PEI Blog
We Hate Carbon Offsets, But We Bought ‘Em Anyways
On 27, Mar 2020 | In PEI Blog | By Adrienne
Executive Summary
Leaders around the world are looking increasingly to carbon offsets as a solution to the global climate crisis. Under this scheme, businesses and individuals can pay to fund carbon reduction projects, such as reforestation, to balance the impact of their own GHG-emitting operations. The idea that you can buy carbon credits while continuing to engage in polluting behaviors does not sit well with many scientists, activists, and others — including us. Unfortunately, we are still a long way off from creating a carbon neutral future, with even the most progressive states in the country targeting carbon neutrality no sooner than 2045, and the largest polluters in the world still lagging behind.
At Point Energy Innovations, we are at the forefront of developing a carbon neutral future, studying the benefits of all-electric new construction for the UC Office of the President, and designing numerous all-electric renewable powered projects throughout California. Our work in this area inspired us to turn our analysis inward to quantify our company’s emissions, and determine what more we could do about it. Our analysis showed that our company’s annual emissions are just 74 metric tons CO₂e. Put in perspective, this is roughly one third of the carbon that is saved annually by just one of our high-performance building projects.
Though offsets are a controversial solution, until we develop enough carbon-free energy resources to power the global economy, they are the only option for those that have already taken steps to reduce their impact by other means. Being a sustainability-focused firm, we have already implemented many practices and programs that lower our impact. 100% of our employees commute via public transit, our low-energy office uses one third of the energy of a typical office in San Francisco (let us know if you want to come by for a visit), and we offer a repair benefit to encourage reuse rather than disposal, to name a few. Because of this, we researched verified carbon offset projects as a way to go completely carbon neutral.
Our team elected to purchase offsets that support three projects that are directly focused on alleviating energy poverty via increased access to renewables. The projects provide solutions at all scales, from providing families with solar cookstoves to helping farmers capture biogas all the way up to building a 100 MW wind farm. These projects are also unique examples of effective community engagement, in which the needs of the local population are prioritized in creating an effective carbon mitigation solution.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
Adrienne Johnson Receives 2017 USGBC Leadership Award
On 15, Dec 2017 | In PEI Blog | By Larry
Adrienne Johnson (right) and fellow project manager Morgan Abbett at the 2017 GreenBuild Leadership Awards ceremony
Adrienne Johnson, a Sustainability and Innovation Project Engineer at PEI, is a recipient of the prestigious 2017 Leadership Awards, presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The awards are an annual recognition of the outstanding individuals and organizations at the forefront of the green building movement.
“Adrienne has proven her dedication to ensuring that healthy green buildings are accessible to all people, especially our most vulnerable populations, and it is only fitting that we honor her with this well-deserved recognition,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of USGBC and GBCI. She “has shown superb leadership in her community as an advocate for the green building movement and has inspired all of us to continue the charge forward in creating sustainable, healthy and connected communities through the built environment.”
Adrienne was a project manager for the Parkwood Tech Centre (PTC) Project, which is this year’s recipient of the Malcolm Lewis IMPACT! Award. A partnership between an all-female team of Stanford engineers and the South African education nonprofit, Bottomup, the PTC started as a way for the disadvantaged population in the Parkwood community of Cape Town, South Africa, to access computers and educational courses, especially for children. Adrienne helped lead the team who designed, fundraised for, and rebuilt the crumbling and unhealthy existing building. The new Parkwood Tech Centre not only connects the Parkwood community to new opportunities, it is a Net Positive Energy building that generates enough electricity to power all of Parkwood Primary School. The award included an $8,000 prize — the largest sum in its history — that will go directly to funding laptops and other technology infrastructure needs at the new center.
“It is an honor to work with Adrienne,” said CEO and Founder of Point Energy Innovations, Peter Rumsey. “I knew Malcolm when he was alive, and he was a champion of improving people’s lives through sustainable use of energy and design of buildings. Building a net positive energy technology education center for disadvantaged kids in South Africa is exactly what would have made Malcolm jump for joy.”
The award recipients were honored at the 2017 USGBC Leadership Awards Luncheon at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo on November 9, 2017 in Boston.
The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Designing the Tesla Building
On 01, Nov 2017 | In PEI Blog | By Ethan
The all-electric Mountain Equipment Co-op building in Vancouver, Canada provides a window into the future of all-electric buildings. (Photo: Ventana Construction Corporation)
In the midst of this dramatic shift from gas to electric-powered automobiles, we can envision the impending transition to fully electric-powered buildings.
Electric energy is, by its nature, more flexible and responsive than the chemical energy offered by conventional fossil fuels. As buildings become more connected and complex, this flexibility can be leveraged in increasingly beneficial ways to enhance the occupant experience – while simultaneously improving grid resiliency, boosting economic productivity, and reducing the negative environmental and human health effects of combusting fossil fuels. Reliance on fossil fuels cannot be eliminated overnight, but as the case of the electric vehicle highlights – a focus on holistic, innovative design strategies can also catalyze the all-electric transition for the built environment.
Ethan Heil’s GreenBiz blog explores the possibilities.
