Page 22 - CooperatorNews New Jersey Expo 2021

22 COOPERATORNEWS NEW JERSEY —EXPO 2021 NJ.COOPERATORNEWS.COM “Th e biggest issue is along our water- fronts,” says Kevin Keating, an architect with tion and politicization of the issue have given more energy to mediate, which in turn wors- Selldorf Architects, a global architectural the upper hand to human industry’s impact ens the problem...you see where this is going. fi rm based in New York. “For communities on the planet. Th e United Nations Intergov- along our coasts in Long Island, Florida, and ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) problem in dealing with the impending ef- New England, for instance, rising sea level is released its most recent report on the issue on fects of climate change in our communities ily building operations have been hidden in the biggest issue. Combine that with bigger August 9, 2021. Its sobering fi ndings include is the very structure by which our commu- storms up and down the East Coast”—in- cluding New Jersey’s coastal communities— “and you must ask the question of how we 1.5°C of warming—a rubicon of sorts that ties, the boards are composed of volunteers,” come fl ooded. “Along the shore where you will fortify the properties against the combi- nation of these two factors.” With regards to rising sea level, Peter shorter cold seasons. “Unless there are im- Varsalona, vice president and principal of mediate, rapid, and large-scale reductions in more. No board wants to assess their neigh- RAND Engineering, notes that by 2050 or greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming bors for monies they need 15 years from now. low water through. Th is maintains structural so, fl ooding is going to be a major issue in to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond Th e process is too short-sighted right now.” low-lying areas—although he and the other reach,” says the press release on the report’s professionals interviewed for this article are publication. quick to say that predictions—even those based on current data—are tricky when it Howard Zimmerman, owner and founder Th e answers fall into three broad categories: ting your critical infrastructure high above comes to something as complex and variable of Howard Zimmerman Architects & En- as climate. “No one predicts these things,” says Keat- ing. “You don’t know what you don’t know. In plains, add stress to our building systems, many cases we react to what’s out there his- torically, but that’s a reaction to something maintenance and earlier replacement. that’s already happened. We are now talking about things that haven’t happened before— and there’s no political will to react to future cold, more energy is necessary to maintain in- problems. We tend to only react to what we’ve terior temperatures through existing HVAC not found on the 100-year fl ood map were, commercial value than the ground, or fi rst, seen.” Th ough based on industry projections, systems, exacerbating the original problem and are, subject to inundation. Floods come fl oor. it’s becoming obvious that even if we haven’t of human-made carbon emissions by neces- yet seen what’s coming, it isn’t pretty. How Much Worse? Th e reality is that the situation is likely to change cause more extreme conditions, but ly create fl ood conditions (especially if they’re get worse before it gets better. Years of inac- that, averaged over the next 20 years, global nities govern themselves. “Th e problem is portions of our buildings. Th ese building temperature is expected to reach or exceed that with most condo and co-op communi- climate scientists say will result in increas- ing heat waves, longer warm seasons, and boards have term limits. Planning of this kind proach,” explains Keating. “Th e fi rst residen- “Hotter is hotter, and colder is colder,” says the troubling trends that are clearly coming? gineers, a consultancy based in New York. and appropriate capital improvement plan- Th ese new extremes in temperature, he ex- reducing their useful life and requiring more munities—especially those built along the must place critical building systems above Another concern, explains Varsalona, is protecting vital infrastructure from fl ooding. now means the second fl oor rather than in a that with the worsening extremes of hot and As New Jerseyans learned from Hurricane basement, because the second fl oor has less sitating more energy use to achieve the same Rivers, streams, and even poorly constructed results as before. So not only does climate roadways in need of upgrading can potential- the extreme conditions it causes require still built on top of former canals, creeks, or other Zimmerman observes that an intrinsic such as HVAC equipment, electrical rooms, he says, “and in some cases, those serving on are building, there must be a wet and dry ap- is looking down the road 10 to 15 years or tial fl oor must be a second fl oor. Additionally, Countermeasures What can we realistically do to counter structural problems.” fl oodplain management, energy effi ciency, the fl oodplain,” Keating continues. “Unless ning. Perhaps most immediate for many com- waterfront, though not limited to them—is the potential water line. In many cases, that Sandy and other more recent storms, areas residential value than higher fl oors, and less from all kinds of waterways—not just oceans. tributaries). Traditionally, vital infrastructure systems and other systems critical to multifam- basements—the least desirable and valuable areas are also the fi rst and most likely to be- walls must have ‘give’ on fi rst fl oor walls to al- integrity of the building. Th e walls will give way to the pressure of waves without causing Newer standards also recommend “get- you have a full ring around you, dikes don’t work.” Th is means that both owners of ex- isting properties and builders of new ones CLIMATE CHANGE... continued from page 1 Learnmore@fsresidential.com NJ Office Information: 21 Christopher Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724 2000 Linwood Ave Suite 1C, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Be sure to check out FirstService Residential’s seminar. The Way Forward - ay Forward - ay Forward - ay Forward - ay Forward - ay Forward - ay Forward - Managing Amenities & Staff Through COVID & Beyondough COVID & Beyondough COVID & Beyond The W The W The W The W The W The W Thr Thr