ArchitectureinaClimateofChange(H)Page52-Page62LowenergytechniquesforhousingItwouldappearthat,fortheindustrialisedcountries,thebestchanceofrescuelieswiththebuiltenvironmentbecausebuildingsinuseorinthecourseoferectionarethebiggestsingleindirectsourceofcarbonemissionsgeneratedbyburningfossilfuels,accountingforover50percentoftotalemissions
IfyouaddthetransportcostsgeneratedbybuildingstheUKgovernmentestimateis75percent
Itisthebuiltenvironmentwhichisthesectorthatcanmosteasilyaccommodatefairlyrapidchangewithoutpain
Infact,upgradingbuildings,especiallythelowerendofthehousingstock,createsaclusterofinterlockingvirtuouscircles
ConstructionsystemsHavingconsideredthechallengepresentedbyglobalwarmingandtheopportunitiestogeneratefossil-freeenergy,itisnowtimetoconsiderhowthedemandsideoftheenergyequationca