As the world grapples with the urgent need to combat climate change, the decarbonization of buildings has emerged as a critical solution. Buildings are responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the primary culprit. In this article, we will explore the importance of buildings decarbonization, the GHGs emitted by buildings, and the activities within buildings that contribute to CO2 emissions.

The Share of Buildings in GHG Emissions

Although the built environment includes other infrastructure types such as buildings, roads, parks, for utilities like water-supply, power. Buildings – both residential and commercial together attribute to nearly 26% of total energy-related GHG emissions.

Building direct emissions can be emissions from the operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, boilers and furnaces for space heating uses fossil fuels for combustion and generate energy. In residential buildings, this can be related to use of cooking oils, natural gas for food preparation and hot water supply.

Indirect emissions accounts to emissions by energy generation for electricity & heat to run the appliances and devices within a building. In fact, it is the growing need for electricity because of urbanization and electricity overconsumption attributed to significant increase of emissions share by buildings in overall energy production.

In addition to direct and indirect emissions, other allied carbon-intensive activities (read about Carbon Intensity) such as production of raw materials like cement, inability to reuse materials and waste generated after demolition of a building create a big scope to introduce sustainable practices across the construction industry, particularly, buildings.

Reducing Emissions: Tips for Buildings Decarbonization

There are several effective strategies to reduce emissions and decarbonize buildings:

1. Energy Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices, use of energy-saving appliances can significantly reduce the energy consumption of buildings, thereby lowering CO2 emissions. We will require more of Net-zero-carbon buildings which are both energy efficient and resilient
2. Renewable Energy Sources: Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, can help buildings reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and decrease their carbon footprint.
3. Building Design and Materials: Constructing buildings with sustainable materials and incorporating passive design principles can enhance energy efficiency and decrease emissions.
4. Smart Building Technologies: Leveraging the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart building systems can optimize energy usage, monitor emissions, and enable efficient energy management.
5. Behavioral Changes: Encouraging occupants to adopt energy-saving habits, such as turning off lights when not in use or using energy-efficient appliances, can contribute to emissions reduction.

By adopting these measures, we can make significant progress towards buildings decarbonization and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Case in Point:

One notable example of successful decarbonization is the Empire State Building in New York City. Through a comprehensive retrofitting project, the building achieved a 38% reduction in energy consumption and a 105,000 metric ton reduction in CO2 emissions annually. This remarkable feat was accomplished by implementing energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting, high-performance windows, and upgraded HVAC systems.