flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

First federal blueprint to decarbonize U.S. buildings sector released

Codes and Standards

First federal blueprint to decarbonize U.S. buildings sector released

The plan outlines pathways to reduce emissions 90% in buildings sector by 2050.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | April 8, 2024
First federal blueprint to decarbonize U.S. buildings sector released
Image: DOE

The Biden Administration recently released “Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector,” a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.

The Blueprint is the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonization developed by the federal government. It outlines ways to reduce energy in homes, schools, and workplaces.

To reach the emissions reduction targets for the buildings sector, the Blueprint sets four strategic objectives:  

• Increasing building energy efficiency
• Accelerating onsite emissions reductions
• Transforming the interactions between buildings and the electricity grid
• Minimizing the emissions from producing, transporting, installing, and disposing of building materials  

Each objective has specific performance targets and market, policy, and technology milestones to reach by 2035 and 2050. Meeting these targets will require accelerated deployment of a wide range of decarbonization and energy efficiency technologies. The Blueprint outlines coordinated federal actions that can increase the speed and scale of solutions deployments. Those actions include funding research and development to develop lower-cost technologies, expanding markets for low-carbon technologies, providing direct funding and financing, and supporting the development and implementation of emissions-reducing building codes and appliance standards.

The Department of Energy, a key player in the administration’s decarbonization drive, is focused on building innovations in three pivotal areas: building upgrades, efficient electrification, and smart controls.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Oct 5, 2016

New York becomes the first city to adopt a target for energy storage

Mayor de Blasio also announces increased solar generation goals

Codes and Standards | Oct 4, 2016

New global residential floor space measurement standard unveiled

The new standards will produce better transparency and are said to benefit investors.

Codes and Standards | Sep 29, 2016

Dept. of Energy forecasts big jump in LED use, resulting energy savings

Big gains are expected in both commercial and residential markets.

Codes and Standards | Sep 28, 2016

San Francisco commercial, multifamily regulations aim to reduce traffic volume

City planners will require design features to cut miles driven.

Codes and Standards | Sep 28, 2016

Society of Landscape Architects releases guide to resilient design

The goal is to retrofit communities to better withstand extreme weather events.

Codes and Standards | Sep 22, 2016

Construction firms pulling back from federal market due to new reporting rules

‘Subjective, very vague’ policies  are said to create too much risk.

Codes and Standards | Sep 21, 2016

Airbnb presents legal liability for multifamily owners

How building owners can reduce risks.

Codes and Standards | Sep 21, 2016

Healthy buildings becoming a key design priority for both architects and building owners

Nationwide survey finds nearly three of four architects cite health impacts influencing design decisions

Data Centers | Sep 19, 2016

New ANSI/ASHRAE data center standard is performance-based, more flexible

The aim of the standard was to ‘not stifle innovation.’

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021