Sustainability Studio (2010)
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10 IDEAS (in no particular order)
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The Challenge
To decouple development from combustion, which is not just about protecting ecological systems: it is about creating an opportunity for the evolution of environmental policies into comprehensive economic and social transformations.
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The Studio identified three main avenues to carbon neutrality in the built environment: reducing demand for carbon-intensive energy and behaviours, emphasizing the role of renewable energy sources, and making use of forests as a carbon sink.
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An animated peek into the intense week of the Sustainability Studio
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1. War Cabinet of Mayors and Ministers
Bring together national and local decision makers in a war on carbon.
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2. Zero-Energy Homes for Key Gate- Keepers
Enlist famous citizens from politics, business, sports, and culture to lead the transition away from carbon intensive lifestyles.
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3. Cross-Finance Renewable Energy
Use taxes on non-renewable energy to fund expansion of renewable sources.
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4. Densify Porously
Explore new city planning that combines urban density with access to nature
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5. Emphasize Small-Scale Natural Areas
Let nature seep into cities in small pockets.
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6. Adopt Mixed Use
Intensify live, work, shopping, and leisure spaces to reduce travel needs.
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7. Invent Medium-Density Public Transport
Innovations in products and services catered to transportation within a medium-density population
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8. Invent Cellular Infrastructure
Explore smart grids and other technologies to make lower density viable with a smaller carbon footprint.
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9. Performance Based Building Permits & Audits
Carbon budgets should inform building design, permitting, and usage.
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10. Integrate Urban Planning
Bring together quality of life, economics, density considerations, natural resource strategy, mobility, energy, building performance, and land use to make planning decisions.
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Transit analysis by Mobility in Chain. A slide from the Studio's presentation.
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Some Key Challenges To Decarbonization
Decarbonization, Government Protection, Decoupling Growth & Emissions, Evidence, Policy, Mobility, Energy Efficiency, Durability, Consumption, Density, Funding Change
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GDP and CO2 Emissions 1860-2008
Source: Statistics Finland
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Opportunity Space
Relative to other nations, carbon neutrality is low hanging fruit for Finland in many reasons. The Finnish government is adept at transforming goals and objectives into public policies and legislation, however, they tend to result in short-term achievements. The question now concerning Finland is how to develop a pathway to a low or no carbon economy and to continue to prosper socially, economically and environmentally.
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Distribution of CO2 Emissions from Transport by Type 2002
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Finland's GHG Emissions by Sector 2007. SOURCE
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"Humanity shares a common fate on a crowded planet."
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42 million tonnes
of CO2 from the atmosphere was removed by Finland's forests in 2008.
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Saunas and summer cottages are unique aspects of Finnish culture which have an impact on the nation's carbon footprint. SOURCE
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187.5%
Increase in avg. floor area per person in Finland, from 14m² in 1960 to 39 m² in 2008
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Carbon Emissions & Forest Carbon Sinks 1920-2000. SOURCE
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Total energy consumption 2008
Source: Statistics Finland
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Building age is the greatest determinate of the energy efficiency of Finland's building stock.
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Finland's GHG Emissions 1990-2007. SOURCE
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Summer cottages are an important part of the Finnish culture. Often deep in the forest, their popularity results in unique transit needs. Photo: Massis on Flickr
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For more...
...About this studio and how to create your own similar workshop, please see the relevant chapters in our book In Studio!
