Built Environment

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Who We Are

The Built Environment Network (BEN) is focused on the intersection of climate change and the built environment, i.e., the infrastructure of cities and towns that includes transportation, roadways, land-use, and, of course, buildings.

How the built environment is planned, designed, built, operated, and used can substantially mitigate climate change, support adaptation, and improve the environment and public health of the Cape & Islands region and beyond.

We are engineers, architects, builders, homeowners, educators, developers, housing advocates, facility owners and managers, planners, public works professionals, energy committee members, environmentalists, and citizen advocates.

Working together, we believe that built environment policies and practices in both public and private sectors can be re-aligned to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, sustainable, and just built environment for our region. We are a new network and welcome your ideas and participation. Please contact capecodclimate@gmail.com for information.

Programs & Partners

American Planning Association

The Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (ENREE) Division of the American Planning Association envisions a future in which we have forged partnerships with our colleagues, citizens, and non-governmental organizations to work towards a more sustainable way of life.

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Architecture 2030

Architecture 2030 is a non-partisan, solution oriented research organization founded in response to the energy and climate change crisis in 2003 and formally established as a non-profit in 2006.

Architecture 2030’s goal is to achieve dramatic and measurable reductions in the fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Building Sector by transforming the way buildings and developments are planned, designed, constructed and operated. Its mission is to rapidly transform the built environment from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central solution to the climate crisis.

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Association to Preserve Cape Cod

The mission of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, APCC, is to preserve, protect and enhance the natural resources of Cape Cod. APCC is the region’s leading nonprofit environmental organization, working for the adoption of laws, policies and programs that protect and enhance Cape Cod’s natural resources and quality of life.

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What We Do

Through education, networking, partnership, and advocacy, we seek to shift outlooks, promote action, and facilitate systemic change in built environment policies and practices. Our goal is to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, and equitable built environment for our region, and our world

BEN offers a platform, resources, and channels for communication, education, collaboration, partnerships, and advocacy. We work to support:

  • Energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Local, regional, state, and federal levels policies setting new performance standards for mitigation and resilience
  • Construction of new energy efficient buildings that minimize fossil fuel use and are powered by on- and/or off-site renewable energy
  • Energy upgrades in facilities during major renovations, systems upgrades, materials and equipment replacement, and capital improvement cycles, etc.
  • Use of alternative building materials and new sensor or network technologies that reduce the amount of energy required to operate our spaces, buildings, and towns.
  • Improvements, re-use, and adaptation of existing buildings by preserving materials to reduce environmental impact
  • Community-building and advocacy at the local level
  • Zoning and land use changes that advance net zero and sustainable land use and development practices
  • Protection of natural resources that provide sequestration and resilience values.

Why We Do It

The earth’s climate is changing, due largely to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity. The built environment accounts for an enormous amount of these annual global CO2 emissions, with buildings alone generating nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. To meet 1.5° Climate targets, we must act now.

Resources

Help Us Win the Fight Against Climate Change

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