Smart Enclosure System Download

In the 20th century, builders used giant energy resources and chemical-based materials to conquer the vagaries of nature. Our buildings now contribute approximately 45% of total US greenhouse gas emissions (Architecture 2030, 2013). And while scientists tell us a stable climate is assured at atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 350 parts per million (Hansen et al., 2008), today concentrations are rising past 410 parts per million. Consequently, today’s building efforts must address climate change in two ways. First, we need to reduce global carbon emissions in the developed world by 80% by 2050 to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. And second, we have to go beyond just reducing emissions and start removing carbon from the atmosphere to return to the stable atmospheric CO2 concentration of 350 ppm. The Smart Enclosure System offers a 21st-century guide to advanced high-performance building assemblies. The System is a toolkit that can help you maximize the positive impact of you