About:

This web page presents work in the area of low carbon architecture at Cal Poly Pomona University. It is managed by Pablo La Roche and Ryan Hansanuwat.

Importance:

There is no doubt now that humans are modifying climate (IPCC, 2007). Furthermore, "Climate change is a serious threat to development everywhere" and "slowing or even reversing the existing trends of global warming is the defining challenge of our ages" (IPCC, 2007). Buildings are responsible for a large portion of anthropogenic emissions and it is necessary to reduce them through the design of low carbon buildings. This page is about teaching and research in Cal Poly Pomona University in this area.

Carbon Neutral Design:

To reduce building related anthropogenic warming, architects must design buildings with a reduced environmental impact. But to do this it is not enough to improve the performance of mechanical heating and cooling systems or to install energy efficient appliances. It is also necessary to implement additional systems and technologies, which unfortunately are usually complicated and/or expensive, limiting their implementation to a very small portion of the building stock. But low carbon buildings can also be affordable and easy to understand and operate. This is our premise.