AWAITED NET-ZERO REVOLUTION
We live in a world facing unpredictable changes. Are we stepping closer to the day of the apocalypse? Can a change in our habits and lifestyle increase the lifetime of the planet? If so, how do we bring changes in our lifestyle to be prepared for it? I am doing my bit, but is it enough?
As we know, in the states according to the 2017 US Dept. of Energy, the maximum energy consumption was by infrastructure in residential and commercial sectors. Talking about predictions, educating and encouraging people to design for net zero, needs to turn into action and this step seems to be the spark in the fire, that was needed for a long time. Hence this revolution for the sake of our planet and livable conditions for our future generations needs to spread like fire and affect the way people live and design for homes.
After the unprecedented series of wildfires in California and natural disasters in the US, the need for inducing a bigger change on a large scale became more prominent. The ending of 2018 in California, was marked with mandating the use of solar energy in the homes. After 2020, all newly built family houses up to three stories in California need to have solar panels installed on the rooftop, to produce clean energy. This is a promising step towards a revolution in housing typologies, that needs to be adopted worldwide, given the global temperature rise and its effect throughout the seasons. The idea is to reduce the carbon footprint of the state and make the buildings’ self-sufficient, and boost the use of renewable energy.
The major benefit of doing this in California is it is one of the biggest economies in the world, that according to estimates can singularly add up to 100,000 net-zero energy homes, based on the average number of annual new home constructions. Currently, Net-Zero Energy Coalition estimates 5,000 net-zero energy single family homes, which would drastically change from 2020. How great it would be if more states follow the example of California? Changes in one state can lead to a change in the US, which would inspire so many countries to implement this change in their respective building codes. Even though the US or California, is not the first in the world to bring this change, but it has a greater chance of influencing countries and people.
By installing solar panels, a 100% dependency for energy cannot be guaranteed because of weather conditions. A lot needs to change in homes like buying efficient fixtures, changing appliances, improved insulation, and high-quality windows. This would eventually result in exploring and experimenting ways to make the technology available for cheap, and affordable so that people have a good reason to support the cause and integrate their effort to consume clean energy to save the planet.
Sources:
1. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/homes-that-produce-their-own-energy-might-be-the-future-and-california-is-inching-closer.html
2. https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/The-Net-Zero-Energy-Housing-Boom-Is-Starting-Here.html