The initial expense of electric vehicles (EV) and buildings that are constructed and operated to minimize their carbon footprint needs to be compared to how their ongoing performance compares with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and conventional building construction.
Bill Turpin discusses the energy efficiency and GHG emissions of his typical EV that uses the Nova Scotia electric grid for charging. His calculations indicate that using an EV in Nova Scotia produces less GHG emissions than internal combustion vehicles even as Nova Scotia Power Inc. burns coal to generate electricity.
According to Nova Scotia Power’s 2020 emission intensity report, the utility emitted 629.7 grams of carbon (strictly speaking, carbon dioxide) for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) it sold me. This means my car indirectly emits 11,020 grams of carbon per 100 km (17.5 X 629.7). On average, a Canadian car burns nine litres of gasoline per 100 km and each burned litre creates 2,300 grams of human habitat-killing carbon dioxide. This means the average fossil-burner directly emits 20,700 grams of carbon every 100 km (9 X 2,300). Put another way, my average EV emits just 53% of the carbon emitted by a fossil-burner. Yep, right here in Nova Scotia. And that number will get better as more hydro from Muskrat Falls gets into the energy mix. Nova Scotia Power has cut its emissions intensity by 30 per cent over the past 15 years and electric motors are about two and a half times more efficient than internal combustion engines. The same amount of energy that moves an ICEV 100 km drives my EV for 250 km.1
George MacPherson writes on LinkedIn about why building a luxury home may be good for the environment.
He notes that even in eco-friendly designs, we externalize costs and with passive-built structures one of those external costs is the destruction of our natural life giving forests.
Unless we begin framing these homes with a different material, a sustainable recycled material, or we stop building homes to passive standards all together, this will always just be a Band-Aid solution… True eco-friendly means that you can stand with pride on the job site of your home being constructed, knowing that because it's being constructed it is helping the environment and if it weren't constructed then 600,000 bottles would still be in the ocean. That's our structure. That's our eco structure. It's not passive. It's better than passive. It's positive environmental impact… A JD Composites home uses half the energy of a standard wood framed home. That means if you net zero based on the consumption of a typical home, you have 50% of your production that you can devote to "luxury" energy costs. Things like electric vehicle charging, water pumps for irrigation, hydroponics, glycol heated concrete and driveway, and even a water feature.2
Adrienne Morgan Interior Design comments that there are many ways you can refresh and organize your luxury home to make it more sustainable.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate has become almost like a buzzword in the world of eco-friendly home design. Namely, this certificate ensures that the home’s efficiency standards are in line with the principles of green building. LEED-certified projects have so far been responsible for removing 80 million tonnes of waste that results from unsustainable building. Also, it has been estimated that LEED buildings account for $1.2 billion in energy savings and $150 million in water savings. Around the world, about 430,000 homes are LEED-certified, most of them being in the US. Both residential, private, and commercial real estate experts recognize LEED certification as an accurate sustainability indicator.3
In the transition from transportation and building systems of today to the energy efficient low carbon footprint required in the next decade we need to rely on energy use and GHG emission calculations by engineers and others with experience in the technology required to meet the goals that will minimize the effects of a warming planet.
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