


Jeff Wolfanger
Jul 5, 2022
Sweden
Categories:
Environment, Construction, Climate Change, Sustainability
Euronews.green reported in an article dated May 30, 20222 on the Sara Cultural Centre, a 20-story high rise built entirely of wood in Skelleftea, Sweden, a design by architect Robert Schmitz. The tower houses six theater stages, a library, two art galleries, a conference center, and a 205-room hotel. The builders used 12,000 cubic meters of locally harvested wood in their construction and are part of a broader movement to wean the building industry off environmentally harmful materials.
According to the article, standard construction industries account for up to 38% of energy-related carbon emissions across the globe. The author of the article, Ben Anthony Horton, states "The production of cement, meanwhile, is the largest single industrial emitter of CO2 in the world. Wood sequesters carbon dioxide, binding it from the atmosphere and storing it for good."
Those behind the Sara Cultural Centre, the second tallest wooden tower in the world, claim the skyscraper will capture nine million kilograms of carbon dioxide throughout its lifetime. The building is entirely powered with solar panels (yes, in Sweden) and can store excess energy in its basement. It can "communicate" with other nearby buildings by distributing extra stored energy as required.
Patrik Sundberg of Skelleftea Kraft energy firm states that the building has an artificial intelligence (AI) system. This AI will learn the building's energy needs over time and make minute-by-minute decisions about real-time energy needs to power the building efficiently.
Movements toward more sustainable policies and practices start with each of us. Whether we are rebuilding a deck or constructing a large building, it is crucial to assess the impact of our actions. Carefully thinking through every move to utilize environmentally friendly materials and practices will have long-term consequences. It isn't necessarily complicated. It can be as simple as selecting eco-friendly materials such as paints or reclaimed wood for your deck. Ask your local government to consider more eco-sensitive use of building materials and practices in the local building regulations, perhaps incentivizing it. An example may be greater residential density or increased commercial space permitted for those builders following these practices.
Are we practicing the seven generations principle? "The Seventh Generation Principle is based on an Iroquois philosophy that today's decisions impact seven generations into the future." What impact will my decisions make on the world, my family, or my community seven generations into the future?
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.
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Catalog #:
0622.106.01.070522