Architectural Speculation in a Black Market

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As stated in the last editorial of San Rocco 10 entitled “Ecology”, “Ecology is first an anthropological issue, and secondly a technological one.” Indeed, technological innovation will not on its own solve the threatening problem of climate change without some major adjustments to human behavior. Recognizing and understanding the social, economic and political implications is fundamental to fully grasping at the causes and consequences of the global carbon crisis.

In my personal analysis of the BP project, I focused on these issues. The first drawing is a simple lifecycle analysis that shows the increase of carbon emissions, from embodied to operational carbon, throughout the entire projected lifespan of the BP project. It emphasizes the relationship between phases of design and construction to its ultimate usage/habitation phase, highlighting the importance of the correlation between these two entities.

* http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/ind-calculator.html

**http://www.fgould.com/uk-europe/articles/inaccuracy-issues-embodied-carbon-assessments/

*** Behaviors such as diet and transportation are not taken into account for the annual operational carbon footprint. Only parameters such as gas and electricity.


140111_BPOperational.jpg

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The second analysis focuses on behaviors in relation to annual carbon emission per person. It identifies and highlights transportation, diet and use of energy as having a tremendous impact on carbon emissions. For the purpose of this analysis, I referenced my personal electricity and gas bills. I live in an 800 SF apartment 10 min away from the BP House. Each car travels 140 miles/week.

* http://onetonnelife.com/files/2011/07/OTL_final-report_eng_screen_0630_.pdf

** http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/ind-calculator.html