At TBA, we recycle the buildings we dismantle; specify LED lighting, advocate for zero VOC materials in the homes we design; and integrate solar, greywater and laundry-to-landscape systems into many of our projects. Some might ask why? We strive to improve the lives of our homeowners through our thoughtful design – and at the same time to be responsible and thoughtful stewards of the Earth.

Sustainability has become a buzzword in the architectural and building community. This has been especially true as the effects of climate change become more and more apparent. As momentum continues to build in the state of California and across the globe, TBA plans to be ahead of the curve. This October, five of our team members attended the 2019 Net Zero Conference. We’ve summarized some of the hottest issues:

THE KEYWORDS

What does all the verbiage mean? A few quick definitions are outlined below:

• LED LIGHTING: LED stands for “light emitting diode.” LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights. 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat.
• ZERO VOC: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature, causing large numbers of molecules to evaporate. For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint and resin, has a boiling point of only -19 °C (-2 °F).
• GREYWATER: All wastewater generated in households or office buildings except for the wastewater from toilets. Sources of greywater include sinks, showers, baths, washing machines and dishwashers.
• LAUNDRY-TO-LANDSCAPE: A simple system with easy distribution of greywater to multiple plants without tanks, filters or pumps. It is inexpensive, low-maintenance and easy to change after installation
• NET ZERO: The net energy consumption (of a building, city, etc.) is roughly equal to the amount of energy produced by onsite sources.
• NET ZERO CARBON or CARBON NEUTRAL: Zero net carbon buildings produce on-site, or procure, enough carbon-free renewable energy to meet building operations energy consumption on an annual basis.
• ZERO CARBON: No carbon emissions produced at all.

The Key Topics

1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS

With the growing concerns surrounding climate change, Edward Mazria and other specialists at Architecture 2030 have been studying the effects of global warming. Through their discoveries, they have concluded that if the temperature of the Earth were to rise more than 1.5º Celsius, the current trajectory of changes to our planet would be permanent. To combat this “point of no return,” researchers support cutting C02 emissions drastically over the next 20 years, ultimately looking to a zero net carbon existence by 2050. This would entail cutting out the use of fossil fuels, especially in the building and vehicle industries. This process is known as “electrification.”

ELECTRIFICATION

Many state regulators are making a push for “building electrification,” which would mean phasing out natural gas use in homes and buildings. In 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 100, an executive order for 100% zero-carbon electricity in California by 2045. This effort has opponents (including Southern California Gas), but regulators argue we must move away from the use of fossil fuels in order to meet the state’s climate goals. This will have lasting effects on the built environment as we live in it today. Stay tuned for further information, as we at TBA continue to explore the options and gas alternatives.

THE 2019 BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS

What is California doing to lead this charge toward Net Carbon Neutrality? The 2019 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards – the first in the nation to require solar energy collection – were adopted into the state’s Code of Regulations (Title 24, Part 6), and will take effect on January 1, 2020. It is estimated that this revision will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel cars off the road. How will this impact our work moving forward? Beginning in 2020, new homes in California are required to include:

1. Solar voltaic systems
2. Increased protection from heat transfer between interior and exterior spaces (thermal envelope)
3. Updated ventilation requirements for improved indoor air quality
4. Encouraged use of demand responsive technologies to reduce energy bills

LOS ANGELES’S GREEN NEW DEAL

California as a state is doing great work, and so is the city of Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Mayor Eric Garcetti launched L.A.’s own Green New Deal, an expansion of the 2015 Sustainable City Plan. Targets include:

• Supplying 55% renewable energy by 2025; 80% by 2036; and 100% by 2045
• Reduce building energy use per square foot for all types of buildings 22% by 2025; 34% by 2035; and 44% by 2050
• Ensure 57% of new housing units are built within 1,500 feet of transit by 2025; and 75% by 2035
• Reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions 55% by 2025 and 65% by 2035 from 2008 baseline levels, reaching carbon neutral by 2045

Read the full Green New Deal for Los Angeles here.

PUT INTO PRACTICE

As we approach 2020 and beyond, TBA is building a future where healing the Earth is at the forefront of our work. We will keep crafting homes tailored to unique family lifestyles, while reducing our carbon footprint, restoring our groundwater and cleaning our oceans and rivers. We’ll do this by understanding and advocating low-impact technologies and offering sustainability education and implementation opportunities to our homeowners and staff. The new standards might be an added challenge to some homeowners, architects and builders, but our team shares your commitment to meeting high standards – and we are proud to reside in a state where caring for our planet is the primary concern.

In the USGBC LEED Gold-rated home we designed, green features include solar panels, a rain cistern, grey water tank, air purification system, water filtration and more. Photo: Karyn Millet

Traditional meets modern technology in this Classical Revival residence we designed in the Hollywood Hills, complete with solar collectors. Photo: Laura Hull

Want to learn more about any of the topics above? Contact us.