Incrementalism is an inadequate approach to addressing energy and climate issues according to the author. The document discusses the need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions from buildings to mitigate global warming, noting that buildings account for 38-48% of energy demand. It advocates designing all new buildings to ultra-low energy standards like Passivhaus that can reduce energy use by 85% rather than more gradual efficiency improvements. Over 6,000 buildings have already been built to the Passivhaus standard, demonstrating it can be achieved with current technology.
5. Global Warming (Petit et al. 1999) Today CO 2 concentration is already higher than ever in the last 400’000 years Atmospherical CO 2 concentration (ppm) Years before today Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - www.IPCC.ch 400’000 300’000 200’000 100’000 today 200 240 280 320 360 400 2100: Scenarios up to 1100 ppm 2000: Today, 380 ppm 1800: pre-industrial, 280 ppm
6. Global Warming Goal: Stabilization at 550ppm = 1 Ton of CO2 - max. 500 Watt of fossil fuel annually per person Source: Watson
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8. Global Warming USA: Current annual CO 2 emission per person: 20 Ton of CO 2 Global Warming Goal by 2050: 1 Ton of CO 2
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10. Choices: Source: US Energy Information Administration Supply Replace 85% fossil Demand Improve Efficiency by 85% Transportation Industry Buildings
11. Energy demand related to Buildings: 38% to 48% Source: US Energy Information Administration
14. Building Energy Benchmarks Example State of Minnesota Today 100% MN Energy Code 315 kWh/m2a -60% LEED Platinum 190 kWh/m2a -85% Passivhaus Standard 45 kWh/m2a
15. We can do it today ! Over 6000 Passivhaus Buildings have been build today
16. Let’s make the step together! I look forward to have a great dialog about ideas, experiences and challenges at this conference. THANK YOU!