The average Australian has an ecological footprint of 6.87 global hectares. Decarbonizing public infrastructure by 2030 is an immediate and critical issue that requires the attention of all government bodies in Australia. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, public infrastructure must be designed and operated in a way that is sustainable and eliminates carbon emissions.
There are three key considerations in our opinion when looking at carbon impacts in the built environment. There is the Reduction of operational carbon emissions, Life cycle consideration of material, and Building resilience to impacts of climate change in the existing infrastructure.
Reduction of operational carbon emissions
This is the first and most immediate priority. As continued carbon emissions in operation will continue to perpetuate the cycle of the severity of climate change and its impacts.
Carbon and other climate-altering substances are released into the atmosphere in operation almost exclusively by the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used to generate electricity or by the use of gas applications for heating and cooking. Other minor considerations are ozone-depleting substances such as toxic refrigerants.
The continued use of fossil fuels in building operations such as heating and cooking will continue to perpetuate the cycle of negative climate impacts on the building environment.
Carbon reduction through the use of green credits is vital to allow for technological advancements in applications where the technologies are not yet mature enough to be a viable alternative to fossil fuel applications such as some electrical cook applications and electrical outdoor radiant heaters. The replacement of fossil fuel applications with inefficient electrical appliances in our opinion also has a negative climate impact through increased loading on the electrical grid and the need to generate more energy.
Life cycle consideration of material
All building materials have a potential environmental impact, and a life cycle analysis will review these impacts over the materials’ lifetime to assess the benefits of replacement, reuse, or retention. The condition of the building fabric across all government assets should be evaluated, and elements in poor condition should be considered for replacement. Elements in good condition could be evaluated to understand whether the replacement of these elements will result in a net environmental benefit.
A life cycle analysis can be understood as a process that includes:
- Raw material extraction,
- Use of material,
- Manufacturing,
- Distribution
- Disposal/recycling of materials.
Each of these steps has the potential to create a carbon footprint, and any proposed building alteration should undergo a life-cycle assessment.
To establish a rigorous methodology for life-cycle assessment that can ensure that the assessment is clear and objective we engage with specialist experts, such as Dr Victor Bunster from Monash University who have undertaken research and published articles in this field.
Building resilience to impacts of climate change in the existing infrastructure.
Building resilience to the impacts of climate change is also critical. Climate change poses an increased risk to the health and safety of building occupants and can disrupt public services delivered to residents.
Building in Victoria have been designed typically to withstand 1 in 100-year flood events, with climate changes these events are becoming more frequent and intense. As such government bodies should consider designing buildings with consideration for these more severe flooding scenarios.
Moreover, public buildings should be able to accommodate heat cycles and ensure that they can act as a refuge during extreme weather events, such as heat waves or extreme cold snaps. This means that buildings should be designed with features that can regulate the temperature, such as thermal insulation, energy-efficient windows, and shading devices while also ensuring adequate ventilation indoors.
Electricity grid strain and on-site power generation should also be taken into account to ensure that public infrastructure is sustainable and reduces carbon emissions. The increasing demand for electricity can put a strain on the grid, leading to blackouts or brownouts. To address this issue, buildings should be designed to minimize their energy consumption and rely on renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. On-site power generation can also provide a reliable source of energy, reduce dependence on the grid, and lower carbon emissions.
These risks include flooding, rising sea levels, and poor air quality caused by bushfires. Assessing these risks and their impacts on the built environment will help define the project scope and ensure that buildings are resilient and safe for occupants.
