Author: Lucas Rosse Caldas | ArchDaily

Carbon Emission Quantification Tools Applied to Buildings: A Guide to Assist in the Selection

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:26:00 +0000

In recent years, the decarbonization of buildings and cities has gained increasing prominence both internationally and nationally. Among the key driving forces is the public sector, through various ministries such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), the Ministry of Cities (MCID), and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), which implement different policies, programs, and legislation. Financial institutions like development banks—such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)—and international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), have also played pivotal roles in mobilizing the resources needed to enable the increasingly urgent reduction of carbon emissions.

Carbon diet for buildings: a new (and necessary) way of thinking about design

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:13:00 +0000

The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) sector plays a highly significant role in global energy consumption and CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of the total. In Brazil, buildings (residential, commercial, and public) consume roughly 50% of all supplied electricity, while the cement, metal, and ceramic industries account for about 10% of the country's final energy consumption. Compounding this, the country faces a severe housing deficit of over 6 million homes, alongside a well-documented infrastructure deficit that must be addressed in the coming years.

Quick Guide to Circular Economy for Architects, Engineers, and Builders

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:55:00 +0000

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to climate change, natural resource depletion, and waste generation. Consequently, the way we conceptualize cities, buildings, and their various components must change. This requires transitioning from a linear mindset to a circular model—one that increases resource efficiency while reducing waste and pollutants, ultimately making cities and their buildings more inclusive, socially equitable, and sustainable.

Tools to implement the circular economy in architecture and construction

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:49:00 +0000

Circular economy principles have also been increasingly applied to the architecture and construction sector. However, technical and even cultural barriers still persist during the building design process. To address this challenge, several tools can be used to streamline the workflow, enable faster and more accurate assessments, and analyze how different design strategies can yield environmental, economic, and social gains.

Tackling Urban Flooding: 7 Solutions for Sponge Cities

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:46:00 +0000

The urban drainage infrastructure in most cities, particularly in Brazil, is already obsolete, making its expansion and adaptation crucial. However, this requires a new model of stormwater management that considers long-forgotten ecological aspects. In recent years, the concept of urban ecology has gained traction as a path toward developing regenerative, more resilient cities. These have been called eco-cities or biocities—terms that vary from author to author but share a common focus on nature-based solutions and ecological relationships.

Architecture and the circular economy in the era of shared spaces

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:45:00 +0000

The circular economy has also been adopted as a model in the architecture and construction sector, aiming to create more efficient, functional, and sustainable building projects. The 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) used as circular economy strategies are already widely recognized, with the first R, "Reduce," being the primary goal in any project. From this perspective, one of the most effective ways to reduce material consumption, natural resources, and costs in building projects is to decrease the size of occupied spaces and built-up area (while maintaining appropriate levels of spatial quality, such as accessibility, ventilation, natural light, layout compatibility, etc.).

Smart buildings: an evolving concept

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:44:00 +0000

"Smart buildings" is a term that has gained prominence in recent years, both as a way to design more efficient buildings that offer greater benefits to their users and as a vehicle for the real estate industry to find a new market niche.

How to calculate the carbon footprint of a building

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:35:00 +0000

A carbon footprint can be defined as the quantification, typically in kilograms (kg) or metric tons (t), of the emissions (and removals) of different greenhouse gases (GHGs) throughout the life cycle of a product, process, or service. There are several GHGs, the most significant of which in terms of global warming and climate change contribution are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O).

How can buildings reduce their carbon footprint?

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:34:00 +0000

The construction sector, particularly the building industry, is one of the largest consumers of natural resources and is responsible for significant environmental impacts and CO2 emissions, according to data from the United Nations Environment Programme. According to data from the organization C40 Cities, buildings are one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in cities, meaning there is substantial room to reduce these emissions—with CO2 being the primary GHG. Data from the National Energy Balance (MME, 2019) indicates that residential, public, and commercial buildings in Brazil consumed over 40% of all electricity produced in the country in 2018.

10 Tips for Designing Healthier Buildings

Lucas Rosse Caldas — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:24:00 +0000

Humans spend most of their lives inside buildings, whether to live, work, or play. COVID-19 further highlighted this issue during lockdown, underscoring the need to design healthier and more comfortable buildings.