Carbon emissions and the resultant climate change are the
most debilitating issues concerning the world today. The old, dilapidated
structures across the cities are among the main reasons for excessive energy
inefficiency experienced. Demolishing and making fresh structures also means a
lot of waste and adds to carbon emissions. Hence, there is an urgent need felt
for refurbishing worn down building structures and can comparatively be a
better idea to fight high carbon emissions. Improved energy efficiency of buildings
and positive climatic changes with low CO2 in the atmosphere is the
key to sustainability.
Spreading Greener Refurbishment
awareness can save environment
The operational performance and energy efficiency can be
improved by as much as 30-40% by refurbishing using greener resources that
consume and emit low amounts of energy. Prediction of energy savings is possible
using various modelling strategies on the part of the designers. Planning, in
the initial stages of refurbishment can help in practically lowering carbon
emission for the building.
Building refurbishment is normally a costly affair if the
design is not planned properly. There is a need to find cost effective ways for
refurbishments and one can approach refurbishment commissioning engineers who
can suggest straightforward measures towards building energy efficiency. This
will include things like upgrading the lighting and tightening the insulation
panels instead of demolishing and rebuilding structures. Metering and energy
audit schemes also work well to check the performance, post the refurbishment
work design implementation.
Many a times, when the goal of low carbon emissions is not
clear on the part of the designer or contractor, the whole idea of greener
refurbishment goes for a toss. The carbon intensive machineries, resources
which are normally used for new construction are avoided in refurbishments
which need to abide by minimum performance standards. Awareness on the part of the occupants is
the most important as they will decide the performance success. Minimal use of
CO2 emitting equipments, maintainence of the equipments and such behaviour on
the part of the occupants can make a lot of difference after the design
implementation.
Joint efforts for
favourable climate change
Buildings seem to be contributing more than 50% of the total
greenhouse gas emission of carbon-dioxide. Better carbon emissions management
controls in every building can progressively benefit the entire world. However,
the Government and the private sector need to collaborate and participate in
commercial low carbon emission refurbishment efforts. Together, we can make the
drive of favourable climate change easy to achieve.
Asbestos and lead are frequently emitted when demolishing old
buildings and can cause fatal health hazards. This isn’t just a cause for alarm
for the residents in the neighbourhood but also the workers in the project. All
of it can be avoided with an emphasis on greener facets, including installing
more and more solar panels for energy generation in order to safeguard the non
renewable energy resources.
The designs of greener buildings must be simple, where the
prime design considerations include maximum natural ventilation and insulation
panels which prevent overheating on the inside and the emission of higher
carbon-di-oxide on the outsides. Such refurbishments, if carried out everywhere
can make a serious difference in the level of CO2 emissions which
are a threatening the entire world today.
Climate change has been severely affecting various regions in
the world and every year, the number of people getting directly affected is
increasing exponentially. It’s come to a now or never situation and we need to
get together as a single global community what is both concerned and well
educated.
