Innovation-July-August-2023

F E A T U R E

to be able to generate as much energy. Solar panels are extremely hard to deconstruct. What do you do with those solar panels?” Considering that BC Hydro operates on 98 percent renewable energy now, operational carbon targets are becoming easier to reach in BC. “For electrical, there really isn't much to mitigate,” said electrical engineer Calvin Chang, P.Eng. The design team placed much of their emphasis on low embodied carbon as a result, deciding to minimize added sources of energy. At one point, the students considered including batteries as a backup power source; however, they ultimately decided against it, realizing the high embodied carbon of such a move. “It adds carbon to a building that couldn't be offset,” said Chang. “In this case…it was more about what wasn't included.” Mechanical systems were similarly designed with embodied carbon reduction in mind, rather than pure operational

In November 2022, Third Space Commons was well under construction. P hoto : C ourtesy of TQD

generation devices, like batteries and solar panels, often have a limited lifespan and resource-intensive fabrication processes. "We've seen the huge growth of solar panels globally as an energy source,” said Mollard Thibault. “That's great, but in 20 to 30 years, they're not going

estimates that over a 10-year life cycle, the building will emit 109,250 kilowatt hours (3,200 kgCO 2 eq) while producing 52,850 kilowatt hours (1,771 kgCO 2 eq). But there can be a tension between building for operational emissions reduction and building for embodied carbon reduction. Alternative energy

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