Buildings are the single largest energy user in the United States and are responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions. In a new Q&A, Alex Dews, CEO of Institute for Market Transformation shares with Senior Communications Officer Kate McLaughlin why building decarbonization should be a top priority for cities and what steps they can take in their communities.

Q: The built environment accounts for roughly 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, yet building decarbonization doesn’t always get a lot of public attention. Why should this be a top priority for communities, and what makes this a particularly urgent moment?

A: The buildings sector is a major emissions driver because it’s incredibly energy intensive. Historically, the sector doesn’t get as much attention as power, transportation and industry, but that is starting to change. As energy costs rise, the role of buildings is coming into focus. A whopping 75% of the energy that U.S. power plants produce is used in buildings. When you look at the full picture, it’s even more clear how central the role of buildings is in the energy system.

According to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the U.S. in 2022 consumed 100 quads of total energy. Two thirds of that total was “rejected” through inefficient fossil fuel combustion and electricity transmission losses. Of the one-third that converted to “useful energy,” buildings are the largest, most efficient user, outpacing industrial and transportation.

There are a lot of reasons this matters to communities, starting with affordability: energy bills are one of the largest and fastest growing costs for households. Investing in building energy efficiency yields at least $3 for every $1 spent, while reducing air pollution, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting local economic activity.

Energy demand is projected to grow for the foreseeable future, and the buildings sector is emerging as a key tool for managing this growth in a way that is faster, cheaper, and more beneficial to the public than building new power plants.

Read the full article about building decarbonization by Katharine McLaughlin at The Kresge Foundation.