Action on building codes would spur low-carbon cities

Action on buildings codes is fundamental to efforts to significantly reduce urban carbon emissions, according to a report published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Cities in the most developed countries should encourage faster retrofit cycles and increase energy-efficiency requirements for existing buildings, the report says. In addition, they should develop zero-carbon energy codes for new construction and transition to an all-electric future.

In less-developed urban areas, the primary challenge is to quickly develop and implement energy codes for new construction while fostering energy-efficiency improvements in appliances. Increasing local capacity for code enforcement is another important component.

Cities in developing markets need to create base energy codes to avoid locking in decades of high carbon usage in new construction and address concerns about access to modern energy sources. The report looked at 10 global cities and highlighted a set of principles to reduce carbon emissions.

New ideas in design and constructability are radically changing how metal systems are used as roofing for commercial and institutional buildings. Behind the investment in these new kinds of expressions and construction approaches is a growing interest in improved performance and reduced environmental impact. Metal roofing systems can cut cooling and heating loads significantly, according to the EPA.