RIAS QUARTERLY | Winter 2019
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Article by Ben Rainger, EAA President
Cover image & illustrations by Cécile Ngoc Suong Perdu
The 6 RIAS Chapter Presidents have been monitoring their carbon footprint during November to set a benchmark of where we are as a profession. The exercise is meant to show the current impact of architects in practice across the country and the diversity across the regions.
The variance in the carbon footprint reflects the variety of towns and cities across Scotland that we live and work in as well as the different lifestyles. I live in central Edinburgh and I am able to walk or cycle to work depending on the weather, although I am a fair-weather cyclist. Many of my colleagues also either walk, cycle or use the bus.
I am fortunate that I do not need to use a car for most of my transport for commuting and for project work. Most of my carbon emissions relating to vehicles are from public transport, either bus for travelling with the city or train for journeys further afield for social or business trips. In addition, my household does not own a car. This probably reflects where I live and work as well as being a conscious choice for environmental reasons.
I live in a typical 1900 stone tenement. 42% of tenements and 71 % of pre 1915 property EPC ratings of D-E[1]. Typically, I emit 3400kg CO2 per annum from heating and lighting. This is after carrying out energy efficiency measures including improved insulation.
Existing buildings are a significant issue to achieving carbon zero by 2045. 80% of existing building stock will still be here in 25 years time. A national strategy for improving insulation and heat loss as well as de-carbonising the heating and energy grid will be necessary, especially as the Committee on Climate Change noted in 2019 that greenhouse gas emission reductions in UK housing has stalled and efforts to adapt the housing stock for higher temperatures, flooding and water scarcity are falling far behind the increase in risk from the changing climate[2].
The other large contributor to my carbon footprint is my diet. My diet includes meat, fish and dairy, all of which have a significant impact on the environment, from biodiversity and habitat loss to provide space to rear the animals, to the emissions from the animals themselves as well as the land required to provide feed.. Many of the vegetables available, especially at this time of year, have come from abroad, where they are grown in monocultures and flown to be on our shelves to ensure freshness. This can cause increased pesticide use and loss of fresh water where they are grown, also contributing to biodiversity and habitat loss. The exercise has shown that I should make a greater effort to consider what I eat and where the products come from and that we should consider not just the impact we have locally, but globally.
Carrying out this exercise has highlighted that although I benefit from where I live and work in terms of travel, I still have a long way to go to reduce my carbon footprint, but is also shows that I cannot do it alone and that the answers are individual, societal and governmental.
‘Where we build is as important as what build’
Ben Rainger EAA President president@eaa.org.uk