Build Like It's the End of the World

A Practical Guide to Decarbonize Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

Build Like It's the End of the World

"Build Like It’s the End of the World" by cove.tool's CEO and Co-Founder, Sandeep Ahuja, and cove.tool's CPO and Co-Founder, Patrick Chopson, offers a bold vision for creating a carbon-positive built environment. This book challenges conventional AEC industry practices and sets a new standard for sustainable design and construction. It provides a practical blueprint for achieving carbon-positivity, combining rigorous research with actionable strategies.

Key features include:

  • A comprehensive roadmap for integrating sustainable practices into projects.

  • Practical tools for implementing high-level sustainability goals.

  • Insights on incorporating carbon-positive principles into existing workflows.

  • A compelling case for the economic and cultural benefits of sustainable buildings.

This essential guide calls on AEC professionals and students to adopt innovative technologies and approaches, driving the industry towards a sustainable future.

“Practical approaches for how your decisions can be made early, impactful, and lasting through the many stages of construction are demonstrated."

Tarek Rakha, Ph.D.

Director | High-Performance Building Lab | Georgia Institute of Technology

“We all have an ethical responsibility... It's something that we must do.”

Pablo La Roche

Principal & Professor | CallisonRTKL, Arcadis | Cal Poly Pomona

"...I couldn't care less what the motivations truly are. As long as the industry leads the way in combating the climate crisis, every citizen of the planet wins!”

Michael Beckerman

CEO | CREtech | New York City, New York

“Once one takes a really big picture view of how buildings are an important part of like solving the challenge of buildings is important to solving the challenge of climate change.”

Kate Simonen, AIA, SE

Professor | University of Washington

“...we need to step up our knowledge on grid interoperability, campus energy distribution, and heat reclaim opportunities from unique sources.”

Sarah Gudeman

Principal and Building Science Practice Lead | BranchPattern | Omaha, Nebraska

“We’re no longer concerned about whether we’ll decarbonize the built environment - the only question is how rapidly we can make this happen. “

Shaun Abrahamson

Managing Partner | Third Sphere | Los Angeles, California

“…where we now potentially get leverage from data can get the obvious [answer of] getting data from the built environment.”

Tristram Carfrae, RDI

Deputy Chair | Arup | England, United Kingdom