Climate change is real and its impact is both global and local. We have all heard and understand to some degree the global effects of climate change. These changes are demonstrated via record weather variations in both heat and cold, the effects on the polar caps with massive ice melts, the thawing of the permafrost, changes to vegetation and food supply. We generally look at climate change at a local level in regards to the building we live in by how much power we need to use to keep our living and working areas thermally comfortable.
Builders and Architects generally look at the building envelopes very differently depending upon the scope of the building they are designing. Within the commercial environment and multi-storey environment significant consideration is given to energy efficiency because they are generally
The effect of climate change on the building envelope has a number of impacts
- how the actual performance of the material making up the building envelope is able to resist the changes due to climate change,
- how the living environment within the building envelope is affected due to climate change.