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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
US publishes plan to decarbonise buildings sector
17/4/2024
News
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has published a plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.
Developed in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency, the blueprint is the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonisation developed by the federal government.
‘As part of a whole-of-government approach, DOE is outlining for the first time ever a comprehensive federal plan to reduce energy in our homes, schools and workplaces – lowering utility bills and creating healthier communities while combating the climate crisis,’ said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
Buildings account for more than one-third of climate pollution and $370bn in annual energy costs in the US. The blueprint projects reductions of 90% of total GHG emissions from the buildings sector, saving consumers more than $100bn in annual energy costs and avoiding $17bn in annual health costs, the DOE estimates.
To reach the overall emissions reduction targets for the buildings sector, the blueprint sets four strategic objectives:
- Increasing building energy efficiency.
- Accelerating onsite emissions reductions.
- Transforming the interactions between buildings and the electricity grid.
- Minimising the emissions from producing, transporting, installing and disposing of building materials.
Each objective has specific performance targets and market, policy and technology milestones to reach by 2035 and 2050. The DOE notes that meeting these targets will require accelerated deployment of a range of decarbonisation and energy efficiency technologies, with the blueprint outlining coordinated federal actions that can increase the speed and scale with which these solutions are deployed.
Those actions include funding research and development to develop lower-cost technologies, expanding markets for low-carbon technologies, providing direct funding and financing, and supporting the development and implementation of emissions-reducing building codes and appliance standards.
