Transition to Sustainable Buildings: Strategies and Opportunities to 2050

Buildings are the largest energy consuming sector in the world, and account for over one-third of total final energy consumption and an equally important source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Achieving significant energy and emissions reduction in the buildings sector is a challenging but achievable policy goal.

Transition to Sustainable Buildings presents detailed scenarios and strategies to 2050, and demonstrates how to reach deep energy and emissions reduction through a combination of best available technologies and intelligent public policy. This IEA study is an indispensible guide for decision makers, providing informative insights on:

- cost-effective options, key technologies and opportunities in the buildings sector
- solutions for reducing electricity demand growth and flattening peak demand
- effective energy efficiency policies and lessons learned from different countries 
- future trends and priorities for ASEAN, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United States
- implementing a systems approach using innovative products in a cost effective manner; and 
- pursuing whole-building (e.g. zero energy buildings) and advanced-component policies to initiate a fundamental shift in the way energy is consumed

This publication is part of the Energy Technology Perspectives series and one of three end-use studies, together with industry and transport, which looks at the role of technologies and policies in transforming the way energy is used.

Data & Figures for Download

Customers who bought the book can view and download the majority of the graphs and data that appear in Transition to Sustainable Buildings.

Webinar

The Transitions to Sustainable Buildings conclusions and findings were presented in a webinar on 27 June 2013 by Didier Houssin, IEA Director of Sustainable Energy Policy and Technology and Marc LaFrance, one of the lead authors of the publication.

You can view the presentation here