[GSBN] Embodied/embedded energy figures

[strawnet at aol.com]

 Having not had time yet to read all of the posts to this discussion, I want to express appreciation again for the intelligence and depth of the exchange here. And I want to strongly echo Bruce's point about immediate vs long-term climate impact. Though a slight digression, this point is the same as my vociferous critique of those who point to nuclear power as a climate solution - what we have instead of a solution is a huge spike in carbon emissions from the production of fuel and the building of the plant creating an enormous impact which may eventually be repaid likely at least two decades into the future if the plant can operate safely that long. The opportunity costs - financial, resource, technological and more are huge for something that won't become carbon neutral for a very long time...if ever, especially given that the lifecycle carbon footprint of nuclear power is larger than any of the renewables. 

The time value argument that Bruce puts forward is a vital one and needs much more attention across the board. Thanks Bruce for bringing this up. 

And thanks to everyone for engaging in this work in a larger context than just the technology and materiality of what we're doing.

Best,

David Eisenberg

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce King <bruce at ecobuildnetwork.org>
To: Global Straw Building Network <GSBN at sustainablesources.com>
Cc: Kathrina Simonen <ksimonen at uw.edu>
Sent: Sun, Oct 23, 2011 12:30 pm
Subject: Re: [GSBN] Embodied/embedded energy figures




Great discussion Chris, David, Tom, and thanks to you all.  It's a bit stunning that apparently no one or university has taken on building and maintaining a database for the industry.  


I have one other point to add to the many good ones already made, which is the "time value" of carbon emissions as I first heard articulated by architect Larry Strain.


Climate disruption seems to be happening faster than anyone expected, making it all the more urgent to have impact right now, rather than over the 30 or 50 or 100 year life span of a building.  If the embodied energy or carbon emissions of the average commercial building is equivalent to 5 -- 7 years of emissions, then reducing the energy of construction (materials + process + transportation) should be a HUGE design target, not an afterthought.  That large initial belch of carbon emissions during construction has impact forevermore, whereas the savings from high insulation such as from straw bale walls will not be felt (by society and the power companies) for a long time.  Even we on this list who design and build with bales and other low-energy low-impact technologies must acknowledge that many of our projects are rural homes that require lots of cars and trucks driving great distances.  Blood is on our hands, too, though I can't imagine a better (and practicable) scenario by which the straw bale/natural building revival could play out in the modern world.  Brings to mind an offshoot of the BANANA principle:  Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody.


Anyway, I'd love to see more of the energy, passion and genius of this group be applied to improving urban building and remodeling, where most of humanity is and foreseeably will be.  And I say that painfully aware that very promising technologies like HemCrete, BaleHaus, and StakBlock languish for lack of capital.  I think we should all write firm but polite letters to Goldman Sachs urging them to take CEO Lloyd Blankfein's upcoming zillion-dollar bonus and distribute it to the members of GSBN.  I'm sure Lloyd would agree.


 


with head ever in the clouds, I am thy cheerful servant,


Bruce King, PE
Director of EBNet
Ecological Building Network
the art and science of building well
bruce at ecobuildnetwork.org 
PO Box 6397
San Rafael, CA 94903 USA
(415) 987-7271

follow us on Twitter: @EBNetwork
blog:  http://bruceking.posterous.com/

 

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