Bruce Becker Environmental Talk
How to Achieve Net Zero

Bruce Becker, an architect, environmentalist and innovator, visited school to speak with our class about how he was able to make the first net zero hotel in the United States. The building he refers to is one that I have seen many times as it is across the parking lot from an IKEA and line of food trucks I often visit in New Haven Connecticut. It's a building that looks like it is floating with the top two thirds of the building being supported by three main pillars splitting the building down the middle. Its unique design makes the building very interesting and intriguing but the thing that really makes it stand out is its impact on environmental innovation and as proof that net zero is possible within commercial buildings.

Throughout his presentation, he covered how he made his accomplishments possible with electric appliances combined with onsite power. Both of these things, he said, were the two best ways to achieve net zero. I thought about this applied to my own life. At my house, we have 48 solar panels which supply us with almost all of our electricity. If we overproduce power in the summer where the sun is out and bright, it can be fed back into the grid and give us a credit for the months where we may produce less. This has not only made the electric bill almost nothing, but also reduced the impact my home has had on the environment. On the flip side, we use gas appliances. This means that in order to use the stove we have to burn fossil fuels. This is something that we can move away from, however. Whenever an appliance needs to be replaced, we can install an electric appliance in its place. Becker reinforced the idea that progress of any kind makes a difference. Even if we do not immediately cease using oil, a plan to move away in the future is impactful. 

Overall, Becker's presentation gave me hope for the future of commercial buildings and their relationship with the environment. If more people follow in his footsteps and convert to environmentally friendly appliances and means of getting power, we can begin putting a stop to climate change and start to reverse the impact humans have had.