#London #United Kingdom #Climate Change #Energy Transitions Commission #zero-carbon

New Report Highlights Pathways to Zero-Carbon Buildings

The Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) has released a pivotal report titled "Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient, and Flexible," that sheds light on the significant role of the buildings sector in global emissions. Currently, this sector is responsible for a staggering one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, which translates to 12.3 GtCO2 in 2022. The majority of these emissions stem from the reliance on fossil fuels for essential operations such as heating, cooling, cooking, lighting, and powering appliances, in both residential and commercial constructions.

As countries around the world push for ambitious climate goals, this report underscores that there's no universal solution to decarbonisation. Instead, it emphasizes three main priorities: electrification, energy efficiency, and sustainable construction methods.

1. Electrification of Heating and Cooking

Decarbonising how we heat and cook is crucial. Currently, gas and oil heating contributes approximately 3 GtCO2, making up 8% of global emissions. Transitioning from these fossil-based heating solutions to electrified alternatives like heat pumps and electric hobs is essential in reducing this footprint. The report highlights that by 2050, it's feasible for 80% of the energy used in buildings to come from electric sources, assuming the electricity supply itself is decarbonised. Such a transition could potentially bring emissions related to building energy use close to zero.

2. Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Projected increases in air conditioning use and electrification efforts indicate a potential tripling of electricity demand for buildings, rising from 12,800 TWh to around 35,000 TWh by 2050—if efficiency measures are not implemented. However, careful enhancements can help limit this demand increase to approximately 18,500 TWh. Strategies such as:

• - Improving the efficiency of heat pumps, air conditioners, and appliances.
• - Adopting “passive heating and cooling” building designs—like insulation and reflective roofs in warmer climates.
• - Implementing smart building systems that optimize energy use.

These measures, combined with on-site energy solutions like solar power and battery storage, are critical in managing peak demand and keeping electricity costs down.

3. Constructing Low-Carbon Buildings

The process of constructing new buildings contributes to 2.5 GtCO2 annually, which is 7% of total emissions. With a projected increase in global floor area by 55% by 2050, the construction sector's carbon footprint is of substantial concern. There are ways to significantly reduce these future emissions:

• - Decarbonising the production of traditional building materials such as steel and cement.
• - Utilizing less material through innovative construction approaches, such as modular design.
• - Extending the longevity and functionality of existing buildings to avoid unnecessary new constructions.

According to Adair Turner, Chair of the ETC, decarbonising the buildings sector not only contributes significantly to climate objectives but also presents an opportunity to enhance living standards and reduce overall energy costs. Electric heating and cooking options markedly improve indoor air quality and are expected to be more economical in the longer term compared to gas heating methods.

However, the journey to decarbonisation comes with its own set of challenges. Existing structures may require disruptive and costly upgrades, thereby necessitating targeted government policies to assist lower-income families and regions with limited access to finance. For new developments, strategies will need to be tailored for regional climate considerations while keeping in mind the trade-offs between construction emissions and operational emissions.

Stephen Hill from Arup stresses that without significant efforts to minimise emissions in the building sector, global warming mitigation efforts, as outlined in the Paris Accord, will prove futile. He advocates for comprehensive changes across all facets of building design, construction, and operation.

The ETC report identifies seven key challenges that need to be addressed:

• - The need for electrification in heating.
• - Improving access to affordable cooling solutions as temperatures rise.
• - Elimination of traditional biomass cooking in lower-income communities.
• - Enhancing energy efficiency in lighting and appliances.
• - Decarbonising commercial buildings while maintaining market demand for low-carbon structures.
• - Managing electricity demands at peak times through efficiency.
• - Improving building techniques for new constructions to reduce carbon footprints.

Prominent industry leaders echo the report’s insights, highlighting that integrating electrification, on-site energy generation, and advanced digital technologies can pave the way towards net-zero emissions in the building sector.

Notably, the success of these initiatives rests not only on technological advancements but also on a collective commitment from governments, businesses, and civil society to implement and advocate for actionable frameworks across the globe.

For those interested in diving deeper into these findings and strategies, the full report is available for download at the ETC's official website.