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According to the research commentary, as of 2017, the average US commercial building was about 50 years old, and mixed-use builds have an average age of 75 years. These buildings are responsible for a large number of greenhouse gases. When we tear old buildings down to build new ones, we are actually doing a lot more damage to the planet than when we renovate these buildings. For centuries, buildings were made with no sense of sustainability in mind. There are many buildings that were built decades ago, and have a very negative impact on our environment. The reason that these buildings aren't sustainable is because of the materials that were used for creating these structures and the lack of knowledge for how much energy would need to be used in order to make these buildings more sustainable. We believe that it is important to commit to sustainably redeveloping commercial builds, using the proper material to rebuild and reconstructing these buildings in a way that will have a positive impact on our planet.
The history of the problem
From: eia.gov
The Problem
The Current Way of Commercial Buildings: Global warming is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, which leads to higher levels of carbon dioxide that is accumulated in the atmosphere. The three main factors on earth right now that contribute the most to climate change are our homes, our vehicles, and most importantly, our buildings. It is vital that there is change in how we construct, develop, and redevelop our buildings so that we can have a healthier and safer planet before it is too late. Currently, buildings and the construction of buildings account for 36% of global energy use, and 39% of energy related carbon dioxide. According to curbed.com In the United States, commercial and residential builds account for 40% of energy consumption. Direct and indirect emissions from electricity and commercial heat used in buildings rose to 10 GtCO2 in 2019, the highest level ever recorded. Although there is change being made, there needs to be more done in order to be able to combat climate change, and we want to help be a part of the solution.
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In order to reduce the carbon footprint and water usage set forth by commercial buildings, we must focus on the redevelopment of existing buildings. According to studies, approximately two-thirds of the building areas that exist today, will still exist in 2050. This is why we must focus on reducing greenhouse gases, and strategize ways to make older buildings more environmentally friendly and safe. Currently, renovations only affect 0.5%-1% of the building stock annually.
As a community, we have to find cheaper and more efficient ways to take existing office buildings, redevelop them, and make them more sustainable. One of the ways that this can be done is by the reduction of water waste within office buildings. Although there are several different issues that we face when it comes to sustainability, we feel that water use & waste are the most important. On average, large office buildings use 22,000 gallons of water every day. There are different sustainable practices that our team has come up with in order to help reduce the amount of waste water that leaves an office building, as discussed under our "Plan" Section.
From: epa.gov
This chart shows the amount of CO2 produced by residential and commercial buildings. From ieo.org
*Light Blue - Direct
*Dark Blue - Indirect