Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible

In this report, Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible, the ETC draws a complete picture of the buildings sector’s emissions and energy use and describes how a combination of electric, efficient, and flexible solutions can decarbonise buildings, improve standards of living, and reduce energy bills if supported by ambitious policy.

The global buildings sector currently contributes a third of greenhouse gas emissions (12.3 GtCO2 in 2022). This comes from the use of fossil fuels for heating, cooling, cooking, lighting and powering appliances, as well as the construction of residential and commercial buildings.

There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for decarbonisation, as different solutions work for different building types, countries, and climates, but three key priorities stand out for creating a zero-carbon dioxide emissions buildings sector:

• Electrification replacing fossil fuels
• Dramatically improving energy efficiency
• Constructing efficient and low-carbon buildings

Given the complexity of the building sector decarbonisation challenge, the report sets out a detailed analysis of seven different, though overlapping, challenges:

• The heating decarbonisation challenge (focus on Northern latitude countries)
• Increasing access to affordable cooling
• Improving access to clean cooking
• Efficient lighting and appliances
• Decarbonising commercial buildings
• Buildings within a clean energy system
• The new build opportunity