WHAT ENGINEERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY STORAGE

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly apparent. Regional impacts of climate change are being observed. Those commonly cited include extended growing seasons; shifts of plant and animal ranges; earlier flowering of trees, emergence of insects and egg-laying in birds; and local temperature, humidity and wind-speed anomalies. Air temperatures in Alaska and western Canada have increased as much as 3-4 degrees C in the past 50 years. Engineers who design infrastructure for predicted future conditions face challenges due to these shifts in climate. Building codes already specify minimum health and safety requirements for some key climate variables such as heating and cooling design temperatures; heating and cooling degree days; rainfall and snow loads; and wind pressures. Predicted changes in these variables at specific locations are not usually available. Regional scenarios give a general trend but lack precision and verification. Eco-conscious clients and a concerned public are causing manufacturing and construction firms to adopt more environmentally sound engineering practices. Proactive members of every important industry are getting involved with education and research into new technologies and approaches to address design problems with sustainable solutions. The demand for "green" innovations in design is growing. Even with the mitigation measures underway to cut net emissions of greenhouse gases and so reduce climate change, current predictions see more frequent and more severe extreme weather events. As climate change continues, the prediction and mitigation of climate related hazards will ultimately require adaptation across the entire construction sector. Another response to climate change is the development of regulations and standards of professional practice designed to protect the environment while protecting the public and its infrastructure from increased weather hazards. Approaches to the prediction of weather trends, the reduction of human impacts on the climate, and the mitigation of the effects of changes beyond our control require integrated global efforts. Adaptation can keep up with the predicted shifts in conditions if it is begun well before it is forced by natural disasters. The predictions for most communities in Canada include more violent winter storms, high intensity rainfalls of short-duration, and extended heatwaves with the accompanying increased risk of smog, wild-fires, tree parasites, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Current structural design, farming, and forestry practices as well as water resource management, health standards, land use planning, power supply, and insurance policies were developed for the existing conditions. All these aspects of our society and infrastructure will have to change along with the climate. Water and energy conservation are of primary importance, followed by pragmatic and future-oriented reviews of standards, codes, regulations and other practices. The climate is changing at an unprecedented rate and in ways that are not yet fully understood, hence the difficulty and urgency of adaptation. This chapter focuses on the building industry.