nzc - thompson

Net Zero CitiesIf we build them, will they come?

Bob ThompsonUS EPA

October 24, 2013

Why are we as a society interested in NZ?

Save energy?Save water?Save waste?

No … primarily for human benefit

Ensuring Your City is Livableas Well as Efficient

Balancing Net Zero with Health and Well Being

Ensuring People Want to Livein Net Zero Cities

Could Net Zero Resultin Zero Population?

Ensuring People Want to Livein NZ Cities

Buildings

Industry

Commerce

Spirituality A&E

Transportation

Education

Sports andRecreation

Focus is on Buildings … not infrastructure or transportation

or other city issues.

Why? I’m most comfortable with issues related to buildings, and …

Buildings“It is your greatest opportunity to increase your quality of life, improve your health and productivity, reduce the consumption of resources, and reduce costs.”

- Bob Berkebile, FAIA

Q: Isn’t this what communities want and need?

Buildings

IEQ

SitesMaterials

Water

Energy

Buildings have a huge impact on all aspects of

People, Planet,

and Prosperity

Green BuildingsProvide ready-to-harvest opportunities …

-The marketplace is primed and ready- Most of the critical infrastructure of systems, standards, and processes are in place- The driving forces for change are continually getting stronger (Climate Change, Energy costs, Demand for healthier environments, …)

Even with all the explosive growth in awareness and construction of green buildings during the past decade, the vast majority of new

and existing buildings are not yet green, much less NZ

Less than 1%?

Common misperception today …

Green buildings cost too much!

Why?

We’re using the wrong metric

Proposal

To get the 99% on board, we need to address their bottom

lines … a new metric

Metrics around energy savings, water savings, and recycling are

all important …

but are not the reasons that we build buildings

We build workplaces to improve productivity

We build homes to improve health and comfort

We build schools to improve learning performance

These are the bottom line reasons we build buildings

These metrics could catapult the remaining 99% into green

But the metrics for these reasons are missing

Example of Potential ValueTypical Commercial Building

Energy $2/SF/YR

Energy $2

People $200/SF/YR

100x larger value

(circles are

actual scale)

Can NZ be integrated with health and well being?

Absolutely!

Many natural connectionsMany potential complications

I have a recurring daydream

What is the answer?

How will it be done?

It will be done by those

willing to lead …

willing to take risks

Whywill people want to live in NZCs?

Healthier and happier places to liveWorkplaces are more productive

Homes are healthier and more comfortableSchools enhance higher performance

Integrating NZ actions with health and well being …

Your biggest challenge

Your biggest opportunity