR16 LEDs to wear-resistant composite flooring to insulation boards made of mushroom and hemp and cork, this year’s Greenbuild held in Philadelphia was a fascinating showcase of the latest innovations and eco-friendly efforts made by various building material companies.
9. China and Its Tall Buildings
There’s just no stopping China in erecting the world’s tallest skyscrapers. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat which compiles various databases on the world’s skyscrapers came out with a list of the top 100 tallest proposed buildings. Not surprisingly, China dominates this list with fourteen (14) buildings under construction included in the top 20. Sustainability becomes a tricky subject as buildings reach new, dizzying heights, but architects and builders are confident in their green design.
