Buildings . Economics & Policy . Energy Efficiency . Heating
Green coalitions’ contradictions – why we need innovative policies for building stock decarbonization
On 05.01.2022 by Ivalin PetkovProminent policy initiatives all over the globe are polarizing society for how to govern an increasingly unaffordable building stock in the era of sustainability – even in the quaint city of Basel in traditionally neutral Switzerland. While our readership is primarily concerned with energy and CO₂, here I present an emerging conflict between social and environmental policies in the building sector – primarily due to the silo mentality of (green-leaning) politicians and policymakers. I argue why we need to break down these silos by innovating our current arsenal of policy tools to achieve the broader set of goals.
Buildings . Carbon Removal . Consumer Behavior . Energy Efficiency . Storage
Wooden buildings: a natural carbon sink boosted by modern manufacturing technologies
On 23.06.2021 by Xuqian YanWood is an ancient construction material, but it has been gradually substituted with concrete and steel. However, the advantages of wood are now being (re)discovered as sustainability becomes a global interest and advanced manufacturing technologies become available. This article focuses on its advantages in carbon capture, digital construction, and prefabrication.
Buildings . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Energy Efficiency . Heating . Smart Energy
Why old buildings matter – The story of building refurbishments
On 10.06.2021 by Mario FreiIt is estimated that buildings are responsible for 36% of global final energy use and 40% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Buildings are also complex machines with long life cycles, which include regular maintenance and updates. Thus, buildings and particularly building refurbishments provide manifold and exciting opportunities to address climate change issues at low cost and with (free) co-benefits.
Buildings . Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Heating . Smart Energy . Society
Keeping it cool in Switzerland: The critical impact of air-conditioning uptake
On 11.05.2021 by Robin Mutschler, Philipp Heer, Sven Eggimann, Martin RuedisueliToday, only a minority of Swiss households have air conditioners installed for cooling. This might change due to the warming climate and the growing integration of heat pumps to new buildings, which can be used for heating and cooling. The Swiss cooling energy demand may reach a similar order of magnitude compared to the heating demand by mid-century onwards, which could have a significant impact on the energy system.
Buildings . Climate Change . Energy Efficiency . Smart Energy
How smart grids will change the way architects have to design buildings
On 30.11.2020 by Christoph WaibelIn order to efficiently integrate intermittent renewable energy into our grids, we need to change the role that buildings play in a city. Instead of being mere consumers, they need to become a swarm of smart prosumers capable of stabilizing the grid. This calls for a new way how architects should design buildings, leading to the next era of architecture: “Energy Responsivism”.
Buildings . Consumer Behavior . Energy Efficiency . Energy Supply . Smart Energy . Society
Data exchange via virtual assistants is key to unlocking the full potential of the future energy system
On 01.10.2020 by Matthias SulzerConnecting buildings to a cross-sectoral, decentralized energy system is a proven means of integrating more renewable energy sources and further increasing energy efficiency. However, the operation of such highly interconnected energy systems is becoming painstaking. Data and algorithms will be the key to overcome these pains and to unlock the innovative systems’ full potential.