The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) says it will commit to scaling green buildings to more than 5 billion sf over the next five years through the LEED and EDGE green building rating systems. USGBC’s commitment was made at Buildings Day at the United Nations climate negotiations conference known as COP21.
LEED projects are in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide, with more than 1.85 million sf of space being certified every day. Designed for emerging economies, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system for new residential and commercial buildings that enables design teams and project owners to assess the most cost effective ways to incorporate energy and water saving options into their buildings.
To play its part in limiting global warming to 2 degrees, the buildings sector must reduce emissions by 84 gigatons by 2050 – the equivalent of not building 22,000 coal powered plants, USGBC says.
Related Stories
Sponsored | University Buildings | Oct 3, 2016
Enhancing university life: The smart shower bead
Residential spaces that need to meet high traffic demands while accommodating an ever-changing populace creates a unique set of obstacles for any educational institution’s housing.
Green | Sep 29, 2016
Building Design+Construction brings GreenZone Community Education Center to Greenbuild 2016
The structure will be donated to Compton YouthBuild for construction-training program.
Sustainability | Sep 29, 2016
Gloucester Cathedral to install commercial sized solar PV system on its roof
Mypower will install 150 solar panels on the roof, making it the oldest cathedral in the UK, and possible the world, with this type of solar power system.
Green | Sep 28, 2016
Green Business Certification Inc. announces 2016 LEED Fellows
LEED Fellows are best-in-class for green building design, engineering and development.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 26, 2016
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be the NFL’s first LEED Platinum stadium
The Atlanta Falcons new home is expected to save 40% in energy usage than a typical NFL stadium.
Sustainability | Sep 22, 2016
Is ‘Growroom’ a glimpse into the future of urban agriculture?
Growroom’s spherical shape means it can also double as a covered outdoor public space.
Sustainability | Sep 19, 2016
Brussels’ Botanic Center apartment block looks to live up to its name with the addition of 10,000 plants and a rooftop “Chrysalis”
The project, which has been commissioned and is in the design phase, would eliminate CO2 and produce its own energy.
Energy | Sep 13, 2016
Oberlin College to hold conference on post-fossil fuel economy
The gathering will address climate change and new sources of energy.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 7, 2016
Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool updated to factor in waste management
The costs and benefits of managing 29 types of waste are now included.
Sustainability | Aug 30, 2016
New federal project plans must include climate impacts
Agencies must quantify the specific impacts when possible.