Kearns Mancini Architects

The only way to motivate change is to show that through change our lives will get better. Things will improve. For each of us, personally. In the end, it’s just about us. When it comes to housing, the challenge is even greater. Globally buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of carbon emissions. In Toronto, they contribute 57 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions – mostly from burning natural gas for heating. Transportation is the next big emitter at 36 per cent, with the majority generated by personal vehicles. If we tackle buildings, we might have a chance. But how do we take on this massive challenge? Construction is a conversative business. We’ve been building wood-frame homes and concrete offices and apartments the same way since the 1950’s and ‘60’s. So rather than change, we tinker. A heat pump here or there. Better windows. A few solar cells. This is what passes for innovation. We need to design and build differently. The climate crisis forces us to think big, much bigger than we have so far. But we need a strategy that is doable now, with available skills and materials. And above all, a simple, affordable approach that makes things better for residents. Much better. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA “We’ve been building wood-frame homes and concrete offices and apartments the same way since the 1950’s and ‘60’s. So rather than change, we tinker. A heat pump here or there. Better windows. A few solar cells. This is what passes for innovation.”

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