Building sector could reach net zero emissions, save billions, with solar + efficiency

Australia’s building sector could deliver more than one quarter of Australia’s emissions reduction target by 2030, as well as $20 billion in energy savings, given the right policy incentives, a new report has found.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council report, based on modelling by ClimateWorks, says Australia’s building sector accounts for almost one-quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, but that it could be net zero emissions by 2050 using a combination of existing technologies such energy efficiency, rooftop solar and other renewable energy.

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To do this, the report outlines a proposed National Plan Towards 2050 Zero Carbon Building (see below) as well as a five-year plan for the implementation of its key recommendations, including the immediate implementation of ready policy mechanisms to drive improvement in the sector.

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Click image to enlarge

But the report – released on Thursday – also noted that without such action, the nation’s buildings would consume almost half of Australia’s total national carbon budget.

“This is not an option,” said ASBEC President Ken Maher in a statement on Thursday. “This sector must be a strong focus if Australia is to meet its international obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

“Over the last decade, market leaders in the building sector have shown that rapid improvements are possible, and this report demonstrates just how much more opportunity exists.”

The report says that, currently, the sector’s ability to take advantage of this opportunity is being limited by a “range of complex barriers.”

But Professor Maher says the report also shows that “major improvements” are possible with the right public policies in place.

“Every year we delay will cost us significantly in emissions, climate change, money, and quality of life. Installing inefficient equipment or appliances locks in excessive emissions for many decades into the future. Even five years of delay in the take-up of these opportunities could lead to $24 billion in wasted energy costs and more than 170 megatonnes of lost emissions reduction opportunities,” said Prof Maher.

“The time is now. ASBEC calls on governments to open the door to our low-carbon future.”

Ken Morrison, CEO of the Property Council of Australia and chair of the ASBEC’s Energy Efficiency and Emissions Task Group says the report offers a blueprint for government action.

“Major emissions reduction gains can be made with the property industry, but it requires a focused plan that includes regulation, strong incentives, energy market reform and market information to support transformation.”

“When we’re talking about the built environment, we’re talking about literally millions of individual home owners as well as thousands of businesses across the property supply chain. That is a level of complexity which requires a nuanced approach,” he said.



The key findings of the Low Carbon, High Performance report:

– buildings account for 23 per cent of Australia’s emissions, so strong action in buildings is essential to meet Australia’s international obligations to transition to zero net emissions by around 2050;

– Buildings can achieve zero carbon by 2050 using existing technologies

– In addition to $20 billion in energy savings, buildings can deliver one quarter of the national emissions target and over half of the national energy productivity target by 2030

Comments

9 responses to “Building sector could reach net zero emissions, save billions, with solar + efficiency”

  1. ben Avatar
    ben

    click on image does not enlarge it

  2. Brunel Avatar
    Brunel

    If they could tell us the biggest source of heat loss from houses.

    1. Mark Roest Avatar
      Mark Roest

      That depends on construction and insulation levels, as well as external shading and local climate factors. If your house leaks like a sieve when it’s cold, you will use more energy, but the ventilation might keep you cooler when it’s hot. Etc.
      To answer the question for your building, get an energy audit.

      1. Brunel Avatar
        Brunel

        Typical houses in MEL being built now.

        Some have floor to ceiling windows. Is that the killer.

        Or is it typically the roof.

        1. Mark Roest Avatar
          Mark Roest

          I don’t know what’s typical there. I’m in California.
          You might get a book or find a paper on the Web on Passive Solar Design, to see what’s possible, and search for articles on typical results of home energy audits in Melbourne.
          If that turns up blank, search for providers of home energy audits in your area, and ask them what they typically find for your type of home construction, and how much they would charge to do an audit for you.
          I think you will be surprised at how much you can save by doing their recommended upgrades. The accepted wisdom in the solar and efficiency industries is that efficiency is always the cheapest energy — as Ben Franklin said, a penny saved is a penny earned.

    2. Cooma Doug Avatar
      Cooma Doug

      Google the term “thermal ratings of homes.”…its a whole new ball game.
      The issue that stands out is the emmissions from actual building process and the construction materials.
      There will be advances I believe, in building materials and reductions in emmissions from foundation material processing.
      We can change the way buildings use energy and reduce consumption of energy by surprising lrvels.

  3. Ian Avatar
    Ian

    The conversation about building design should include suburb and infrastructure design. Our pedestrian grandchildren will look back at our era and say ” they wasted all that oil on commuting to work and back”

    1. Coley Avatar
      Coley

      A few years ago our ‘labour government’ proposed a huge swathe of new housing developments on green belt land,BUT every house would be the epitome of sustainable development, huge improvements on insulation, every roof would be covered in solar panels and a wind turbine per so many houses, last time I looked? build like blazes but with the least possible insulation requirements, the last gasp was the ‘green deal’
      With politicians, money talks,morals and decency walks.

    2. Coley Avatar
      Coley

      Our grandchildren will probably be too busy picking over old landfill sites in order to survive rather than contemplating philosophical questions.

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