Decarbonizing the Built Environment

Opportunities to Make a Difference

Option #1

Search to see if your city has building performance standards.

These standards are a tool used to require building owners to reduce their building's carbon emissions.

If the answer is no, email your mayor or city council and call on them to pass some.

Potential talking points.

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Option #2

Get a home energy audit.

An audit will provide a prioritized list of the upgrades you can do to cut your homes carbon emissions.

And today there are many exciting incentives out there to make your home more efficient.

Take advantage while they last.

Highlights from International Energy Agency's annual electricity report

Renewables are forecast to provide over 1/3 of total electricity generation globally by early 2025, overtaking coal.
Global share of renewables is forecast to grow from 30% in 2023 to 37% in 2026, driven in large part by cheap PV solar

‍Sources

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Buildings are responsible for roughly 40% of global carbon emissions

Building Breakthrough Initiative

Conversion of commercial buildings to residential

U.S. housing supply short 5.5 to 6.8 million homes
During the pandemic, ~988 million square feet of office real estate was available in the U.S. (~30% of the market)
U.S. office occupancy rates are still at about half of pre-pandemic levels

It's estimated that 70% of the building stock in Africa in 2040 still has to be built

There are four countries in Africa with mandated energy code and four more with building energy code in-development

‍Sources