Building Sector Steps Up to Climate Challenge

Building an Energy Smart Nation

Green Construction, September 2007

Building Sector Steps Up to Climate Challenge.

September 2007

The study conducted by the Centre for International Economics was commissioned by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) climate change task force. Releasing a joint statement to endorse the research findings today are the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Property Council of Australia, Planning Institute of Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, CIBSE, Clean Energy Council and Australian Conservation Foundation.

ASBEC President Caroline Pidcock said:

“The building sector is responsible for almost a quarter, or 23 per cent, of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions but there is huge potential to make our buildings energy efficient”

“The results indicate greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment will more than double by 2050 if we do not address energy use in buildings.”

“The report shows that electricity use in residential and commercial buildings can be halved by 2030, and reduced by more than 70 per cent by 2050 through energy efficiency.”

“In addition to previous estimates of how Australia can achieve a 60 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the building sector can achieve a further reduction of 30 to 35 per cent in its sector - even whilst accommodating the substantial growth in the overall number of buildings out to 2050.”

“This study demonstrates our ability to achieve significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector, with improved scenarios for GDP, employment and abatement costs compared to previous estimates.”

“We cannot harness and best utilise the building sector’s potential to generate massive greenhouse gas reductions without adequate investment and an effective policy framework.”

Report Author, Ms Naomi Standing, Senior Economist, Centre of International Economics said:
“Energy efficiency in the building sector would substantially lower the costs of greenhouse gas abatement across the economy as a whole.”

Key Research Findings:

• The building sector is responsible for 23 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and energy use in buildings is rapidly growing.
• Electricity demand in residential and commercial buildings can be halved by 2030, and reduced by more than 70 per cent by 2050 through energy efficiency.
• Energy efficiency alone could deliver savings of 30-35 per cent across the whole building sector including the growth in the overall number of buildings out to 2050.
• Energy savings in the building sector (which accounts for 60 per cent of GDP and 23 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions) could reduce the costs of greenhouse gas abatement across the whole economy by $30 per tonne, or 14 per cent, by 2050.
• By 2050, GDP could be improved by around $38 billion per year if building sector energy efficiency is adopted, compared to previous economy-wide estimates of the 60 % deep cuts scenario.

Australia’s ability to achieve at least 60 per cent deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will be significantly enhanced by transforming buildings to deliver energy savings.

Report commissioned by ASBEC
Capitalising on the building sector’s potential to lessen the costs of a broad based GHG emissions cut.

Download Report - Building Sector Potential - Sept13 pdf | 353 kB

Building an Energy Smart Nation

Joint CEO Statement from industry and community leaders representing a cross section of the built environment. Download Building an Energy Smart Nation pdf | 646 kB

Green Construction - September 2007

ABC Radio National Fran Kelly interview with ASBEC president