In today’s engineering landscape, sustainability is more than just a goal; it is a fundamental principle and a crucial consideration for every project. We often hear terms such as decarbonization, electrification, and resilience, but what do they really mean? And more importantly, are they always backed by meaningful action? It’s important to remember that making projects as sustainable as possible is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Uncovering those buzzwords, understanding what they really mean and how they can shape a project will help any decision maker connect to the larger idea of sustainability.

Decarbonization

Decarbonization is the process of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other emissions released into the atmosphere by the building sector. The building sector alone is responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions. Efficiency is the goal when it comes to reducing carbon output. “You’re never going to get people to completely stop using things. Unless someone creates a magic piece of equipment that runs on CO2 and outputs air and water,” says Corey Rhodes, PEC’s Sustainability Services Leader.

There are many ways to reduce carbon emissions and utilize them in projects, but it’s important to remember that while decarbonization is popular, not all these methods are ideal for every project. Typically, the first option is to generate energy from non-carbon-based sources such as solar, wind, and other renewable energies. Next, you can design for a more efficient industrial process that reduces energy consumption, reuses waste energy, and transitions to cleaner energy sources.

Defining Carbon

The sustainability sector has also seen the rise of buzzwords around the lifecycle of projects and carbon emissions. When working to reduce carbon output, it’s important to know the meaning behind these terms commonly used in the industry.

Whole life carbon refers to the total amount of carbon emissions generated throughout the lifecycle of a building. These emissions are broken out into two categories: operational carbon and embodied carbon.

Operational carbon consists of emissions produced through day-to-day use and typically makes up 75% of whole life carbon. Embodied carbon makes up around 25% of whole life carbon and includes emissions from manufacturing, transportation, construction, and building maintenance. Up to this point, the focus on reducing carbon emissions has been on lower operational carbon.

“There’s the idea of diminishing returns of continuing to improve and reduce operational carbon; we’re going to get to the point where there’s not a whole lot left to squeeze out of it,” commented Corey.

Electrification

Electrification is the process of using electricity-powered systems to replace fossil fuel-based systems. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the general idea is to lessen those site emissions, adding more electrical systems isn’t always the right solution for everyone.

“Improving the grid that you’re pulling electricity from will be putting out less emissions than the gas-fired piece of equipment that you replaced that was inside your building,” said Corey.

For example, in the Pacific Northwest, hydroelectricity is a more viable option, so the electric grids are built differently there. This underscores the need for a holistic approach to each project, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. At times, energy savings do not necessarily translate to cost savings or emissions savings.

As sustainability becomes a larger part of all our lives, it’s important to know what these words mean and how they fit into the world of engineering. Remember that while they may be attention-grabbing, knowing how these solutions fit into the larger scheme of a project makes a major difference.