From Light Green to Sustainable Buildings

Abstract

We live in the built environment, whether in cities or the countryside. The construction sector accounts for at least a third of all resource consumption globally, including 12 percent of all fresh water use. Some 25–40 percent of produced energy is consumed in the construction and operation of buildings, which accounts for approximately 30–40 percent of all carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. And 30–40 percent of solid waste comes from construction. In terms of the economy, the sector produces approximately 10 percent of gross world product, and buildings represent a massive share of public and private assets. As the recent economic collapses in different parts of the world have shown, the stability of financial markets is linked with the long-term value of real estate as collateral. In terms of employment, at the national level the sector generates 5–10 percent of jobs, including in management and maintenance.¹