Do You Know Buildings Hidden Role In The Climate Crisis?
George C. Keefe
Advisor - Consultant - Contractor “If All the Greedy Polluters Can Band Together to Protect Their Interests, Then Honest Environmentalists Must Do the Same. It's As Simple As That” George C. Keefe - ENCASEMENT Guy
The world around us is changing at an alarming rate.
Extreme weather events, once considered rare, have become increasingly common.
From devastating hurricanes to scorching heatwaves, our planet is sending us urgent messages that we can no longer ignore.
In this episode I bring to light how the very structures we live and work in are significant contributors to this crisis?
According to the U.N. Environment Program, the buildings and construction sector produces a staggering 37% of the heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere.
This statistic is both shocking and eye-opening.
It forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: our buildings homes, offices, and public spaces are silently fueling the climate crisis.
But how exactly do buildings contribute to global warming, and how does this, in turn, affect the severity of weather patterns?
Let's break it down.
The construction and operation of buildings require enormous amounts of energy.
From manufacturing building materials to powering heating and cooling systems, each stage of a building's lifecycle releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
These gases, primarily carbon dioxide, act like a blanket around our planet, trapping heat and gradually raising global temperatures.
As temperatures rise, the delicate balance of our climate system is disrupted.
Warmer air can hold more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall and flooding in some areas. In others, it exacerbates drought conditions.
Higher temperatures also provide more energy for storms, potentially increasing their intensity and frequency.
This vicious cycle of emissions and extreme weather events poses a significant threat to our built environment.
The very buildings that contribute to climate change are now at greater risk from its effects.
Stronger storms, more frequent flooding, and intense heat waves can cause severe damage to structures, leading to costly repairs and potentially endangering lives.
So, what can we do to break this cycle?
The answer lies in how we approach the construction, restoration, maintenance, and preservation of our buildings.
One crucial step is embracing the new opportunity of eco-friendly products and the right, long-lasting green coatings in our building practices.
These innovative solutions offer a way to protect our structures while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact.
The right green coatings, for instance, can significantly improve a building's energy efficiency by sealing leaks that allow energy loss and reflecting heat, reducing the need for air conditioning and other cooling devices.
This not only lowers energy consumption but also extends the lifespan of the building materials themselves.
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Moreover, using the right long-lasting, green coatings can create an effective encasement for buildings, protecting them from early breakdown by the elements while minimizing harmful emissions.
This also prevents the generation, transportation and storage of unwanted waste from premature removal and replacement which also helps reduce the carbon footprint
The right green coatings are guaranteed, long-lasting with 20-year, renewable service cycles.
Being water-based, non-toxic, biodegradable, with zero to low VOC’s (volatile organic content), they reduce air pollution both inside and outside the building.
By choosing these environmentally conscious options, we're not just protecting our buildings – we're safeguarding people and the planet.
Green building practices can improve indoor air quality, creating healthier living and working environments.
They can also help mitigate urban heat island effects, making our cities more livable in the face of rising temperatures.
Furthermore, the shift towards sustainable building practices can have far-reaching effects on our fight against climate change.
As demand for green products increases, it drives innovation in the sector, potentially leading to even more effective solutions in the future.
It also sends a powerful message to industries and policymakers about the importance of sustainability in all aspects of our lives.
To Sum IT Up:
The relationship between buildings and climate change is complex and bidirectional.
Our structures contribute significantly to global warming, which in turn threatens their integrity through extreme weather events.
However, by embracing green building practices, particularly in the use of eco-friendly products and coatings, we have the power to transform this relationship.
Every coating applied, every restored building, and every maintenance decision is an opportunity to make a difference.
By choosing sustainability, we're not just protecting our buildings – we're taking a stand for our planet and future generations.
In the face of the climate crisis, let's build a greener, more resilient world, one structure at a time.
"We are not put on this earth to see through one another. We are put on this earth to see one another through." - Gloria Vanderbilt - American Artist, Author, Actress, Fashion Designer, Heiress, & Socialite
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Note: The Author is an Environmentalist, Green Coatings Enthusiast, Advisor, Contractor, Consultant, Vegan, Blogger, Podcaster. Protecting the Health of People & Planet. CEO & Founder at GLOBAL Encasement, Inc., Restoration & Management vs Removal & Replacement. Why Replace – Just Encase!