The Missing Conversation in Net Zero – End-of-Life Solutions with Actionable Plans

At yesterday’s “Reimagining the Built Environment for a Net Zero Future” event, hosted by JLL and Carrier, I expected to hear more about circular solutions for long-term challenges like energy storage and battery disposal. The discussions on AI’s role in optimizing energy efficiency were insightful, showcasing how AI can significantly reduce energy consumption and improve performance across industries, including building management systems. AI and smart technologies are indeed essential for making our built environments more resilient and eco-conscious. However, while these advancements are crucial, one critical topic was missing: What happens to batteries and AI-driven systems at the end of their life? This question highlights a troubling pattern we’ve seen before with other technologies—one we can no longer afford to ignore.

As I discussed in an earlier article during the pandemic, Why Adding High MERV Rated Filters Will Be Very Costly to Owners when high MERV-rated filters were being encouraged to improve air quality, the static pressure created additional problems that could be avoided with a more nuanced solution. We are facing a similar scenario today with the increasing reliance on lithium-ion batteries.

While AI can optimize energy use during a product's lifecycle, we must also consider how we handle the disposal or recycling of the very technologies that help us become more efficient. It’s not enough to focus on efficiency during use—we must also plan for what comes after. Without comprehensive circularity plans for these AI-driven systems and energy storage solutions, we risk creating new environmental burdens.

Lessons of the Past

When CFL lightbulbs were introduced, it was known that the mercury inside them posed a problem. However, this issue was largely ignored, and low-income communities—where these bulbs were often installed—bore the brunt of the decision. Today, we risk repeating that mistake with lithium-ion batteries, which power our green energy revolution. Without comprehensive circularity plans, we are simply trading one environmental problem for another. Future generations will inherit our waste and pollution if we don’t act.

Short-Sighted Innovation - Not Every Invention Is A Good One

Take, for example, the story of Thomas Midgley Jr., who invented both CFC refrigerants and leaded gasoline. While celebrated in his time, his inventions had long-term consequences for the environment and public health—contributing to ozone depletion and widespread lead poisoning. His story underscores the importance of due diligence and long-term thinking, which were missing from those developments.

Today, we face similar risks with new technologies like lithium-ion batteries. We cannot afford to prioritize short-term gains without considering the full life cycle of these products.

Encouraging Industry and Academic Collaboration

One aspect of the event that stood out was seeing seasoned organizations like Carrier acknowledging the importance of circular solutions. However, as a former employee of Carrier, I’ve also observed how larger, established companies can sometimes take longer to adapt to necessary changes. To truly tackle the challenges of circularity, these organizations need to be more open-minded and agile in their approach.

Carrier, along with other major industry players, should not only prioritize circular solutions but actively invest in young minds by fostering global challenges for innovative ideas. Collaboration with universities is key. Universities should incorporate circularity into their curriculum, encouraging students to design and implement solutions for end-of-life management. Such partnerships could create innovation labs where seasoned experts and students collaborate to develop practical solutions. Not only would this encourage enrollment in engineering and environmental programs, but it would also develop the next generation of leaders who can address global challenges.

I often hear people asking, "So how do we solve these problems?" The answer is clear: industry and academia must collaborate directly to devise practical solutions. By encouraging this kind of collaboration, we can inspire creative, forward-thinking approaches that address both the immediate needs of today’s industries and the long-term health of the planet.

Breaking Down Barriers

During the event, I raised a question about battery end-of-life management, but the response relied heavily on technical jargon, particularly the term "circularity." While the term is accurate, it seemed to sidestep the need for a well-thought-out, actionable plan. Such terminology can create a disconnect for those not deeply immersed in the industry, ultimately discouraging meaningful dialogue. To address these complex challenges, we need to go beyond buzzwords and make holistic concepts understandable to everyone. Clear, straightforward communication fosters broad participation, which is essential for developing effective, real-world solutions.

Moving Forward

It’s time to focus on prevention, not cure. Regulatory bodies and industries must implement frameworks that consider the entire lifecycle of technologies. Governments should incentivize recycling programs and circular economy models that make end-of-life management a priority. Decision-makers must look beyond quarterly profits to consider the long-term impact of their choices.

Including the Next Generation

One glaring absence at the event was the lack of young people. While they may not have the purchasing power of current decision-makers, they will inherit the environmental landscape we create today. Encouraging seasoned organizations to invest in the creativity and energy of young people through global challenges and collaborations with universities will ensure that fresh perspectives are brought into these discussions. Their fresh, forward-thinking insights are crucial to shaping a resilient, adaptable future.

We stand at a critical juncture. The decisions we make today about the built environment and energy solutions will shape the world for decades to come. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past by prioritizing short-term profits over long-term solutions. Now is the time to have these difficult conversations, use inclusive language, and make visionary decisions to ensure that the next generation inherits solutions, not problems.