Aug 2, 2022

Impactfully No. 3: Living for a sustainable future

I don't know about you, but I didn't wake up today thinking boy howdy, I hope I get to burn some fossil fuels! Here's today's mind-boggling statistic: around 40% of our carbon dioxide emissions actually comes from buildings.

I don't know about you, but I didn't wake up today thinking boy howdy, I hope I get to burn some fossil fuels!

Here's today's mind-boggling statistic: around 40% of our carbon dioxide emissions actually comes from buildings.

We often think about burning fossil fuels directly for transportation, but fossil fuels still feature heavily in energy production – energy we need to keep the lights on and our homes comfortable.

I know what better looks like: turning off lights I don't use, better insulation, setting the thermostat less aggressively, and so on. It'll put a dent in the energy bill for sure, but how much of a difference does it really make?

Apparently it makes a huge difference. That statistic is ripe for improvement.

From a change management perspective, I look for opportunities in two areas: high touch and high frequency. By high touch, this is something that happens infrequently but takes so much time or so much effort that it's worth improving. By high frequency, I mean roughly the opposite: we do this so often that even a small improvement each time makes a big difference in the long run.

This week is about trends in sustainable housing because it's a story of high frequency impacts to combat climate change. If each of us makes a small improvement, the total impact is remarkable.

Check out our featured job opportunities this week, not just for employment, but as potential ways to reduce your impact – you may be surprised by how much opportunity you have to make a difference.

- Greg (@gregrancourt)

In this issue:

Designing for climate resilience
Expanding solar equity
How to house 11 billion people
Find a meaningful career

This week's reads

The sustainable cities made from mud

Mud buildings are remarkably good at keeping us cool in summer and warm in winter, and withstanding extreme weather. Now architects are returning to this overlooked, age-old material.

This startup hopes to get us to net zero via its platform to construct wooden buildings

011h says shifting to sustainable materials allows architects, builders, developers and investors to make net-zero buildings faster, cheaper and more sustainable.

Delaware Will Give Free and Affordable Solar Panels to Low Income Households

Delaware announced a new program that will cover 70% of solar costs for moderate-income participants and cover 100% of solar costs for low-income families.

Climate change resistant structures that are designed to keep humanity safe in the future

From futuristic concepts to expand the coastline to structures using photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide, check out these ideas to combat climate change and adapt to their impacts.

Sustainability on a global scale

Check out this excellent TED talk about a housing model to support the world's rapidly-growing population in a sustainable way.

Vishaan Chakrabarti: A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity

Find your next job

Solstice

Solstice deploys community solar to work for greater energy equity and a future in which clean energy works for every American household, regardless of income level, credit score, or any other factor.

Partnerships Manager - Remote

Product Designer - Remote

Vice President, Customer Experience - Remote

Development Associate - Remote

Plant Prefab

Plant builds custom architectural homes, empowering individuals, developers, and architects with a faster, higher quality, and more sustainable way to build.

Director of Market Development - Remote

Director of Product - Remote

Project Coordinator - Rialto, CA

Project Manager - Rialto, CA

Plant Building System CAD Engineer - Rialto, CA

Brightworks Sustainability

Brightworks Sustainability helps their clients establish and implement operational sustainability programs that reduce their environmental footprints, advance their sustainability journeys, and increase their operational performance.

Sustainable Buildings Materials Analyst - New York, NY

Green Rater / Residential Green Building Project Manager - Denver, CO

Sustainable Buildings Commissioning & Energy Specialist - Berkeley, CA