A High Performance Log home in Ottawa Canada

Following up on my earlier blog post on Blogger:

Link: http://dextoraedwards.blogspot.com/2011/09/high-performance-log-home.html

I tried to explain from my personal interface with my clients about their ability to cut their Carbon Footprint headed towards Carbon Neutral some of us have followed that path and some of us have done nothing of consequence.

As an architect and someone responsible for building structures and spaces that contribute to the overall problem of Carbon emissions in my little corner of the planet, I am trying to be part of the solution and not part of the problem through "Design - Action".

We typically try to pursue the following:

Highly energy efficient buildings that produces on-site (through photovoltaic or solar thermal means) enough clean energy to meet building operations energy consumption annually.
The focus obviously is the reduction of emissions from these buildings in order to reduce the number of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits that are required.

What is Clean Energy?

As I have understood this since my first year in College in 1980 at the start of my career learning from a very passionate professor; Clean energy means energy from non-GHG emitting sources, including hydro, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, tidal, etc. Whatever means necessary to move the needle downwards.

Whether a home owner, a corporation, a government, a portfolio manager or a consumer of different types of building accommodation, it is and has been our responsibility to do the following:

Pursue Carbon Neutral: Balance carbon emissions emitted with GHG offsets or Renewable Energy Credits.
Prioritize GHG emissions reduction in your respective operations/portfolios before seeking external offsets, renewable energy credits through payment/taxes.
Focus on investing in building technologies and innovations of strategic importance to accelerate GHG emissions reduction.
Study and pursue Integration of sustainable development considerations in the management of our Assets.
Always do "post evaluation" which means ensuring efficient monitoring, tracking and reporting on all completed and ongoing projects/initiatives;

Examples of some recent interventions will be provided shortly..........