Carbon Emission and the Built Environment

Description

AIB-UC Webinar - Carbon Emission and the Built Environment Webinar
About this event
The built environment as a whole contributes around 40% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and thereby is a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. These GHG emissions are derived from the manufacture and transportation of building materials and construction of buildings, as well the operational energy used during the building’s lifecycle. Over time building performance declines and operational inefficiency grows. Reliance on fossil fuels for energy to heat, light and cool buildings adds further to GHG emissions.

These emissions can be reduced through design that eliminates reliance on fossil fuels in favour of solar energy and increasing thermal performance to reduce the amount of energy needed to provide thermal comfort for users. Specification and design that avoids materials and construction forms which involve high levels of energy use in the extraction of raw materials, in the production of the components, and the transportation to site will also reduce carbon emissions.

Regular building maintenance to ensure optimal performance also ensures unnecessary additional CO2 emissions are avoided. Sustainable retrofits to upgrade existing building performance are also best practice. For example, retrofitting insulation in roofs and walls, installing secondary or double glazing and sealing gaps around door and window openings are some of the measures possible to improve operational energy performance. Replacing heating and cooling plant with energy efficient alternatives is also worthwhile. Painting or using light-coloured external paints also reduces heat load and energy consumption.

Our host for the evening: Dr Saeed Banihashemi, MAIB and Assistant Professor of Built Environment, AIB-ACT Chapter & University of Canberra

Our speaker for this evening: Professor Sara Wilkinson, Professor of Property, UTS BSc, MA, MPhil, PhD, FRICS, AAPI

Sara is a chartered building surveyor and Australia’s first female Professor of Property. Prior to joining academia, Sara worked in the public and private sector. Sara has developed and led building surveying and property programs in the UK and Australia. Her transdisciplinary research program sits at the intersection of sustainability, urban development and transformation, with a focus on green cities and preparing our urban environments for the challenges of climate change. She is interested in using new technologies to deliver sustainable building outcomes. Sara works with academic and industry partners in engineering, science, health and business to deliver housing, building adaptation, sustainability, resilience, and green infrastructure projects. Current projects include Decarbonising the built environment with hempcrete and green walls, The Wallbot, VR & Willingness to Pay for Green Infrastructure in residential development and the STAR (Sustainable Temporary Adaptive Reuse) Toolkit project.

CPD: This webinar allows you to accrue 3 CPD Points. Please email Alex at [email protected] if you require an electronic copy.

Period	28 Apr 2022
Event type	Seminar
Location	AustraliaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National