{"id":699,"date":"2021-12-21T09:35:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T09:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prod-web.com\/?p=699"},"modified":"2022-01-12T15:51:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T15:51:04","slug":"accelerating-recovery-for-people-through-building-energy-efficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energyefficiencymagazine.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/21\/accelerating-recovery-for-people-through-building-energy-efficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Accelerating Recovery for People through Building Energy Efficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”20px” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”1355″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”75%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n
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Debbie Weyl
\n<\/span><\/strong>Manager Buildings Initiative WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Energy-efficient buildings are an important key to unlocking recovery from the health and economic crises of COVID-19, as well as a critical solution for addressing the climate crisis. The IEA estimates that sustainable buildings can save <\/span>more than US $1 trillion by 205<\/span>0, which will be critical to households, companies, and governments. What\u2019s more, much of the extraordinary opportunity to improve the buildings sector \u2013 both in the near term and long term \u2013 remains <\/span>frustratingly untapped<\/span>. Efficiency improvements are a ready intervention, waiting for a simple push that could reap multiple benefits.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

While the building sector is often seen as highly technical, action is critical because of its direct impact on people \u2013 and <\/span>people must be the focus of this recovery<\/span>. So let\u2019s start by looking at people, and work backwards to the technical improvements in buildings that can provide real benefits<\/span> While the building sector is often seen as highly technical, action is critical because of its direct impact on people \u2013 and <\/span>people must be the focus of this recovery<\/span>. So let\u2019s start by looking at people, and work backwards to the technical improvements in buildings that can provide real benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

People, especially those who live in cities, spend most of their time in buildings. The average person in the U.S. spends <\/span>90% of their lives <\/span>inside. We\u2019ve seen increasing evidence that <\/span>airflow <\/span>and <\/span>ventilation <\/span>in buildings is a factor in the spread of COVID-19. Improvements to these ventilation systems \u2013 which can be made\u00a0 in conjunction with energy efficiency improvements \u2013 can improve people\u2019s health and livelihoods. For example, building energy efficiency retrofits can reduce symptoms of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, arthritis, and allergies. These health impacts far outweigh the costs of upgrades, with benefitcost ratios as high as 4:1 when health and wellbeing impacts are included.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0In addition to health improvements, energy-efficient buildings provide additional benefits to people by reducing household energy bills and thus energy poverty, improving access to efficient household appliances, and enhancing resilience to future climatic or economic crises.
\nAchieving these benefits requires improvements to millions of\u00a0 homes, office buildings, and other buildings \u2013 a fact often seen as a hurdle. But as national, state, and local governments seek ways to kickstart economic recovery after COVID-19, this challenge can be an opportunity. Every million dollars invested in building energy efficiency measures can create between 9 and 30 jobs, many of which require little training and can be rapidly scaled up due to an existing construction workforce. The IEA\u2019s Sustainable Recovery Plan estimates that some 9 million energy efficiency jobs could be created worldwide\u00a0 in the next three years, mostly by renovating buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy efficiency is the <\/span>first building block <\/span>to decarbonizing the building sector, and more ambitious improvements toward decarbonization can <\/span>accelerate renovation and construction activity<\/span>. For example, one study found that a 27% efficiency improvement in buildings in Europe between 2016 and 2030 would create <\/span>2 million new jobs<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2015, the <\/span>Building Efficiency Accelerator <\/span>(BEA) has accelerated local government implem-entation of building efficiency and decarbonization policies and programs. In 55 cities and states across 25 countries, the BEA has built stakeholder coalitions led and informed by local partners, using global expertise to improve the building sector. The BEA builds local institutional and technical capacity, enabling governments to set these more ambitious goals that lead to improved outcomes for people.
\nEnergy-efficient buildings bring multiple benefits to people \u2013 better health, reduced energy bills, reduced energy poverty, improved resilience, and more jobs \u2013 and put us one step closer to the greener, more resilient future we all seek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Debbie Weyl
\n<\/span>Manager Buildings Initiative WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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