Posts in the 'Building Efficiency' category
India’s Shift to Low-Carbon Construction Must Not Leave Workers Behind
India’s Shift to Low-Carbon Construction Must Not Leave Workers Behind
India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. The country can’t achieve either goal without a radical transformation in its buildings and construction sector, which was responsible for around 17% of the nation’s ...
Developing City Action Plans for Building Decarbonization
Developing City Action Plans for Building Decarbonization
City officials tasked with reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from their communities face a tricky task in estimating building emissions as they work to prevent the most harmful impacts of climate change. The biggest challenge is that there isn’t consensus ...
Bogotá and Cali Connect Local Action to National Ambition to Transform the Buildings Sector
Bogotá and Cali Connect Local Action to National Ambition to Transform the Buildings Sector
Following the launch of Colombia’s first National Roadmap for Net Zero Buildings in June 2022, the cities of Bogotá and Cali are setting the foundation for how to implement the roadmap at the local level. The municipal governments of both cities have ...
Colombia Launches National Roadmap for Net Zero Carbon Buildings
Colombia Launches National Roadmap for Net Zero Carbon Buildings
Decarbonizing the buildings sector is essential to cutting global greenhouse gas emissions. In Colombia, buildings account for 7% of national emissions – smaller than in many countries in part because of the country’s large agriculture, forestry and land use emissions ...
6 Cities and Local Governments Accelerating Zero Carbon Buildings
6 Cities and Local Governments Accelerating Zero Carbon Buildings
While building construction and operations are among the largest contributors to climate change, accounting for nearly 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions globally, they also remain the most cost-effective climate mitigation solution available. Every $1 invested in efficiency saves $2 in ...
5 Takeaways for Decarbonizing Buildings from COP26
5 Takeaways for Decarbonizing Buildings from COP26
For the building and construction sector, COP26 in Glasgow marked a crucial moment to bring consensus around systemic change in the industry. It was the first time in COP history that the Built Environment had a dedicated day, alongside Cities ...
How to Build Smart, Zero Carbon Buildings - and Why it Matters
How to Build Smart, Zero Carbon Buildings – and Why it Matters
Reducing carbon emissions in buildings will be critical to achieving the Paris climate goals and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Buildings represent 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions, including 28% in operational emissions and 11% in building materials and construction. Global building floorspace ...
5 Things to Know About the IEA’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050
5 Things to Know About the IEA’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change and realize the goals of the Paris Agreement, greenhouse gas emissions should fall to net zero by mid-century and then reach net negative emissions thereafter. Responding to the science, 60 countries, as ...
Accelerating Recovery for People Through Building Energy Efficiency
Accelerating Recovery for People Through Building Energy Efficiency
This article originally appeared in Energy Efficiency Magazine as part of a series of responses about energy efficiency’s role in global economic recovery from COVID-19. Energy-efficient buildings are an important key to unlocking recovery from the health and economic crises ...
Will Mexico Rise to the Zero-Carbon Buildings Challenge?
Will Mexico Rise to the Zero-Carbon Buildings Challenge?
The global battle against climate change will take place in the world’s buildings. Buildings produce nearly 40% of global energy-related emissions. And while the latest research shows the world needs to reach net-zero-carbon emissions by 2050, the concept of a “zero-carbon building” ‒ one ...
6 Lessons on Energy Decarbonization from Countries Leading the Way
6 Lessons on Energy Decarbonization from Countries Leading the Way
Getting to a net-zero-carbon energy system is essential. It will be a major effort, one that requires significant investment in new low-carbon infrastructure, from renewable power plants to electric vehicles, efficient appliances and better constructed buildings. While very few countries are on track, China, Costa ...
Buildings Are an Ideal But Overlooked Climate Solution
Buildings Are an Ideal But Overlooked Climate Solution
In her speech before the United Nations in September 2019, Greta Thunberg called out the assembled world leaders for their stubborn adherence to the status quo in the face of an escalating climate crisis. “How dare you pretend that this ...
Buildings Are a Hidden Source of Indian Cities’ Extreme Heat
Buildings Are a Hidden Source of Indian Cities’ Extreme Heat
India is ground zero for extreme heat. More than 6,100 people have died from heat events since 2010. Half of the country reeled under severe heat waves this summer, when temperatures reached over 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in many places. The urban ...
China is Investing $13 Trillion in Construction. Will It Pursue Zero Carbon Buildings?
China is Investing $13 Trillion in Construction. Will It Pursue Zero Carbon Buildings?
China is in the midst of a construction mega-boom. The country has the largest buildings market in the world, making up 20% of all construction investment globally. And it’s only set to grow: China is expected to spend nearly $13 trillion on buildings by 2030. This ...
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Eskişehir, Turkey, Leads on Energy-Efficient Buildings
A city without buildings is simply not a city. And yet when it comes to climate action, buildings tend to take a back seat to transport, energy production and industry. Making buildings more energy-efficient is the cheapest way to reduce ...
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