Forwarding Sustainability: What design firms can do.

• Date: 01 August 2022
• Author: Edwards, Steve

Carbon neutral. Net zero. Sustainability. Greenwashing. When it comes to climate change, sometimes it seems like there are a lot of buzzwords out there. What do they all mean? Let's look at some of the key definitions below:

* Carbon neutral means that the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and carbon dioxide reductions equal each other, leading to net neutral emissions.

* Net zero means completely negating the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by human activity.

* Sustainability is a word that can be used to vaguely signify eco-consciousness. However, sustainability is technically the idea that a process or practice can meet present needs without jeopardizing future generations.

* Greenwashing essentially refers to marketing strategies designed to make a company and/or its products appear eco-friendly or sustainable despite such claims being exaggerated or even fraudulent.

What does it take to turn these words into actions? How do you know the difference between a focus on sustainability versus simple greenwashing?

While climate change and sustainable decisions are critical globally, Alaska is somewhat ground zero in the battle. Thawing permafrost, rising sea levels, wildfires, and floods are daily considerations in the 49th state.

How can design firms and their architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and others support sustainability? While the A/E/C industry touches all parts of Alaska, how do you put sustainability into practice?

Here's a look at three ways we can help businesses think sustainably for the long-term: mining, environmental restoration, and building reuse.

Making Mining Sustainable

To put it simply, a net zero world needs mining. From the cars we drive to the renewables that power our lives, the energy transition starts with precious minerals and metals that are still in the ground--and we need them.

Batteries require materials like lithium and cobalt, solar panels require copper and zinc, and wind turbines are produced from nickel, chromium, and more. Furthermore, as we transition from the combustible engine to electric vehicles (EVs), we must understand that building an EV requires approximately six times more minerals than a conventional car.

But isn't mining the opposite of sustainable?

A net zero society is out of reach if extracting minerals and metals is polluting the Earth. In the mining industry, some of the largest contributors to carbon emissions are diesel vehicles, ore processing, and ventilation. They...