Going beyond traditional buildings energy codes (new approaches): Governments need to check compliance and enforce their building energy codes. The ultimate objective of building energy codes should be to move buildings from net energy consumers to net energy producers. By increasing the stringency of energy requirements each time building energy codes are updated, it is possible to move towards nearly zero-energy consumption for the overall building, including all its appliances and equipment. Using renewable energy sources from the building itself and other neighbouring buildings can help with this transformation, and is key to achieving net energy production from buildings.

The report points to trillions of dollars’ worth of climate-smart investment opportunities and emphasizes the need for smart policy reforms from governments and innovative business models to unlock private sector finance.

A large portion of the report is devoted to the green buildings sector, and urban infrastructure in general. The report also includes new developments and next steps for key cross-cutting solutions such as green finance, green bonds, blended finance, carbon pricing, public-private partnerships, and city creditworthiness. IFC found a potential of at least $3.4 trillion for green building investments through 2025, and has produced recommendations for a number of actions needed to achieve this potential. You can access the investment opportunity series and download the report at ifc.org/climate/investmentopportunities 

Cooling Cities, Strategies and Technologies to Mitigate Urban Heat, Discussion Paper

Getting on track to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C, as was agreed in Paris back in 2015, would not just be good for our climate, but first and foremost for all citizens. What changes to the European policy framework and new initiatives could be prepared and implemented in the coming years?

This paper on the zero carbon and circular challenge in the built environment puts forward several policy recommendations. In order to achieve the net-zero carbon goal by 2050, adapting the built environment is paramount: the EU estimates that the climate change-related damage to infrastructure could grow tenfold under a business-as-usual scenario.

The paper advocates the need to come up with a comprehensive strategy for the building and construction sector which should build on the principles of sustainability and circularity. It also highlights the societal benefit generated by energy renovation and building upgrades. The paper touches upon several key aspects of the circularity challenge, namely, building design, the construction material challenge, urban biodiversity and buildings in the energy system.

Changing how we construct, heat and cool our buildings will trigger positive change in many neighbouring sectors, including energy and heavy industry, but also in sectors which at first sight may seem less connected, such as health and education. The paper builds on a workshop organised by BPIE earlier this year and which gathered organizations in the energy field: Climate KIC, DG Connect, DG Environment, Eurima, EuroACE, Institute for European Studies, IUCN, RAP, ROCKWOOL Group, United Technologies Corporation, Wageningen Environmental Research, and the BPIE Board of Directors.

Read the paper here.