5 minute read
World Environment Day 2022: Embracing Green Housing Technology.
World environment day was formally officiated in 1972 with the first celebration taking place in 1974. In the following years, this day has developed and evolved as a platform to raise awareness of the many problems affecting the earth. The Global Campaign this year, dubbed #OnlyOneEarth is a call for transformative changes to policies and choices to enable cleaner, greener, and sustainable living in harmony with nature.
This year also marks a historic milestone for the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and for the global community. It marks exactly 50 years since the establishment of UNEP as an outcome of the Stockholm Conference. This year’s event will be held in Sweden and will serve as an opportunity for the international community to strengthen cooperation and show leadership in the transformation toward a more sustainable society. Speaking of sustainability, global warming is at dangerous levels and it seems that as we progress, more and more emissions are happening which threatens the livability of humans. Unless we act immediately, it might be impossible for us to stave off the consequences of climate change.
Going back to pre-industrial times, the world was cooler. Right now, the global temperatures have risen 1.2°C and while that might seem insignificant, it’s not! Each fraction of a degree counts and has severe impacts. In fact, research shows that suppose the rise reaches 2°C, we will be dealing with intense droughts, more devastating floods, more wildfires, and more dangerous storms.
In a recent UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres had this to say, “Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread. We are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe. It is time to go into emergency mode — or our chance of reaching netzero will itself be zero.”
We are living in a desperate situation but that doesn’t mean we cannot do anything. There are a lot of things we can do as individuals to change the narrative.
The climate emergency demands action from all of us. We need to get to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions “ by 2050 and everyone has a role to play,” said Niklas
Hagelberg, UNEP’s Climate Change Coordinator. “We, as individuals, must change our consumption habits and pressure those who represent us – our employers, our politicians – to move rapidly to a low-carbon world.
We Have #OnlyOneEarth… We Have to Take Care of It
was the slogan for the 1972 Stockholm Conference; 50 years on, this truth still holds – this planet is our only home.
With nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day 2022, wants you to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action.
#OnlyOneEarth
advocates for transformative environmental change on a global scale. The campaign shines a spotlight on climate action, nature action , and pollution action while encouraging everyone, everywhere to live sustainably. While our individual consumption choices do make a difference, it is collective action that will create the transformative environmental change we need, so we can advance to a more sustainable and just Earth, where everyone can flourish.
REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY ROLE IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY
As industry leaders, one of the best ways to respond to this call by UN is re-emphasizing the importance of green building technology.
There is a reason for this. Did you know that one sixth of the world’s fresh water withdrawals, one quarter of its wood harvest and about two-fifths of its materials and energy flows
are used for buildings? Going green is an opportunity to use the resources at our disposal efficiently to create sustainable buildings that will ultimately improve our livelihood.
Going green is one of those proactive measures the industry has pursued and a model that many other industries should adopt
DEFINITION OF GREEN BUILDINGS
A green building which is interchangeably referred to as a sustainable building is a building that uses water and renewable energy to improve the environment, climate, and general human health and wellness. By also utilizing its construction, site planning, and design, it enhances the quality of life and preserves natural resources.
ECONOMIC REASONING BEHIND GREEN BUILDING
While upfront the cost of setting up a green building may be exponentially high by some standards, especially when comparing them to non-green buildings the savings potential dramatically increases over the years compared to the nongreen buildings. Basically, a green building adopts a project life cycle cost analysis that determines the appropriate up-front expenditure. This approach calculates the costs over the useful life of the asset. The main economic benefits of green building technology include improving occupant health, comfort, and productivity, and reducing pollution and landfill waste. While it may not be easy to quantify these benefits, over time we start to see these benefits materialize.
ADVANTAGES OF GREEN BUILDINGS
The establishment and betterment of the environment greatly depend on the development and design of sustainable buildings in the communities. These advantages are classified into three, namely; Social, Economic, and Environmental.
SOCIAL
l Upgrade the standard of living. l Boosts comfort, wellness, and health of people who work and live in such houses. l Increases the condition of air in these spaces l Reduces non-renewable utility usage
ENVIRONMENTAL
l Reduce, re-use, and recycle waste-causing materials. l Regulates climate change and ozone layer depletion. l Conserve natural resources like water. l Generates/uses biogas. l Increases biodiversity and enhances ecosystems. l Ameliorate the standard of water and air.
ECONOMIC
l Decreased cost of utilities for home occupants. l Enhanced job opportunities. l Reduced construction and operational costs. l Increased cash on cash return for investors. l Higher worker and occupant productivity. l Value of property appreciates.
As an individual, you have a specific role to play and spur a change in your own capacity. For instance, you can choose not to invest in financial institutions that do not support green initiatives. You can also choose to buy a home that is 100% green or upgrade your home to green technology if you already own a home. There are so many ways you can join in the movement and help support green initiatives.
Your PATHWAY to HOME OWNERSHIP
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE NOW AVAILABLE!
Program Highlights
• No first-time homebuyer requirement • 620 FICO’s score minimum • Down Payment and Closing Cost
Assistance Available
