The energy usage of 40,146 public buildings—including schools, hospitals, and offices—in England and Wales is being released to the public. Among the findings: only 568 buildings get 1% or more of their electrical energy from renewable energy sources but 119 buildings get more than 50% of their electrical energy from renewable sources; Manchester University has the highest carbon emissions on this list, producing 51,601 tons of CO2 in 2008; and a recreation center uses the most electricity proportionally of any building on this list: 475 kw per hour per square metre.
Source: Sustainable Cities Collective
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The AEC industry shares a widespread obsession with the new. New is fresh. New is youthful. New is cool. But “old” or “slightly used” can be financially profitable and professionally rewarding, too.