The "Zero Net Energy" Challenge

Geneva, 17 September 2007 - Buildings use about a third of the world’s energy – a number which rises as the population grows, becomes more urban and more affluent. If current trends continue, buildings will be the main users of energy by 2025, and are likely to use as much as industry and transport combined by 2050. That is why buildings are one of the five “megatrends” identified by the WBCSD that need transformation to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.

The Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) project is working out how to achieve that in the buildings sector. Its vision is “a world in which buildings consume zero net energy”. That is clearly an extremely ambitious vision, but it reflects the scale of change that is needed, and the need to achieve dramatic progress.

Urgent action is needed, not just because of the energy trends but also because property is a slow replacement industry. Many existing buildings, as well as new property being built now, will still be standing well after 2050. So it is essential to transform the energy consumption of existing property as well as new buildings. Opportunities exist to dramatically improve energy efficiency using existing technologies. Businesses which engage early with energy efficient buildings can gain a market advantage.

The EEB project is working to develop a roadmap towards zero net energy buildings. It brings together leading companies in the building, equipment and energy industries to examine the whole value chain and is co-chaired by United Technologies Corp. and Lafarge, with a core group including Cemex, DuPont, EDF, Gaz de France, Kansai Electric Power, Philips, Sonae Sierra and TEPCO.

The project is considering residential and commercial, new and existing buildings from a global perspective, but with a focus on China, India, Japan, Europe, the United States and Brazil. It has appointed an assurance group chaired by Klaus Topfer, the former Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

Design approaches, materials and technology are available now to make buildings much more energy efficient; there are already buildings in many countries that are very low energy users. But the structure of the building and property industries, along with the attitudes of those who develop, design, construct, own, inhabit and manage buildings, inhibit the use of the most effective models. Market imperfections, policy shortcomings and the behaviors of building users also act as barriers.

An EEB analysis suggests that appropriate policy and regulation are essential to achieve market changes. Given a supportive policy framework, there are three levers which can help to break down the barriers:

• Holistic design approach – design, materials, equipment, energy generation and services, and above all the need to integrate these different aspects;
• Financial mechanisms and relationships – the energy efficiency investment case;
• Behavior – inhabitants, customer demand, business relationships and responses to technology.

Available technologies are often not being used because building design and development are not integrated, and because available products are not adequately promoted by businesses. The building industry and the market are highly complex. Different approaches will be needed for different segments and sub-sectors. Each subsector (e.g., hospitals, retailers, apartments) may have its own character and the project will develop sectorspecific analyses during its next phase.

The EEB will next try to identify how to overcome the barriers to improved energy efficiency. This will include wide-ranging consultation, especially at further forums in the target countries through which the project aims to raise awareness, stimulate debate and learn from experts in the field.

The project will develop scenarios to evaluate paths towards zero net energy. The scenarios will help to identify changes needed in industry approaches, finance and behavior which will create necessary levers. The EEB will then develop a preliminary action plan which will be used to influence policy-makers and stakeholders.

In 2009 EEB will issue a call to action for everyone involved in building energy use, and present a roadmap showing how to move towards zero net energy.

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• Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Business Realities and Opportunities ( 1.7 MB)

Author WBCSD Publication Date 17 Sep 2007 Document Type WBCSD news Issue/Topic Energy Efficiency in Buildings Company CEMEX DuPont EDF Group GDF Suez Lafarge SA Royal Philips Electronics N.V. Sonae SGPS, SA The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc. United Technologies Corporation Source WBCSD Include In RSS WBCSD News & Updates