Technology: "Green" Construction Costs Dramatically Lower Than Believed

Global survey finds green costs overestimated by 300% and a need to foster zero net energy construction.

Key players in real estate and construction misjudge the costs and benefits of "green" buildings, creating a major barrier to more energy efficiency in the building sector, a new study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) reports.

Respondents to a 1400 person global survey estimated the additional cost of building green at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true cost difference of about 5 percent. At the same time, survey respondents put greenhouse gas emissions by buildings at 19 percent of world total, while the actual number of 40 percent is double this.

The findings are disclosed in a new report titled "Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Business Realities and Opportunities," which summarizes the first phase of the WBCSD's project. The report is available at www.wbcsd.org.

"The global construction boom in the developing world has created a tremendous opportunity to build differently and dramatically decrease otherwise energy demands," said United Technologies Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive George David.

"Existing technologies combined with common sense design can increase energy efficiency by 35 percent and reduce heating costs by 80 percent for the average building in industrialized markets," he said.

"The world is undergoing rapid transformation, with strong demographic and economic growth driving a move towards urbanization on an unprecedented scale. We as industry leaders have a responsibility to ensure that this growth is achieved in a sustainable manner," said Bruno Lafont, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge.

"Life cycle analysis shows that 80% to 85% of the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions of a building comes from occupancy through heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water use. If we want to make an impact on climate change, we therefore need to tackle this challenge. Combining the right materials when designing a building envelope can greatly reduce a building's energy requirements, increase its life span and ensure consistent performance over time," he said.

"In order to achieve a step change in energy efficiency in buildings, there is a need for strongly supportive policies and regulatory frameworks. Governments and local authorities need to develop sound policies," said Bjorn Stigson, President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The study also found that fewer than one in seven industry respondents has participated directly in a green building project. Involvement ranges from a high of 45 percent in Germany to just 5 percent in India. About 20 percent of architects, engineers and developers have been involved in green building projects, compared to just 9 percent of owners and tenants.

Buildings already represent approximately 40 percent of primary energy use globally and energy consumption in buildings is projected to rise substantially in the world's most populous and fast growing countries such as China and India.

The study highlights opportunities to promote green building know how and technologies as the WBCSD pushes for zero net energy construction worldwide. Zero net energy buildings will reduce demand by design, be highly efficient and generate at least as much energy as they consume.

The WBCSD's Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project is a three-year initiative to assess the environmental impacts of buildings and develop means to achieve zero net energy use for residential and commercial buildings.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the WBCSD is a global association of about 200 companies that serves as a business advocate for sustainable development through economic growth, ecological balance, and social progress. Its members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors worldwide. For more information, visit www.wbcsd.org.

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