Climate Positive Design- A Petcha Kutcha Presentation

This is me during my presentation. 

The first question I will answer is …

What is the Carbon cycle:

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon atoms are constantly exchanged among the earths atmosphere, oceans, land and living organisms.

The total amount of carbon on Earth is fixed but is continuously moving between these reservoirs- known as carbon sinks.

The Carbon Budget

According to the latest Global Carbon Budget, we have roughly 200 billion tonnes of CO₂ left to emit if we want to stay under 1.5 degrees.

The built environment is responsible for about three-quarters of global emissions - and landscapes, materials, and infrastructure make up over a third of that.

Every design decision we make contributes to part of that global budget.

A climate positive landscape is one that over its lifetime sequesters more carbon than it emits.​

Made up of operational and embodied carbon.​

36% of the built environment carbon emissions come from outside the building. 

What is operational carbon?​

Operational carbon is the carbon dioxide emissions produced from the day-to-day use of a building, including energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, hot water, and ventilation.​

Globally, operational carbon emissions from buildings account for approximately 28% of total carbon emissions. ​

With construction always increasing, the carbon neutral operation of these buildings will remain a critical challenge.​

What is embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon is the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building's materials and processes throughout its entire lifecycle, from extraction and manufacturing to construction, maintenance, and end-of-life demolition.​

Embodied carbon from the construction and refurbishment of buildings accounts for an estimated 10% to 13% of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.​

Swaps that can be made

1.Carbon-positive buildings: These structures are designed to produce more energy than they consume over their entire lifecycle.

2.Materials with sequestered carbon: Architects can select materials that trap and store carbon.

3.Energy surplus: Buildings can be equipped with rooftop solar panels that generate more energy than the building needs.

We need to move away from sustainable design, to designing for net positive impact.​

What is net positive impact?​

In terms of carbon, ​a net positive position means an entity removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. This goes beyond achieving a "net zero" or "carbon neutral" balance, actively working to reverse the climate crisis by drawing down excess carbon.​

Materials are something that really matter.​

Choosing local or reused materials can reduce transport emissions by 15-20%.​

Because embodied carbon is a huge factor in carbon emissions, a cheap material may carry a large hidden climate cost, that undermines the overall carbon positive goal of a site.​

The photo above is a Concrete slab that could be exchanged for locally sourced Permeable aggregate and stone.

Minimising soil disturbance

When considering carbon, we often focus on vegetation and built elements. However, soil is a major carbon store. ​

Soil is one of the world's most significant carbon sinks, storing approximately 2 thousand 5 hundred billion tons of carbon globally.

Therefore, maintaining healthy soil structure, minimising disturbance and enhancing organic matter are vital components to consider. ​

Designing for carbon capture 

Carbon capture is a process for trapping carbon dioxide and sequestering it deep underground.

In one study a large urban tree was estimated to absorb 150kg CO2 per year. ​

Large trees, deep rooted species and diverse canopy cover significantly increase sequestration over decades. 

Location and context

Place and species are very important factors in determining the right pathway for designing in a climate positive manner. ​

Buildings designed for local climates can reduce energy use by up to 80% compared to conventional designs that ignore local conditions.

Therefore, local context, species choice and tree maturity are all vital factors when determining carbon storage potential.​

Re-using materials

Reuse of materials is one of the most effective tools we have. ​

Reusing site materials, existing soils and structures, means we can lock carbon in place and avoid contributing to new emissions. 

Reusing building materials can reduce embodied carbon emissions by up to 70–90% compared to using all-new materials.

Water as a carbon store

Wetlands, bioswales, rain gardens, and so many other water systems do much more than just manage stormwater. ​

They can build biomass, increase soil carbon and support ecosystems.​

Wetlands can sequester carbon at rates up to 10 times greater than terrestrial forests, storing as much as 1,000 metric tons of carbon per hectare.

Central park New York 

New York’s central park is a significant carbon sink. ​

With more than 18,000 trees absorbing approximately 4 hundred and 50 thousand kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

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The parks trees also help regulate heat and thus reduce the urban heat island effect, which in turn means less electricity usage for air con etc.​

Olentangy River Wetland Research Park

In the early stages after construction, the wetlands show a rapid increase in carbon accumulation due to vigorous plant growth.​

Between 1999 and 2009, the average carbon sequestration rate was its highest at 338 grams of carbon per square meter per year.​

Gardens by the bay, Singapore

They use a biomass system that runs on the park's green waste, this is a low-energy design for its conservatories, and the collection of rainwater. 

The system uses a biomass boiler to generate heat, electricity, and cooling for the conservatories.

In its first three months of operation, the conservatories ran on a net-zero carbon fuel stock, with no external energy.

Collaboration across disciplines

Given that reducing global carbon emissions is such a large task, especially with embodied carbon dominating emissions and sequestration needing decades, collaboration across many different disciplines is vital. ​

Buildings, energy, transportation, industry, and land use -together contribute over 90% of global CO₂ emissions.

Professional responsibility

Landscape materials and maintenance decisions made today can lock in carbon emissions for 30 - 100 years - the typical lifespan of designed landscapes.

Choosing low-carbon materials and maintenance practices can reduce a landscape’s lifetime emissions by up to 80%, preventing decades of locked-in carbon.