Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality October 30, 2008
Overview Climate change and buildings BC policy context and legislative requirements Emissions management & financial risk Getting to carbon neutral Strategies, technology options, and case studies
The Carbon Issue Climate change is a global issue. Consequences include rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, water shortages, changing disease vectors and millions of refugees.
Climate Change and Buildings Source: Energy Information Administration Statistics (Architecture 2030)
Where Do We Need to Go? Source: Mazria Inc. 2005 (Assumes a 15% embodied energy reduction in the construction of new buildings) (Architecture 2030)
Trends 2030 Challenge Endorsed by ASHRAE, AIA, USGBC, RAIC, & others. At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 50% of the regional (or country) average for that building type. 2010 60% reduction 2015 70% reduction 2020 80% reduction 2025 90% reduction 2030 100% reduction
Trends ASHRAE 2008 Conference: Net Zero Energy Goal to have Net Zero Energy economical to build by 2030
British Columbia Leading the Way 2008 BC Climate Action Plan: Bill 44 - legislated emissions targets (33% by 2020, 80% by 2050) Comprehensive Carbon Tax Cap and Trade System (Western Climate Initiative) Carbon Neutral public sector by 2010 (covers 6,500 provincial buildings) New BC Green Building Code Energy and Water efficiency All new provincial buildings = LEED Gold or equivalent
British Columbia Leading the Way BC Hydro Significant Changes Coming: BC Energy Plan Electrically self-sufficient by 2016 Zero net GHG emissions from all new plants Maintain 90% clean power target Meet 50% of reductions through conservation by 2020 Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement Conservation targets (5% by 2011, 14% by 2016, 20% by 2020) Alternative energy options
Local Government BC Climate Action Charter More than 100 municipalities voluntarily committed to: Measuring and reporting annual GHG emissions Meeting Provincial GHG reduction targets Carbon Neutral operations by 2012 Creating complete, compact energy efficient communities Community energy planning as part of OCP process
Industry Trends Proposal Calls for Carbon Management Post-secondary Institutions Health Authorities School Boards Municipalities and Regional Districts Private sector organizations
A Few Definitions Terms GWP (Global Warming Potential a number that reflects how much damage a GHG can do) CO2e (the sum of the carbon equivalent of all greenhouse gases takes into account the GWP of each one) Metric tonnes (1 MT CO 2e = 1,000 kg CO 2e ) kg CO2e / m 2 (GHG per floor area; a means of generalizing the value to make comparisons size-independent)
Quantifying GHG Emissions Emissions factors are a measure of GHG emissions per unit of energy consumption (typical units are CO2e / kwh) Environment Canada is recognized authority Range of Protocols to govern emissions quantification and reporting GHG Protocol (World Resources Institute / WBCSD) Canadian GHG Challenge Registry (CSA) California Climate Action Registry BC allows the use of all three protocols
GHG Emissions for Natural Gas Buildings emit GHG via the utilities they consume Natural Gas consumption produces a constant: 0.204 kg CO2e / kwh or 204 tonnes CO2e / GWH electricity is another matter
GHG Emissions for Electricity Provinces generate electricity differently Hydro power vs. fossil fuels Different emissions factor for each province Natural Gas = 0.2 kg CO2e/ ekwh
GHG Emissions from Buildings In BC (and similar provinces) with relatively clean electrical power 81% GHG emissions from heating 19% GHG emissions from electricity In Alberta (and similar provinces) with coal based electrical power 15% GHG emissions from heating 85% GHG emissions from electricity GHG reduction solutions are different
What Does Carbon Neutral Mean? A Carbon Neutral organization has: 1) Calculated total emissions 2) Pursued actions to reduce those emissions 3) Applied offsets to net those emissions to zero (by 2010) What does the Act require? Carbon Neutral Action Reports beginning June 2009 (2008 year) 2008 and 2009 reports document emissions reduction efforts 2010 report must include a GHG inventory and statement of offsets USE LESS ENERGY
What Emission Sources are Included? Buildings are Primary Source Direct emissions from stationary combustion (boilers and generators for heating, cooling and power) Indirect emissions from electricity use Other sources may include fleet vehicles, business travel, paper use
What about offset costs? For every 100,000 GJ of Natural Gas consumed: The cost of the BC Carbon Tax is: 2008 @ $10 / tonne $50,000 / year 2012 @ $30 / tonne $150,000 / year The cost of carbon offsets is (anticipated): 2012 @ $25 / tonne $125,000 / year Total EXTRA cost of 100,000 GJ of natural gas in 2012: $275,000 / year
Getting to Carbon Neutral Determine your building s carbon footprint Review opportunities for the site, neighborhood, region Evaluate options for practicality, cost, functionality, availability Review capital, operating, maintenance costs Review funding options for capital and operating costs
Steps to GHG Emissions Reductions Step 1 - DEFINE IT DEFINE EMISSIONS AND ENERGY USAGE Benchmarking against similar buildings Analysis of utility data for existing buildings GHG/Carbon Footprint calculations Carbon tax calculation Don t Just Fuel Switch
Steps to GHG Emissions Reductions Step 2 REDUCE IT REDUCE ENERGY USAGE/ RESOURCES Audit process - Identifies areas for saving energy - Research/liaison for applicable incentive programs. Upgrade systems and Design - Design of low temp heating systems - Integrated Systems - Higher efficiency Equipment and Systems - Envelope Improvement measures - Natural Ventilation system design
Steps to GHG Emissions Reductions Step 3 PLAN FOR IT LOOK FOR SYNERGIES WITHIN REGION & NEIGHBORHOOD Central heating design Waste heat from neighboring buildings.
Steps to GHG Emissions Reductions Step 4 PRACTICE IT REACHING CARBON NEUTRALITY Green House Gas free fuel Biomass Incineration/Co-generation, Tri-generation system design Solar Heat collectors Solar PV Generation (requires incentives/ subsidies) Wind power Micro Hydro Biogas Heat Pumps Carbon Offsetting Strategies
What are we doing? Rethinking Energy
What is District Energy?
Dockside Green, Victoria, BC System Synergies Opportunities in the Community Interactions Between All Systems
How do we actually do this? Funding opportunities, etc.
What Help is Out There?
BC Hydro PowerSmart Program: Funding available as part of DSM program for both new and existing buildings New funding for community energy Projects must meet minimum criteria Future funding to come before end of 08
Terasen Gas: DSM more limited than Hydro Typically, high efficiency gas boiler incentives Linking to Terasen Energy Services may provide more options More funding opportunities coming in 08
Government Funding: Innovative Clean Energy Funding - $25 million BC Bioenergy Strategy may have ~ $35 million Money also available for research
What are we doing? Green House Gas Reductions in Action
Projects Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability Vancouver, BC Net Energy Producer! Very low energy use building Some PV and Solar Collectors Remote micro hydro could be developed by project partners and power CIRS Architect: Busby Perkins Will
Projects Dockside Green Development (Carbon Neutral) Victoria, BC Waste wood gasification heat - gas peaking Sell heat to hotel at non peak time to offset GHG from gas boilers and electricity Architect: Busby Perkins Will Architects
Projects Edmonton International Airport Edmonton, AB Architect: Stantec Architecture 43,000m 2 addition requiring more heat/cool plant and electricity Use gas turbine tri-gen system - Electricity, heating, cooling Will about achieve Kyoto in spite of 400% increase in area Looking at sour gas flaring as alternative fuel 5 yr simple payback smaller turbine unit 4 yr simple payback larger turbine unit
Conclusions Step-by-step, carbon neutrality is possible Consider choices at the neighborhood or community scale to make building decisions easier The key is to start taking action!