Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Why are buildings important?
With buildings accounting for over 34% of global final energy demand and 37% of total CO2 emissions, the built environment is critical for doubling the global average rate of energy efficiency improvements and reach Net Zero by 2030.
Developing countries are projected to experience an 80% increase in floor area by 2030, highlighting the critical need to incorporate energy-efficient practices from the outset. In Africa, 70% of buildings are yet to be built, and the continent is anticipated to witness the fastest urban population growth by 2050.
Are we on track?
Between 2010-2022, the residential buildings sector improved energy intensity at an average annual rate of 1.2%, which will need to quadruple to 5.1% to achieve Net Zero scenario.
Partner initiatives
Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC)
GlobalABC works towards a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient buildings and construction sector. The objectives include raising ambitions to meet the Paris climate goals and mobilizing all actors along the value chain. The GlobalABC advocates for market transformation, tracks progress in its annual Global Status Report, and develops policy guidance through roadmaps. Global ABC coordinates the Buildings Breakthrough agenda aiming to establish near-zero emission and resilient buildings as the standard by 2030.
The Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA)
The Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) is a public-private collaboration that turns global expertise into action to accelerate local government implementation of building efficiency policies and programmes. The BEA has partnered with more than 50 cities around the globe, each of which has committed to implement at least one building efficiency policy, to pursue one demonstration project, and to track their progress. We deliver technical support, training, and resources to support these actions, which contribute to the global goal of doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
Zero Carbon Building Accelerator
The Zero Carbon Building Accelerator builds on WRI’s success with the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) to bring new ambition and build on the lessons, expertise and resources of the BEA with a broader mandate to support decarbonizing the world’s buildings by 2050. The accelerator helps governments eliminate building sector CO2 emissions through five strategies: dialogue, assess, act, monitor, invest.
Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB)
PEEB is catalysed by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and was initiated by the governments of France and Germany at COP22. It combines the expertise of its implementing agencies Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Agence de la Transition Écologique (ADEME).
