Net Zero Times provides valuable information and perspectives to public and private sector building operators and c-suite interested in climate action and sustainability. As a collective we see Earth Day as every day and we hope that more and more of readers feel the same.
We cover a wide range of topics related to climate change, renewable energy, evolving clean technologies, policy developments, corporate initiatives, and innovative solutions aimed at achieving net-zero emissions. We aim to keep readers informed about the latest tech, trends, financial and risk mitigation strategies and advancements in the journey towards a circular economy.
Noteworthy: Sustainable Building Design Feature an interview with Mark Wilhelm, Director, Climate and Clean Energy with Tierra Resource Consultants, LLC and Thinking Differently about Energy and GHG measures as Financial Assets.
Check out this month’s issue of Net Zero Times for more information and tips. Drop us a note if you wish to feature an article at mcresswell@thomascoleinc.com.
Under Earth Day How will you celebrate Earth Day?
What can you do different today to make lasting change?
Planet vs Plastics global earth day video
| |
|
Planet vs. Plastics
Planet vs. Plastics unites students, parents, businesses, governments, churches, unions, individuals, and NGOs in an unwavering commitment to call for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.
For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.
| |
|
Solar power occupies a lot of space – here’s how to make it more ecologically beneficial to the land it sits on
UN member States took a decisive step towards sustainable low carbon mobility with the adoption on 23 February of the Inland Transport Committee’s (ITC) Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland Transport.
Transport accounts for some 23% of annual GHG emissions. Inland transport accounts for 72% of this total, with 69% coming from road transport, 2% from inland shipping and 1% from rail.
| |
|
Sustainable Building Design Feature: An interview with Mark Wilhelm
Director, Climate and Clean Energy with Tierra Resource Consultants, LLC.
I had an epiphany while I was queued in a line at a Massachusetts gas station during the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. I spent 90 minutes in that line, which gave me lots of time to think about the stupidity of our situation! I decided that the US shouldn’t rely on polluting, limited natural resources from politically unstable countries halfway around the world. I decided that I would try to do something about that in my career. This led to my education at UMASS in economics, environmental science, and the intensive Global Survival Freshman Year Program, where I was a student of Bucky Fuller. Bucky taught us that--
| |
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” | |
Makes sense, right? That became my mantra. | |
|
THINK DIFFERENTLY! Turning Conservation into a Financial Asset
Building ventilation air loss has become the number ONE conservation measures for buildings.
Buildings that have formal ventilation systems all leak air, in fact the air loss can be 15-35% air loss. Translation, 10-15% of your energy bill can be attributed to ventilation air loss, a very large waste cost that has made ventilation air loss the number one energy conservation strategy to lower energy spend and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Let's assume a high school with a building footprint of 125,000 square feet and an annual energy spend of $200,000. By reducing ventilation air loss, the annual energy savings would total $30,000 per year with an 7–8-year simple payback.
Mitigating air loss is more than a conservation strategy, it’s a financial asset that impacts Profit, People and Planet.
| |
|
Top 8 Cleantech Trends & Innovations for 2024
With global emissions rising at an alarming rate, cities and companies are transitioning towards cleaner resources, fuels, energy, and technologies. These innovations enable processes, products, and services that reduce negative environmental impacts. For cleaner operations, cleantech companies optimize energy usage wherever possible, from large-scale applications to an individual level. For example, home automation empowers consumers to monitor and control electricity consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.
| |
|
Introduction to Carbon
Researchers
Carbon Researchers offers students a practical way to develop an understanding of climate change and its relationship to human activities. It introduces students to the complexities of realising solutions which require human behavioural and systematic change.
| |
|
How nature-based knowledge can restore local ecosystems and improve community well-being
One of the main mandates for Muskoka North Good Food Co-operative was to create better food access in Huntsville, Ontario, a rural town located three hours north of Toronto. The store supported local producers and farmers in the area by stocking fresh produce in their store whenever possible.
| |
TIME100 Climate:
Stories of Leadership
| | |
What Will Earth Look Like When These 6 Tipping Points Hit? | |
Take Advantage of Ventilation Repair Seal and Optimization (VeRSO) & VFD Project Incentives from Enbridge
Enbridge has the following Early Bird Offer for all sectors which will be applicable for air duct sealing along with VFD turndown:
$0.50/m3 natural gas saved up to 75 percent of upgrade costs, up to a maximum of $100,000**
**Purchase orders must be submitted before June 30th, 2024 and the project must be in service by October 31st, 2024 to qualify for Early Bird Offer. You can also receive up to $2,500 for air audits
Last year’s Limited Time Offer of 40 cents a m3 was only for multi-unit residential buildings, but this year’s Early Bird Offer is for all sectors, multi-residential, institutions, schools, etc. There was quite a few residential buildings that participated in last year’s Limited Time Offer, and hoping other customers this year can participate in the Early Bird Offer.
Easy to procure as Nerva is an OECM approved vendor.
| | | |
Natural Resources Canada provides up to $16.7 million to help the IESO unlock the potential of energy storage, hybrid facilities and small-scale electricity resources
In collaboration with academia, industry and governments, the NRC is applying its research and development (R&D) expertise to support the development and deployment of low-carbon construction solutions at scale.
Advancing a low-carbon regulatory framework
Together with stakeholders, the NRC will develop new low-carbon requirements and work collaboratively to implement these through standards, specifications, guidelines, and publications such as the Canadian National Master Construction Specification (NMS), and the National Model Codes.
| | | |
|
The National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Construction Research Centre is addressing one of the biggest challenges facing Canada’s construction sector: decarbonization.
In collaboration with academia, industry and governments, the NRC is applying its research and development (R&D) expertise to support the development and deployment of low-carbon construction solutions at scale.
Advancing a low-carbon regulatory framework
Together with stakeholders, the NRC will develop new low-carbon requirements and work collaboratively to implement these through standards, specifications, guidelines, and publications such as the Canadian National Master Construction Specification (NMS), and the National Model Codes.
| | | | |
2024 Ventilation Repair, Seal and Optimization Projects: | | |
Ventilation air loss is a major contributor to energy and GHG waste. While ventilation remains a key contributor to healthier indoor air quality and a primary focus for many schools and campuses, many spaces are overventilated which provides an opportunity to harvest energy savings of 12-15% and achieve greenhouse gas reductions of 20 - 30%. | | | | |