Bringing Cities Back Begins With Buildings
More than four years since the pandemic started, there remains headline after headline about people moving away from big cities. Young people are leaving big metropolises for rural towns. The phenomenon has become a political football of sorts, with different groups attributing this migration to everything from the economy to crime.
Whatever the reason, I’d argue that the secret to bringing people back to the city starts with improving its buildings and, more specifically, making them as sustainable as possible.
The Impact Of Strong And Sustainable Buildings
Every sector within a city ties back to buildings, where they’re located, and how they operate. The built environment impacts everything from a city’s transportation to the health of its citizens—both of which typically impact a person’s decision to move to, remain in, or move away from a location.
Sustainable architecture has been proven to offer major benefits. Green buildings typically enjoy financial benefits such as reduced operating costs, long-term returns, and increased eligibility for tax credits and incentives. They’re also dynamic, equitable and can improve health and safety for those inside them.
There is also a societal impact of energy-efficient buildings; the Venn diagram between the list of U.S. cities with building performance standards (BPS) and the list of greenest cities is practically a circle. That’s no surprise when you consider that the built world makes up 30% of GHG emissions. In total, three cities in the U.S. have passed BPS legislation targeting emissions reductions, seven cities have passed legislation targeting energy, and a further 28 cities have policy metrics under consideration.
Although these standards started to take effect only relatively recently, early results are already showing promise, and compliance is ahead of schedule. Take New York City, where Local Law 97 (LL97) has placed aggressive energy performance standards on large buildings since it went into effect at the beginning of this year. Despite early criticism, compliance rates are exceeding expectations, with 88% of buildings meeting limits ahead of schedule. In Denver, where the Energize Denver Ordinance requires all buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet energy usage standards, nearly 24% of buildings have already met their 2030 targets.
The Future Of Sustainable Buildings
I don't find the speed at which many building owners are complying with basic energy efficiency standards that surprising, especially when you look at how many options building owners have for reducing energy usage: HVAC, lighting, water, waste management and landscaping, to name just a few. But why stop there?
I believe the next evolution in citywide building sustainability is a truly comprehensive approach to energy efficiency, tracking both direct and indirect building emissions. Across the ocean, one of the most sustainable cities in the world, Gothenburg, Sweden, is seeing success with this model. In Gothenburg, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are tracked, logging the environmental impact not only from building operations but also from production, transportation and commerce. The city has flourished since implementing this: Gothenburg is now Sweden’s second-largest city and has been experiencing booming population growth since implementing its energy efficiency policies. It’s also a Scandinavian tourist attraction known for its chic neighborhoods, museums and restaurants.
How To Get Started Eliminating Scope 3
With both direct and indirect emissions, we can’t address what we don’t measure. I recommend using a standard and comprehensive protocol, such as the GHG Protocol, as a framework to measure building pollution. Collecting this data allows owners and operators of existing buildings, and developers of new buildings, to establish a baseline.
Next, track where those emissions are coming from both now and in the future. A building life cycle assessment can show the sources of emissions across a building’s life—from before ground breaks on construction to after it’s decommissioned. Measured against performance data, this can provide Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction opportunities.
The next step is taking action. To truly address all three Scopes, focus on the entire building ecosystem. Make a commitment to engage with sustainable suppliers, develop a circular approach with recycled materials, and promote sustainable behaviors for building occupants.
But this can’t all happen overnight; I always recommend an incremental approach, with a phased, achievable plan borrowing from best-in-class strategies. Eliminating Scope 3 is still a new concept for many building owners, and we can’t let "perfect" be the enemy of "good" as we work toward this goal. Important improvements like water efficiency, pumps and motors, plug loads, and renewable energy supplementation can be implemented in phases. I’ve seen even the most skeptical within the industry achieve net zero through a step-by-step process.
As more buildings achieve sustainability of both direct and indirect emissions, the communities surrounding them should also improve. It won’t happen overnight, but we can all make a start now for the future of our cities and our planet.