Buildings and Climate
The United Nations tells us that our buildings are heavy emitters, responsible for about 40% of CO2 emissions globally. In 2021 according to the U.N., buildings around the world -– in use and under construction -– emitted around 10,000,000,000 tons (10 Gigatons) of CO2. Our homes and the places we work, shop, eat, gather, and access health and social services are causing climate change.
Emissions occur in a variety of ways, from the manufacturing of the buildings’ materials and the carbon emitted during construction (often called embodied carbon or up-front carbon) to the energy used — often directly from oil and gas — to heat, cool, and power a building (called operational carbon). These emissions can be higher or lower depending on how a building is made, what it’s made of, and what powers it.
“Embodied [or up-front] carbon will be responsible for almost half of total new construction emissions between now and 2050.” – Architecture 2030
Carbon emissions released during the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance and disposal of building materials are known as “embodied carbon”. Climate-focused builders are aware of embodied carbon and turn to natural materials and ecologically-responsible manufacturing processes to reduce and offset carbon emissions locally.
Concrete is an example of a material with very high embodied carbon due to the energy-intensive processes required during manufacturing and construction. Steel is also a big offender, mainly because of its manufacturing process. This article by Urban Toronto discusses Embodied Carbon and why it matters.
Increasing energy prices and climate awareness have led many in the building industry to focus on efficiency. More insulation and fewer air leaks have become the standard for what is often called sustainable building. However, many conventional building materials are doing more harm than good. Popular insulation options are often petroleum-based; others are products of highly energy-intensive manufacturing processes. For example, mineral wool which is often marketed as natural, requires rock to be heated up to a molten state and spun like cotton candy. The petrochemicals that create spray foam and rigid polystyrene are non-biodegradable, highly flammable, and have the potential to off-gas harmful chemicals into the environment and the air we breathe. Yes, you can build a highly efficient home with these products, but no future energy savings will ever make up for the emissions created in the manufacturing and construction processes or the pollution that results from the eventual disposal of these materials.
Tooketree’s S.E.E.D (Sustainable, Ecological, Efficient, Durable) panels are manufactured with wood and ecologically responsible insulation products like blown-in cellulose made primarily from recycled newspaper, and recycled wood fibre board. The benefits go beyond diverting useful materials from the landfill; paper cellulose and wood are plant-based materials, originally born from photosynthesis - nature’s perfect system for capturing atmospheric carbon and storing it in plant matter. When we find ways to store and preserve carbon-rich plant matter, in the walls, floors and roofs of our homes for instance, instead of allowing it to decompose in a landfill, we prevent carbon from re-entering the atmosphere. Tooketree’s commitment to natural, carbon-sequestering materials makes the company a leader in environmentally sustainable buildings.
