CNC Report 08.26.24 8.5x11 - Flipbook - Page 115
MAJOR FINDINGS
1. How can a community shape a healthier future for the neighborhood they
live in?
•
Retrofit Our Existing Buildings and Building New Lean Construction:
Re-using existing building structures and low-embodied carbon new buildings have
significant impact on long-term carbon emission reduction. Even though it is not as
carbon-effective as promoting energy efficiency at the moment, it will get increasingly
important in a future with ideally even “cleaner” building energy systems.
•
Adding Trees and Increasing Localized Sequestration:
Adding trees has limited short-term effect on offsetting emissions by sequestration, but
as the grid improves, sequestration’s role increases with a larger long-term effect (trees
sequester significantly more carbon as they get older). Additionally, trees are seen as
crucial for other reasons such as biodiversity, water retention and urban outdoor comfort.
2. What steps can a person take to be incrementally impactful towards a carbon
neutral future?
•
Deep Energy-Retrofitting:
Major energy-retrofitting of a majority of buildings in the corridor and ensuring energy
efficient new buildings for large long-term carbon emission reduction (reducing EUIs).
•
Rightsize:
Minimize dwelling and new construction building size to reduce building operational
carbon.
•
Renewable Energy Generation is Critical:
Maximizing PV on rooftops and parking areas are crucial to locally reduce and offset
carbon emission.
3. How can the current systems of development and city planning be disrupted
to create better places for people?
•
Reduce the Role of the Car:
Promoting walkablity within the corridor and surrounding neighborhoods and the
resident’s reduction of car mileage (combustion engine vehicles) by incorporating a
streetscape design that supports pedestrians (e.g. shaded sidewalks) and cyclists (e.g.
protected bike lanes) can have a high impact on the corridor’s overall emission balance.
•
Interconnected and Improved Urban Microclimate:
Most measures are also interconnected, as the streetscape design directly impacts the
local microclimate, hence the way people move around the district. An improved urban
microclimate also influences building energy use, stressing the need for street trees.
Strategic preliminary density might initially increase emissions locally, but provides a
higher performing amenity infrastructure to promote a more walkable, active and resilient
neighborhood further reducing the personal carbon footprint.
CONCLUSION TOWARD A CARBON NEUTRAL CORRIDOR
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