Thanks you for highlighting the importance of EC so well, Anthony.
I notice you mentioned need for efficient space planning, referring to current 34m2 per person UK and 68m2area pp in US. Cohen (2020) mentions ‘sufficient’ size per person of between 14-20m2 pp.
Am also passionate about a related ‘blind spot’ in cutting carbon i.e. growth in floor area. https://emeraldopenresearch.com/articles/2-2 (please see previous discussion thread on CLF).
It is critically important that we in the Global North (including US, Australia, UK etc dramatically reduce our consumption and seriously question the need for new buildings, especially commercial, when the South needs more infrastructure and facilities to overcome poverty. Do we really need so many new New York cities in the developed world?! We should consider other options, as Bringing EC Upfront (WGBC 2019) highlighted in ‘carbon reduction potential’ diagram on p.20, such as not building at all (100% reduction in EC) and meeting services via digital means, working from home etc, or building less and adapting existing stock. Responses to COVID-19 has shown that we CAN meet many needs while building less.
For global equity, we need to work within carbon allocations per person. In this regard, EU countries are devising carbon budgets for various types of buildings, related to overall country allocations.
We are researching this topic in Australia too, very interested to keep in contact.
Best regards
David Ness (Adjunct Professor)
david.ness@unisa.edu.au