ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book attempts to do two things: to put the whole carbon footprint of office buildings into perspective, and to identify practical opportunities to reduce energy consumption and CO2e emissions. It focuses on individual buildings, but to deliver a low carbon city will require some joined up government and industry thinking. Informing both government and the media of the need for the right legislation, and the long-term cost benefits of this, is probably as important in the delivery of significant change as developing the actual solutions to deliver energy and carbon savings in buildings. Urban areas tend to get warmer than rural areas due to the extensive use of surface materials such as concrete and asphalt, which effectively retain heat, and the lack of vegetation. Methods of mitigation include lighter coloured surfaces to reflect heat and green roofs.
