NZGBC’s Post

We need to be clear. The Emissions Reduction Plan 2 is very risky and heavily reliant on unproven technology 1️⃣ One third of the emissions reductions anticipated in the second budget period are reliant on carbon capture and storage technology (CCS). Analysis shows “not one single CCS project globally has ever reached its target CO2 capture rate”. Usually CCS requires large subsidies. Such large reliance on unproven expensive technology puts the ERP2 at quite a bit of risk. 2️⃣ The plan fails to meet the Climate Change Commissions recommended budget of 290m tonnes of emissions by 2030. And it barely achieves Emissions Budget 2 currently in place. A buffer of 0.6% is exceptionally risky. Any number of items could derail this plan causing us to fail to achieve our target. As Rod Carr previous CCC chair states "Just planning to meet a budget with a whisker is not really a plan that seems credible because things will happen that you can’t foresee. And then what do you do? Because the lead times for this stuff are so long." 3️⃣ I caution focusing on projections for 2045 or 2050. That is 20 years away. It holds no real relevance. The future will be decided in the next 5 years. That is where scrutiny and ambition is needed. 4️⃣ The plan fails to include steps such as measuring emissions of construction, electrifying buildings or making energy use of existing buildings transparent. This leaves kiwi businesses and families worse off and leaves NZ decades behind much of the OECD. Emissions reductions in construction are proven providing a strong contrast with the risky unproven technologies such as carbon capture utilisation and storage. Our sector stands ready to deliver tens of millions of tonnes of emissions reductions. #carbon #climate #risk #energy #health #buildings #emissionsreductionplan #bills Sustainable Business Council NZ See the NZGBC media response here https://lnkd.in/gk93b5nH

Let’s talk about heating and buildings. Buildings account for about 17% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to burning fossil fuels for heating. The government has committed to installing 600,000 electric heat pumps a year by 2028 to replace gas boilers. In 2022, around 70,000 heat pumps were installed in the UK, leaving the government's 600,000 target "significantly off track." In 2023, the Prime Minister increased grants to £7,500 to help homeowners in England and Wales install a heat pump. This has led to a surge in applications. However, he also said around a fifth of homes would never be required to switch from a fossil fuel boiler. This makes net zero by 2050 "considerably harder to achieve." The UK has some of the least energy-efficient homes in Europe. Insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions from housing, by reducing the energy needed for heating. #heating #buildings #energyefficiency #netzero #esg #businessdevelopment Read more ⤵ https://lnkd.in/dZ3avM3S.

Fascinating reading on the challenges faced across the pond as focus turns to decarbonising buildings and the necessary steps needed to mitigate the effects of climate change on buildings 🇺🇸 ♻️ Read the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/gAeiDWf8 Did anything surprise you? Is the picture similar for the UK construction and decarbonisation agenda? #Decarbonisation #DecarbonisingBuildings #NetZero

Interesting, eh, Kimberley?

The National Blueprint for decarbonizing the building sector focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. It involves collaboration between the Department of Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies. This strategy aims for cleaner air, lower energy costs, and a significant reduction in emissions from buildings.

Commentary from Meghan Kallman and Rebecca Kislak: To meet Act on Climate mandates and build a climate-resilient state, R.I. must reduce emissions from existing buildings and new construction. The Building Decarbonization Act sets us up to do just that.

Great news for the clean energy sector -- the Biden-Harris Administration has issued a plan to decarbonize US buildings by 2050, cutting emissions by 65% as soon as 2035.   The first two goals of the blueprint resonate with our mission. "Building efficiency and efficient electrification start with optimizing building systems and adapting them to work efficiently with heat pumps. This step may not be glamorous, but it's essential," said Ben Milbank, Senior Project Development Engineer. "Addressing this is crucial before geothermal and air-source heat pumps can be integrated." We are committed to optimizing building systems and implementing solutions that directly contribute to reducing emissions and fostering sustainable energy practices within this sector.   To read more about this ambitious blueprint, click the link below. #decarbonization #sustainability #cleanenergy

We're falling behind, but check out this excellent summary of the latest report from the UK's CCC to Parliament, delivered last week. 13 key recommendations: 1 Rebalance policy & social levies on electricity and gas 2 Ramp up woodland creation and peatland restoration 3 Reinstate the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales 4 Reinstate the 2035 fossil fuel boiler installation phase-out 5 Ensure that electric heating is the default in all new buildings 6 Get clear on home energy efficiency 7 Remove planning barriers for heat pumps and EV charging points 8 Plan strategically for the decarbonisation of public sector bldgs 9 Modernise the CfD auction scheme for renewables 10 Plan strategically to decarbonise industrial heat 11 Publish a comp strategy to close looming green skills gaps 12 Finalise business models for man-made carbon removal tech 13 Strengthen the National Adaptation Programme to bolster climate resilience https://lnkd.in/e4Td2n4T

It’s been two months since our #planningforthefuture event, over the next few days we will be sharing some of the Q & A’s from September. If you want to be on the waitlist for a rerun of this event in February 2025, let us know! *** 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀? Some Local Planning Authorities are looking to introduce a Passivhaus route to compliance with their climate change policies which would potentially simplify achieving a planning approval based on a commitment to deliver a certified Passivhaus. The proposed standard route to planning compliance would include achieving EUI targets for both operational energy and embodied carbon emissions along with a commitment to net-zero energy in-use. In some instances, these targets could be difficult to achieve, in which case Passivhaus may be a more attractive alternative compliance route. Matt Bonney Colin Powell

In March, the SEC announced the new Climate Disclosure rule, requiring companies to report their emissions and how they plan to reduce them. These changes are not made overnight. In fact, it could take years for companies to plan, significantly reduce their emissions, and report them accurately. ENTOUCH supports facility managers and businesses in this endeavor by controlling and monitoring energy usage for each RTU. Implementing an energy management system not only saves money on wasted energy but can also support emissions reporting efforts as regulations become stricter year after year. https://lnkd.in/gXik3PeN #facilitiesmanagement #SEC #keepENTOUCH #climate