New partnership to help cities double energy efficiency by 2030
A new partnership between the World Green Building Council and the World Resources Institute-led Building Efficiency Accelerator aims at doubling the participating cities’ rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030
A new partnership between the World Green Building Council and the World Resources Institute-led Building Efficiency Accelerator aims at doubling the participating cities’ rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
Despite occupying just 3 per cent of the planet’s land cover, cities are accountable for 70 per cent of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They are also currently expanding at a significant rate.
Cities are important sustainability stakeholders - representing owners, investors and regulators.
Mayors and municipal governments of Bogota, Dubai, Warsaw, and Tshwane will start working with the Green Building Councils of Colombia, The United Arab Emirates, Poland and South Africa on energy efficiency in buildings.
WRI’s Building Efficiency Initiative director Jennifer Layke said: “Cities are powerful leaders: as owners, investors and regulators, they shape the sustainability of our future... Buildings that are efficient improve the productivity of both people and energy systems.”
She added: “By joining forces, the WorldGBC and the Building Efficiency Accelerator support the success of policy and project action taken by all cities: those that are inspirational examples and those that aspire to do much more.”
The Building Efficiency Accelerator has released a policy roadmap for city leaders named ‘Accelerating Building Efficiency: Eight Actions for Urban Leaders.’
The eight actions involve building efficiency codes and standards, efficiency improvement targets, performance information and certifications, incentives for investors, government leadership by example, engaging building owners, managers and occupants, engaging technical and financial service providers, and working with utilities.
For every $1 million spent on energy efficiency, $3 million to $4 million of GDP growth and 22 to 27 new person-years of employment can result, according to Acadia Centre’s study.
Investments in energy efficiency projects create demand for products, services and labour and they have a long-term economic benefit thanks to the resulting utility cost savings which can be diverted elsewhere in the industry.
More Green Building Councils are expected to join, and the participants will be guided in producing their own adapted integrated policy road maps.
The programme will be funded thanks to various public and private financial institutions.
