2 - Climate Change Responses and Impacts

Question 1

How does the ocean interact with CO2?

Answer 1

Absorbs and locks it away;

But absorbing 5-30% less with warming temperatures and stronger winds

Question 2

What are the responses to climate change?

Answer 2

1. Mitigation - avoiding the unmanageable
2. Geoengineering
3. Adaptation - managing the unavoidable

Question 3

What is mitigation?

Answer 3

Activities done to reduce sources and increase sinks of greenhouse gases

Question 4

How is mitigation being designed?

Answer 4

1. Designing all new and old (retrofitting) to maximise energy and water efficiency
2. Expansion of renewable energy generation
3. Minimising the need to travel by car, truck and plane
4. Developing free ecosystem services

Question 5

What is adaptation?

Answer 5

Minimising threats,

Or maximising opportunities resulting from climate change and its effects

Question 6

What is the challenge of adaptation?

Answer 6

Risk assessment:

1. Probability of the outcome
2. Consequence, determined by exposure and vulnerability

Question 7

What are the high risks for NZ?

Answer 7

Flooding and overheating- and doughts med but growing risk

Question 8

What are the general impacts of climate change?

Answer 8

1. Higher temperatures
2. Droughts
3. Sea level rise
4. Higher wind speeds
5. Increased precipitation

Question 9

What is the impact of rising temp for archi?

Answer 9

External surface materials

Thermal performance of the building

Question 10

What is the impact of more intense rainfall for archi?

Answer 10

Greater intensity of runoff
Issues of structural integrity
Drainage
Opportunities for capturing rainfall

Question 11

What are the impacts of stronger winds/cyclones for archi?

Answer 11

Greater strain on building and fixtures

Greater wind loading requirements

Question 12

What is the impact of more frequent flooding for archi?

Answer 12

More coastal salt spray
Water damage to building components
Contamination from sewage, dirt, soil
Undermining of foundations

Question 13

What are the impacts of decreased humidity for archi?

Answer 13

Higher risk of fire

Question 14

What are the impacts of more hail storms for archi?

Answer 14

Impact damage (mostly roofs, guttering, windows)
Rain/moisture penetration

Question 15

What are the impacts of increased humidity for archi?

Answer 15

Mould
Condensation
Decreased thermal performance of building

Question 16

What do buildings need to do? (5)

Answer 16

1. Adapt for human comfort - linking to productivity
2. Tougher construction
3. Comprehensive water management is needed
4. Threat to environment - landscape health, ground stability, and biodiversity
5. Energy security

Question 17

How do you flatten the curve of environmental conditions? (3)

Answer 17

1. Selecting an appropriate micro-climate
2. Designing a passive structure
3. Installing heating or cooling (active) bad tho

Question 18

What is the building fabric? (4)

Answer 18

1. Interface between internal and external
2. Thermal barrier/insulator controlling rate of energy flow in/out of building
3. Thermal mass and extent to which heavy weight materials store heat/coolth
4. Apertures permitting fresh air, daylight, sunlight, and removing stale air

Question 19

What is the building form? (3)

Answer 19

1. Orientation
2. Shading
3. Air flow capability

Question 20

Heat flows in a building (6)

Answer 20

1. Glazing/sunshine
2. Ventilation
3. Thermal mass
4. Waste heat
5. Infiltration/air-tightness
6. Conduction/insulation

Question 21

What lessons can we learn from Vernacular Architecture?

Answer 21

1. Comfortable conditions achieved in often very hostile climatic conditions
2. Optimised available ambient energy
3. Sustainable use of local materials
4. Low environmental impact