Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day is a day aimed at raising awareness and promoting action for protecting our planet. As we celebrate the 54th Earth Day, there is much more work to be done to protect our planet from the ravages of climate change.
Consider that 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850 and that the 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade (2014-2023). These rising temperatures are creating extreme weather events like droughts that trigger wildfires and heavy precipitation that results in flooding. The warming of the earth is also causing glaciers to shrink and making our seas more acidic.
These and other cascading repercussions of the climate crisis have shifted lower embodied carbon products from a trend to an imperative. This focus is especially critical in the construction industry, which is responsible for 42% of annual global CO2 emissions.
Recognizing this, the industry is stepping up efforts to combat climate change and drive positive change in the built environment.
Here are a few examples of what the industry is doing to reduce its carbon footprint:
Using building materials with lower embodied carbon
The use of building materials with lower embodied carbon is essential to reducing the built environment’s carbon footprint. Today, architects and designers are using environmental product declarations (EPDs) to help them select lower embodied carbon building materials. The detailed cradle-to-grave information provided by many EPDs allows stakeholders in the building and construction industry to better understand the environmental impact of building materials throughout their lifecycle, which in turn allows them to make more informed choices on building materials.
Designing to achieve green building standards
More and more buildings are being designed to achieve green building standards aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®), the most widely used rating system, provides a framework for advancing the design and construction of high performing green buildings. This rating system evaluates the environmental performance of buildings, including their energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water conservation, and materials selection, allowing all types of commercial buildings the opportunity to earn credits or points toward achieving Silver, Gold, or Platinum LEED certification.
Building for energy efficiency
Building design and construction professionals are also constructing buildings to maximize energy efficiency. They are prioritizing lower carbon materials and high thermal efficiency building envelopes to reduce building energy requirements. The R-values of up to R-8.0 per inch of Kingspan’s innovative, airtight insulated metal panels with high thermal resistance are increasingly important in the construction industry’s drive to meet specific energy targets. These panels provide continuous insulation that helps seal the building enclosure, decrease energy loss and reduce carbon emissions.
Retrofitting instead of razing
Retrofitting rather than razing is happening more often in building projects. Retrofitting existing buildings extends the life of buildings, avoiding much of the embodied carbon emissions that are generated by the construction of new buildings. Retrofitting buildings can save between 50% and 75% of a building’s embodied carbon.
Kingspan is a recognized leader in the construction sector. Through our 10-year Planet Passionate sustainability program, we are making strides in helping tackle the global challenges of climate change, circularity, and protection of the natural world.
On Earth Day and every day, we all have a vital role to play in safeguarding the health of our planet, protecting ecosystems, preventing biodiversity loss, and preserving natural resources for generations to come.
Evaluating building materials is no longer a choice in the construction industry; it is imperative to combat climate change.