Ready to start counting your architecture practice's carbon footprint?

Prompted by Architects Act - that group of action-driven architects lead by Breathe in Melbourne - I started looking into how you can count your business and household carbon footprints earlier this year.

I quickly found that it’s a surprisingly complex topic for a novice to navigate.

You need to consider where your energy comes from, how it’s produced, what the carbon load is, the activities and items you should include in your audit (energy, flights, cars, food etc) and so much more.

I even discovered that the term “carbon neutral” can be contentious, because there are trademarks on those words when they are written with capital letters, in various parts of the world.

It’s a lot to take in!

Undaunted, I kept researching, and I created my own carbon counting spreadsheet (email me if you’d like me to send you a copy).

Then I was introduced to ClimateClever, which has developed easy-to-use desktop apps for Schools and Homes. They have a Business App in the pipeline, and now I work with them on their comms (that’s a declaration of interest!).

As an aside, if you’d like to test-drive their Homes App, they are giving away a year’s subscription on Facebook, every week until 31 July. You can find details here, and you might even recognise the man in the promo photo as a certain WA-based, world-renowned sustainability expert!

So, having discovered for myself just how complex the subject of carbon audits and footprints can be, I offered to work with Architects Declare on their ‘Guide to going carbon neutral’.

That magnificent roadmap (if I do say so, myself!) was instigated by Breathe, and launched into the world yesterday.

Now this free resource is available for any and all architects - AAD signatories or not - who wish to make their practices carbon neutral this year. You can download your copy from the AAD Instagram bio here.

The Guide is based on the premise that it’s necessary to get your own practice in order before you start talking to clients about their carbon impacts in projects.

So, once you’ve got your own practice in order, let me know if there are other resources or guides you’d like me to help create, to propel you on your transition to a low-carbon economy.