Population Growth, Climate Concerns Fuel Environmental Action, Green Opportunities

According to the United Nations’ World Population Prospects report, the #globalpopulation is currently growing by approximately 74 million people per year and is projected to reach between 9 billion and 11 billion by 2050. The population of the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is forecast to grow to 439 million by 2050, up from 305 million in 2008. The InterAcademy Panel Statement on Population Growth, ratified in 1994 by 58 member national academies, stated that many #environmental problems, such as rising levels of atmospheric #carbondioxide, #globalwarming and #pollution, have been aggravated by the population expansion. Today, innovation, motivation and a sense of urgency are inspiring action, which will have to continue as we manage limited natural resources, a #warmingplanet with more severe weather extremes and a global population that is rising.

Using the Building Codes Assistance Project (www.bcap-energy.org) calculator as a resource, with energy consumption in buildings accounting for one-third of all the #energy used in the U.S. and two-thirds of the total electricity demand, new and improved #buildingcodes can lock in cost-effective energy savings of 30 to 40 percent at the time of building construction compared to standard practices. As green building evolved to where we are today, Illinois has been a leader in the advancement to bring #sustainableconstruction and cost savings to both the residential and commercial industries. Building and #retrofitting with energy efficiency in mind has mitigated the environmental impact through a reduction in energy waste, a more efficient use of energy produced and an increasingly cleaner supply chain.

In February 2014, the #UnitedStatesGreenBuildingCouncil (USGBC) announced that Illinois took the top spot on the USGBC’s list of Top 10 States for #LEED®, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system.

“As the economy recovers, green buildings continue to provide for jobs at every professional level and skill set from carpenters to architects,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “I congratulate everyone in these states whose contributions to resources saved, toxins eliminated, greenhouse gases avoided and human health enhanced help guarantee a prosperous future for our planet and the people who call it home.”

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn added, “Both the public and private sectors in Illinois recognize that long-term investments in 21st century infrastructure should be done in ways that reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. Illinois is proud to be the nation’s green buildings leader, and we are proof that a smaller #environmentalfootprint can help us step toward energy independence.”

The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters (CRCC) is at the forefront of sustainable education and green construction. In addition to collaborating with its signatory contractor base on the building of a green residential home for the TV show, Built to Last® – The Green Home, the CRCC has been training its workforce on green building for quite some time. Course examples include: Building Envelope – Air Sealing; Building Envelope – Building Analyst Certification; Green Building Awareness; and Building Envelope – Building Analyst Certification. The Carpenters’ Rockford Training Center was LEED certified in 2011.

“The Carpenters’ Training Center continues to develop innovative training,” said Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters’ President Frank Libby. “Our mission is to continue to help advance the green-building industry, be at the forefront of the research and training for these energy-performance initiatives and provide the marketplace with effective solutions.”

The CRCC is focusing at the state and municipal levels on benchmarking legislation, which involves tracking an existing building’s energy use over time and comparing the results to similar buildings or an applicable standard. The expected outcome will save public and private dollars by lowering the operating costs of energy, creating local job growth and positioning the Chicago area to attract new businesses to succeed in the global marketplace.

(Written by Don Scott for Northern Illinois Real Estate Magazine while employed as Carpenters' Communications Director)