Session VII

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE

MEETING THE 2050 CHALLENGE

Mahadev Raman

Director for Social Infrastructure, Arup

Mahadev RamanNovember 6th, 2009

Mahadev RamanNovember 6th, 2009

MEETING THE 2050 CHALLENGE

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Courtesy of Science Photolibrary

Our Environment

• Buildings in the US emit 9% of global CO2

• That is 2337m metric tons per year

• Emissions have been growing rapidly

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Domestic Industrial Buildings Commercial Offices Communication & Transport

Education Government Health Hotel and Catering

Other Retail Sport and Leisure Warehouse

NOW Built environment contribution to UK greenhouse gas emissions

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Seattle’s 2007 greenhouse gas reduction plan:

• 7% below 1990 levels by 2012

• 30% below 1990 levels by 2024

• 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

By 2050:

• Population growth from 306m to 438m

• 40% increase in building stock

• 70% of current buildings still in use

• Current buildings are 50% of the stock

What we need to do:

• New buildings consume 15% of current use

• That means 70% below current code

• Existing buildings 50% below current use

• That means massive investment!

Beddington Zero Energy Development, United Kingdom

Beddington Zero Energy Development - BedZed

California Academy of Sciences

Syracuse Center of Excellence

Destiny, Florida, USA

Destiny Florida

Destiny, Florida, USA

Carbon Reduction Strategies

Renewable Energy:

• 300GW of new capacity by 2050

• That is 200sf of PV on 120m dwellings

• 7.5GW/yr for buildings, 15GW/yr total

• Currently 5.5GW/yr – 90% wind energy

©Frank van Mierlo Consumption 15 TW

Wind 370 TW

Solar 89,000 TW

Renewable Energy Abundance