Climate change?

How do you create a climate-responsive building in a changing climate? That is the main question of Paula Melton in her article called "Designing for the Next Century's Weather". When thinking about the answer i tend to get confused. What is climate change? I think it needs to be explicitly mentioned that the next century weather will be a result of anthropogenic climate change. Climate change plain, has been a natural process in the planet existence without a real threat to mankind. For those who are not familiar with climate change related to human activities, the US NASA website provides very illustrative information and facts, also some impressive before and after pictures. Another site that is worth to visit is the Australian Climate Council an independent non-profit organisation whose mission is to provide authoritative, expert advice to the Australian public on climate change.

New modeling techniques may be very helpful, but since there is, and will be, uncertainty about climate prediction, why not making a modeling-empirical approach? My idea behind this strategy is to have a more practical plan of action. Climate change is already happening, for example, this year NSW suffered an intense heatwave in February. March was recorded as the wettest March since 1975 and September was the driest September on record in Greater Sydney (Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology 2017).

Do we know how our buildings performed in those extreme weather situations? I believe we should know, or at least try to. Nowadays, the urban fabric of our built environment is made up of a varied range of buildings,e.g. net-zero-energy, green, conventional and so on. With the technology available and the different rationales of facilities management, useful data regarding performance of this buildings could be collected, providing designers a valuable complement to modeling iteration exercise, which could lessen the inherent incertitude.

The different case studies presented by Tone Wheeler i think were developed with that practical sense. He showed, in most of the cases, how by implementing simple techniques such as passive design, cross-ventilation and night flushing we can achieve climate-responsive buildings.

As a wrap up of the SUSD0003 Energy and the Built Environment course, these are my responses to a short questionnaire:

What are the energy/emission related impacts of your actions and lifestyle currently? What do they mean to you?

Currently, my big impacts are basically based in the food that i eat and the ways of transport that i use. As being a full time student, i spend most of my time at uni so although that has energy/emission related, i share it with all students. These impacts are meaningful to me, so as far is under my responsibility or control i try to reduce them.

Which areas of your lifestyle are of particular concern to you? Why?

Food and transport, since this two sectors account for 26% of GHG emissions worldwide (Statista 2014).

What have you already done in response to these energy/emission impacts and your concerns?

Regarding transportation i am very mindful and i live just one block away from uni, so i walk everyday, having no fossil fuels energy use: no bus, no train, no lightrail and no car. I try to do as much as possible, all my activities other than uni, locally. Let's say shopping, going to the doctor, to the beach, to yoga classes, etc. So again i just walk. If i need to go further i will take bus but my trip will always have a walking component.

Regarding food, since one month ago i reduced my animal protein consumption (chicken, pork, beef, fish, diaries). After watching the documentaries What the Health and Cowspiracy, i realised the impacts to the environment and to human health, by the act of feeding and also by all what is involved in the process. I wouldn't define myself as vegan, because sometimes i still eat animal protein but if i go to the supermarket i don't buy them anymore for cooking.

What are you currently working on or would like to do in the future in response to the remaining issues? What is preventing you? How will you overcome these barriers?

I think that studying the Master of Sustainable Built Environment is the beginning to try making big changes in the future. As i mentioned before i am working in some issues but of course i would like to do more. I would say that the barriers are maybe not having enough knowledge about all the issues, which for sure will be deeper when i finish my degree.

What other positive impacts do you see yourself making beyond your immediate personal lifestyle? How?

I believe that education is essential, so beyond my personal lifestyle i would like to share my knowledge and encourage others to follow me in the sustainability journey. Working in NGOs or international organisations related to the field is one of my goals. If that doesn't happen, i will do it in a smaller scale with family and friends, and whatever job i get involved in i will think and act sustainably.

Are you indirectly investing in or financing climate change and fossil fuel industry? Have you checked if your banks and your Super funds are funding climate catastrophe? Do you know you can switch, divest and go fossil free?

I would say that yes but indirectly, as having a bank account in a big Australian bank that has loaned $24 billion to fossil fuels globally. Honestly i didn't know that it was possible to switch and divest, but i've noticed that it is possible. The Australian 350.org movement shows in simple steps how to do it, and also offers a list of fossil free banks.