This text is part of the special Research section
To make our cities more sustainable, we must above all decarbonize the building stock, that is to say make it less dependent on carbon energy sources, believes Mostafa Saad. As part of his doctorate in building engineering at Concordia University, the latter seeks to create reliable methods to improve building decarbonization practices.
The numbers speak for themselves. Built infrastructure and the construction industry account for approximately 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction published in 2021 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
But the challenges are many to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings in a city like Montreal, even in ongoing projects. A former industrial hub, the Lachine-Est sector in Montreal has now been transformed into a district focused on public transit and green infrastructure: an eco-district. But the soils in the area are contaminated, and the buildings are made up of abandoned or destroyed industrial complexes.
When we take into account the energy cost which weighs on the conversion of existing buildings, profitability is not always there, observes Mostafa Saad.
However, to find zero-carbon solutions, real estate construction essentially relies on private companies, which must find their financial interest and which follow the laws of the market, recall the authors of a study published in June in the journal Sustainability. “If the investment risk is seen in a long-term perspective, this can motivate many developers,” says Mr. Saad, co-author of this study.
The latter also relies on the commitment and awareness of stakeholders to decarbonize the city, as well as the presence of incentives to overcome challenges. All new construction in Montreal must be “zero emissions” by 2025, the city announced in May. “The recent bill is a very good direction to follow,” rejoices Mr. Saad. I hope we will be able to overcome the challenges, since the risks we face with climate change are even greater. »
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