Buildings key to emission reduction, say reports

Two separate studies published in the US this week point to the enormous emission reductions that could be made by making buildings more energy efficient, but highlight the lack of investment in such measures.

According to the 2030 Blueprint from Architecture 2030, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes energy efficiency standards for buildings, a modest $21.6bn investment in the building sector would reduce emissions by 86.7 million tonnes in one year and create 216,000 permanent jobs.

If the same amount were invested each year for five years, it would reduce emissions by 433.5 million tonnes and create more than one million permanent jobs.

“Of the energy and climate change solutions proposed today, building energy efficiency is the one that can be implemented immediately, costs the least and offers the greatest benefits to both the planet and the economy,” said Edward Mazria, the report’s author and Architecture 2030 founder. “With a single action, the US can begin replacing coal, reduce emissions, strengthen the US economy, save consumers billions of dollars and create jobs. Congress is currently ‘casting about’ for solutions to both the climate crisis and the US economic crisis. The 2030 Blueprint tackles both crises at once.”

According to data compiled by the US Energy Information Administration, 76 per cent of all electricity generated by power plants in the US is used in buildings, and consequently buildings are responsible for 48 per cent of emissions in the US.

The report compares the savings, costs and economic affects of ‘clean’ coal, nuclear power and energy efficiency measures for buildings. The latter provides much better value for money, the report concludes.

Architecture 2030 is calling for all new buildings and renovations to be governed by energy efficiency laws.

Meanwhile, the latest Energy Efficiency Indicator survey from heating, lighting and ventilation company Johnson Controls shows that while facility managers are more aware than ever of the need for energy efficiency, they are reluctant to invest in appropriate measures.

According to the survey, 72 per cent of organisations are paying more attention to energy efficiency than they were a year ago. But the percentage of companies expecting to make energy efficiency improvements, as well as their planned investment over the next year, has remained constant.

“It's one thing to be aware of a problem, and another to take steps to solve it,” said Clay Nesler, vice-president of global energy and sustainability at Johnson Controls. “But as energy prices continue to rise, our research indicates that the combination of economic pressure and environmental awareness will motivate people to make smart investments that have a big payoff in the long term.”

The most significant growth in energy efficiency measures among respondents include replacing inefficient equipment before the end of its useful life (41 per cent, up 13 per cent from 2007) and switching to energy efficient lighting (78 per cent, up 11 per cent).

Eighty-eight per cent claim that energy efficiency is a design priority in construction and retrofit projects, up 11 per cent from 2007.

For 53 per cent of respondents (up five per cent on 2007), environmental responsibility is an equal or greater motivator for investing in energy efficiency than cost reduction.

Facilities managers in large organisations are catching on quickest, according to the survey.