worldgbc special report 2010

8/8/2019 WorldGBC Special Report 2010

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WorldGBC is grateul toits Founding Partners, theOntario Ministry o Energy andInrastructure, Toronto Regionand Conservation Authority andColliers International or theirgenerous support.Thanks also to WorldGBC'sfrst Global Partner,Philips International, or theirongoing support.

WorldGBC would like to thankall o the GBCs who contributedinormation to this report.Special thanks go to the mainauthor Joe Miller, and editorsJohn Alker, Ellie Austin, NicoleLulham, Jason Neudor andJoanne Wheeler.WorldGBC would also liketo acknowledge the supporto UK-GBC and USGBC inproducing this report.

Published orWorld Green Building Week20-26 September 2010

Please visit www.worldgbc.orgto learn more about the WorldGreen Building Council and itsmember Councils rom aroundthe world.

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fOREWORD

The need to think global, act local has neverbeen more urgent. Climate change is a threatthat must be tackled globally, especiallywhen considering that it is oten those whoare least responsible or the greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions that cause this phenomenonwho are most likely to suer the worstconsequences. Further to this, it is the way weuse energy in our homes and buildings bydefnition locally that oers the best and mostcost-eective chance to mitigate the worst

eects o climate change.

Currently, buildings use 32 per cent o theworld's resources in construction. They areresponsible or around 40 per cent o globalenergy use and generate up to 30 per cent oglobal GHG emissions.

At the same time, the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) has statedthat no other sector has such a high potentialor drastic emission reductions1, and theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)has identifed that buildings oer someo the most cost eective and expedient ways toreduce GHG emissions.

The World Green Building Council agrees.

The global built environment can deliver rapidand cost-eective reductions to emissionsand energy consumption with a signifcantpercentage realising positive returns to theglobal economy. Given that we are experiencingthe worst global recession in living memory,with the built environment sector suering theconsequences the most, the importance o this

ThinK GloBAl, ACT loCAloreword by Tony Arnel

Chair, World Green Building Council

win-win opportunity to tackle global climatechange and support economic recovery cannotbe overstated.

But green buildings do more than deliver asmaller carbon ootprint. Green buildingscan help governments meet other prioritieson their social and economic agendas, suchas delivering aordable housing, creatingnew jobs and supporting local economiessimultaneously.

This report, Tackling Global Climate Change Meeting Local Priorities, provides anoverview o what proactive government andprivate sector initiatives can do to harness thepotential o green buildings to deliver importantsocial, economic and environmental beneftsor people around the world.With COP16 in Mexico just weeks away, theWorld Green Building Council believes that aglobal approach to developing a low-carbonbuildings solution is imperative i we are toeectively tackle climate change quickly andaordably. The work has already begun todemonstrate what is possible locally, all aroundthe world. Those eorts need to be built intosomething that is more than the sum o theirparts, to deliver solutions that will really makea dierence globally.

Tony Arnel

Chair, World Green Building Council

1UNEP, 2007 Assessment o policy instruments orreducing greenhouse gas emissions rom buildings

Tony Arnel Credit: WorldGBC


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As the largest international organizationinuencing the global green building market,WorldGBC is the collective voice o more than20 established and 50 developing Green BuildingCouncils in countries around the world. Together,we are committed to tackling the globalchallenges o climate change while also meetinga wide range o socio-economic local priorities rom aordable housing and energy securitythrough to economic stimulus and job creation.

In this report, we have gathered a collection oexamples rom around the globe o how GreenBuilding Councils (GBCs) and their membersare helping to meet these challenges.

In this report you will notice that manycountries are not able to comprehensivelyanalyse and report the impact o their nationsbuilt environment, including in some cases theGHG emissions. In researching this report, wehave ound that country statistics or the builtenvironment are variable at best, and wherethey do exist, they are oten hard to compare.This is one o the reasons why the WorldGBC,together with its partners, is committed to helpovercome this issue by developing a CommonCarbon Metric Protocol.

Robust carbon accounting within the builtenvironment is becoming increasingly urgentas policymakers seek to access abatementopportunities within the sector and leadingproperty companies seek to quantiy andachieve recognition or emissions reductions inthe buildings they design, construct, own andoperate. The building sector has enormousuntapped potential or emissions reduction and

presents the least cost abatement opportunity.But without common metrics to measure andreport on building sector energy perormance,it is difcult to accurately compare the carbon(equivalent) perormance o buildings, letalone do so in a consistent manner thatallows meaningul comparison or baselineestablishment and target setting or emissionsreduction.

In collaboration with the UNEP SustainableBuildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP SBCI)and the Sustainable Building Alliance (SBA),a methodology to enable the global buildingsector to accurately and consistently measureand report its perormance, to establishbaselines and make meaningul comparisonsis currently being piloted.

We are also leading the development o aGreen Building Sectoral Agreement. The

purpose o this is to establish a very clear andcompelling case or tackling greenhouse gasemissions rom the buildings sector through amultilateral agreement, supported by industry,governments and third sector stakeholders.Crucially it is also designed to mobilize action,ocusing on: promotion o the CommonCarbon Metric; the development o nationaland regional building codes or regulations;demonstration projects; and creatingbenchmarking and baseline data.For countries that already have overallemissions targets, sectoral agreements can beone o several means o achieving them, andor countries without economy-wide targets,sectoral commitments can be a good frst steptowards them.

During World Green Building Week 2010(September 20-26), the WorldGBC network isdelighted to be able bring our growing networktogether in a series o synchronized greenbuilding events hosted by Green BuildingCouncils around the world. The world ischanging ast, and once a year we celebratethe dierent strengths and activities o thisexpanding global movement. Looking orward,

we will also be organizing a range o activitiesat the global climate negotiations (COP16) inMexico later this year.

Jane Henley, Chie Executive Ofcer, WorldGreen Building Council

The World Green BuildinGCounCil: leAdinG ChAnGeJane Henley, Chie Executive Ofcer

World Green Building Council

INTR

ODUCTION

Jane Henley Credit: WorldGBC


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epAlbaniaAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCzech Republic

DenmarkFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceIrelandIsraelItalyMontenegroPolandRomaniaRussiaSerbiaSlovenia

SpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited Kingdom

Amcas/CabbaArgentinaBahamasBrazilCanadaCayman Islands

ChileColombiaCosta RicaDominicanRepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorGuatemalaMexicoPanamaParaguayPeruUruguayUSAVenezuela

Aca/M eastEgyptGhanaJordanKenyaMauritius

MoroccoNigeria

OmanPalestineQatarSaudi ArabiaSouth AricaUnited Arab Emirates

Asa PacfcAustraliaChinaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaNew ZealandPhilippinesSingaporeSouth KoreaTaiwanThailandVietnam

Established GBCs

Emerging GBCs

Prospective GBCs

Associated Groups

The World Green BuildinGCounCil neTWorK

Over twenty years ago,Toronto and RegionConservation Authority(TRCA) identiied greenbuildings as a criticalpart o the solution tomitigate and adapt toclimate change,but over the years,

we have come torecognize that greenbuildings go beyondthe environmentalsector to provideimmense social andeconomic beneits.

As a ounding Partnero the WorldGBC, TRCAis proud to witness the

rapid global expansiono Green BuildingCouncils. WorldGBCis providing theleadership necessaryto transorm theinternational buildingsector to buildsustainablecommunities based onthe same principles

TRCA considersintegral to its work inthe Toronto region.Brian Denney, CAO,Toronto and RegionConservation Authority


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I targets or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction are tobe met, decision-makers must unlock the potential o the buildingsector with much greater seriousness and vigor than they haveto date and make mitigation o building-related emissions acornerstone o every national climate change strategy.Together, we must raise awareness o the important role o thissector as a priority in meeting national GHG emission reductiontargets. We must orm national and regional baselines or

building-related emissions using a consistent internationalapproach, such as the Common Carbon Metric to measure,report, and veriy perormance.

We must also support energy efciency and emission reductionprogrammes in the building sector by recognizing them as aNationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and reormingthe Clean Development Mechanism to improve energy efciencyand reduce correlating GHG emissions at the lowest average CO2abatement cost relative to other sectors.

This sector is responsible or 60 percent o the worlds electricityconsumption resulting in 1/3 o global energy end-use greenhousegas emissions, earning its title as single largest contributor tohuman-created emissions.

Public policy is vital in triggering investment in energy efcientbuilding stock, achieving energy and cost savings, reducingemissions, and creating millions o quality jobs. In developingcountries where more than 50 percent o households (up to80 percent in rural Arica) have no access to electricity,aordable, energy efcient, low-carbon housing helps addressenergy poverty.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director,United Nations Environment Programme

Achim Steiner Credit: UNEP


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Population Population Urban Annual rate o Population Unemploymentgrowth rate population urbanization below poverty rate (%)

(% ) (%) (%) line (%)

Egypt 78,866,635 2.033 43 1.8 20.0 9.4

Mauritius 1,284,264 0.776 42 0.9 8% 7.3

Morocco 31,285,174 1.099 56 1.8 15.0 9.1

S. Arica 49,052,489 0.281 61 1.4 50.0 24.0

UAE 4,798,491 3.689 78 2.9 19.5 2.4

Brazil 198,739,269 1.200 86 1.8 26.0 8.1Canada 33,487,208 0.800 80 1.0 10.8 8.3

Colombia 43,677,372 1.219 74 1.7 46.8 12%

Mexico 111,211,789 1.13 77 1.5 18.2 5.5

USA 307,212,123 0.977 82 1.3 12.0 9.3

Australia 21,262,641 1.195 89 1.2 N/A 5.6

India 1,156,897,766 1.407 29 2.4 25.0 10.7

Japan 127,078,679 -0.191 66 0.2 N/A 5.1

Singapore 4,657,542 0.998 100 1.2 N/A 3.0

France 64,420,073 0.549 77 0.8 6.2 9.1

Germany 82,329,758 -0.053 74 0.1 11.0 7.5

Romania 22,215,421 -0.147 54 -0.1 25.0 7.8

Spain 40,525,002 0.072 77 0.9 19.8 18

Turkey 76,805,524 1.312 69 1.9 17.1 14.1

UK 61,113,205 0.279 90 0.5 14.0 7.6

Source: The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009


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Arica is seen as the continent mostvulnerable to the impacts o projectedclimate change because widespread povertylimits its adaptation capabilities. Othervulnerabilities such as an overdependenceon rain-ed agriculture mean that Aricassocial and economic development is undermore pressure, as climate change threatensto undermine the integrity o the continentsecosystems. Thereore the challenges orachieving real results in adaptation and

mitigation are steep.

In its 4th Assessment Report, the IPCCpresented a list o expected uture impactso climate change or Arica. The reportoutlines predicted impacts on a wide rangeo natural habitats and resources includingwater shortages, disruption to ecosystems,and damage to the coastal zone, as well asimpacts across dierent sectors including:energy, health, agriculture, tourism, industryand inrastructure.

Human health is one o the areas mostunder threat. Issues such as heat stress, airpollution, weather disasters, ood securityand demographic changes can all be linkedto climate change and its ability to exacerbateexisting vulnerabilities. A central concern isthe link between climate variability and theprolieration o inectious diseases, whether itbe vector-borne, water-borne or ood-borne.

Another continent-wide issue that Aricasuture prosperity hinges on is the impactthat climate change will have on waterresources. Currently around two-thirds o

the rural population and one-quarter o theurban population lack access to sae drinkingwater. This is compounded by the act thatpopulation uctuations and current watertrends indicate that more Arican countrieswill exceed the limits o their economicallyuseable, land-based water resources beore2025. In addition to this, climate changecould cause a decline in the productivity o

land and alter undamental socio-economicconditions, rendering people chronicallyvulnerable to ood insecurity.2

In the Middle East, a region where the climateis already typifed by very low rainall, and veryhigh temperatures, the impacts o climatechange could exacerbate existing problems.In UAE or example, a country which alreadyhas a very high per capita ecological ootprint,projected rising temperatures could put

additional strain on natural resourcesthrough a growing need or air conditioning inbuildings.

2 Boko et al. IPCC 4th Assessment Report, 2007

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Across Arica and the Middle East, the scarcity owater is a major issue.


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS Lighting and cooling are major

consumers o energy that, together,represent almost 60% o the nationspower requirements.

All residential and commercial building

codes and the Energy Efciency Lawor Standards and Labeling are nowmandatory.

Egypt is a country that is experiencing rapidgrowth. The population is approaching 100million and this is putting considerable strainon natural resources, public services, housingand inrastructure.

As the pace o housing constructionquickens, public demand or power willgrow exponentially. At some point in the notso distant uture, unless urgent action isundertaken, the energy independence o Egypt

may be compromised. The development,design, implementation and enorcement o apractical, energy efcient building code was thefrst logical step orward in a matter o criticalimportance to the nation.

FOCUS

ec Vags nata Pjct

The GBC has been involved in the designand planning o the countrys frst ecovillage which will be located south o Cairo,and is motivated by Egypts critical situationwith its homeless population. The risinghomeless population has a direct eect on

the economy, security and social solidarityo the country. The eco village will be a placewhere homeless people can regain theirplace in Egyptian society, make positivecontributions to their lives and indirectlyimprove the welare o the nation. Withinthis sustainably designed model, theproposed Eco-village is expected to deliverto its community members guaranteedhealth care, basic education, religiousguidance, eective social assimilation, worktraining, and skill development. In returnthe community will produce ood, energy,and the output o numerous cooperativeenterprises.

egypt G Bg Cc

Formed January 2009

The EGBC is a developing Council and hasyet to accept any members.

The Council was instrumental in thecreation o the Egyptian Building EnergyEfciency Code (BEEC).

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BuildinG STATiSTiCS Energy generation is the main source o

CO2 in Mauritius, contributing around 58%o the emissions in 2008, however thepercentage o this energy that is used inbuildings is not known.

The total primary energy requirement

o the country increased by 2% in 2008.Around 82% o the total primary energyrequirement was met by imported uels(oil, LPG and coal) and the remaining 18%,obtained rom local sources (gas and hydro).

The frst BREEAM rated building in thecountry is currently under construction.

In recent years Mauritius has enjoyed rapideconomic growth that has enabled it to reducepoverty and promote social equity whilemaintaining high standards o environmentalprotection. Socially there are still issues to betackled. Women make up 61% o the nationsunemployed, most o whom ound themselvesout o a job when the textile and clothing sectorssuered during the global recession, and work needsto be done to protect the more vulnerable insociety. Education is also a key priority.

As the countrys economy expands, theenvironment is put under increasing pressure.The key environmental challenges that thecountry is aced with are coastal erosion, watermanagement and the impacts o climatechange. However strategies are in place to helpminimize the impact o climate change on theeconomy.

The government has made it a priority todevelop a systematic approach to reducevulnerability to extreme weather eventsand structure any rebuilding eorts alongsustainable lines. To this end, the Prime

Ministers Ofce has set up The CentralCyclone and Other Natural DisasterCommittee, ocusing on disaster managementby coordinating prevention and mitigation,preparedness and response strategies.

FOCUS

Gvmt Statgy: Mac idab (Mats Sstaab isa)

First put orward in 2008, the main thrusto the project is to make Mauritius lessdependent on ossil uels, with a target o65% autonomy by 2028 through increasedutilisation o renewable energy and

increased energy efciency.

As part o the strategy the government isinvesting the equivalent o $800m USD oncreating a green national inrastructure,ocusing on better transport networks,cleaner energy generation and energyefciency.

Green building eatures prominently in thisstrategy, with the government aiming towork out a green perormance rameworkor new and existing public buildings andestablish an Energy Efciency ManagementOfce to provide prototype designs or greenhomes and buildings.

G Bg Cc Mats (GBCM) Formed in 2009 and is currently in

development Expects to begin accepting members in

October 2010, coinciding with its frst event GBCM is working in collaboration with

fnancial institutions, Government andinternational agencies to implement creditproducts such as green mortgages orother inancing mechanisms that rewardsustainable measures in buildings.

GBCM

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ITIUS


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Morocco has struggled to remain competitivein the global economy and to addressthis issue, the government has sought toincrease economic efciency across thecountry, increase training or workorces,raise administrative standards and improvethe basic inrastructure and quality o urbanenvironments to encourage growth andinvestment.

There are social issues that are barriers to

sustainable development. There is a needto act on urban sprawl that can result insocial ragmentation and unequal accessto social services. There are also eorts totackle marginalization by enhancing socialequity through equal access to basic humanneeds such as housing, employment,community acilities and utilities. There arealso environmental challenges such as theneed to preserve natural environments underpressure rom urban growth, and the relianceon non-renewable natural resources.

FOCUS

G Mcc Pa

The GBC is working with the government oMorocco in developing several new greencities as part o the Green Morocco Planlaunched by King Mohammed VI. The cityo Zenata is one example, which is situatedbetween Casablanca and Rabat. It will

include thousands o new homes, eaturingsustainable design, and the initiative isaimed at alleviating the demographicpressure in this most populated region inthe country.

Mcc G Bg Cc (MGBC)

Formed in September o 2009 and iscurrently in development.

Expects to begin accepting members soon.

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CCO


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS The most recent estimates (using 2006

data) put the total building stock inSouth Arica (SA) at around 12.5 millionresidential dwellings and approximately93.4 million square metres onon-residential building space.

Within the residential sector, wherethe largest disparities exist in dwellingstandards, 8.5 million dwellings areconsidered ormal with the remainderconsisting o inormal housing, squatter

units and traditional dwellings. Low income (less than 80m2/dwelling)

housing accounts or 43% o newresidential oor space.

The long-term growth rate orcommercial property investment isaround 1.9% per annum.

South Arica is a country o contrasts.The developed sector o the economy is on apar with developed economies anywhere, onalmost any criteria excellent health acilities,world-class education, high-end housing andsophisticated commercial buildings.

However, the developing sector encompassesall the challenges o developing economiesworldwide widespread unemployment andpoverty, lack o skills and education, low levels

o health care and lack o housing.

In the developed commercial property marketin South Arica, green building is very muchon the agenda. The Green Building Councilo South Arica (GBCSA) has had a majorimpact, with virtually all o the countrys majorowners and institutions making some level ocommitment to green building.

National government has also promoted greenbuilding with a widespread programme toretroft public buildings to make them moreenergy efcient. However, with the extent o thesocio-economic challenges acing the country,development issues are the governmentsoverwhelming priority.

The GBCSA is cognisant o the act that, whileit has had a signifcant impact in the developedsector o the South Arican economy, muchcan be done through the building process toaddress the issues o the developing sector too.

Aspects such as employment creation, skillstraining and health are not addressed by theconventional notion o green building, but are

part o the broader notion o sustainability,and GBCSA is starting to explore ways in whichthese could be addressed through the greenbuilding process.

T G Bg Cc St Aca(GBCSA)

The GBCSA was ormed in 2007.

As o August 2010, the GBCSA currentlyhas 650 member organizations rom a

diverse range o sub-sectors o the SouthArican construction and property sector.

GBCSA has adapted the Australian GreenStar scheme and localised the tool or theSouth Arican environmental context andmarket.

To date, the GBCSA has released GreenStar SA Ofce and Retail Centre ratingtools, and is currently developing aMulti-Unit Residential tool.

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T Kyasa CdM Pjct

Within the residential sector, severalprojects have been implemented by NGOswithin poor urban areas, with a ocus onenergy efciency and low carbon solutionsand the generation o Carbon EmissionReduction certifcates (CERs) as a Clean

Development Mechanism (CDM) projectregistered under the Kyoto Protocol.

This Kuyasa CDM project entailed theretroftting o 2300 homes in an establishedlow-income housing area in Khayelitsha,Cape Town. The interventions were toinstall insulated ceilings, energy-efcientlight bulbs and solar water heaters.The objectives are to reduce energyconsumption and improve the social, healthand economic wellbeing o the residents.

The project is South Aricas frstinternationally registered CDM projectunder the Kyoto Protocol and the frst GoldStandard project to be registered in theworld. Carbon credits were sold, with theintention o using the revenue to establish atrust to employ and train local residents toprovide ongoing long-term maintenance orthe solar water heaters.

The GBCSA is exploring how these issuescould be incorporated into a ormalrating tool that would enable it to expandits eectiveness to meet the major

developmental challenges aced in SouthArica and other developing countries.

Tsga evmta Ct

The Holcim Award-winning TsogaEnvironmental Centre is an environmental

National

government hasalso promotedgreen building

with a widespreadprogramme to

retroft publicbuildings to makethem more energy

efcient.

education centre in Samora Machel, amarginalised township on the Cape Flatsin Cape Town. The specifc objective indeveloping the building was to respond toboth the environmental and socio-economicissues o sustainability.

The building addresses conventional green

building aspects using passive design tominimise energy consumption, generatingenergy through a bio-gas digestor and windturbine, processing and using all grey-andblack-water on site, and maximising theuse o recycled and local materials. Whereit exceeded the traditional green buildingconcerns was by creating employment,oering training and empowering the localcommunity. Labour-intensive constructionmethods were used, which enabled 80%o the building budget to be committedto employment, as opposed to theconventional 30-50%.

The community was involved throughoutthe design and construction process, andall construction workers received training,which was designed such that workerswould learn both specifc skills and ageneral problem-solving approach whichwould be transerable. Components o thebuilding were designed so that they couldbe supplied by local small enterprises: brickrecycling, door and window manuacture,burglar bars, reed ceilings and landscapingwere outsourced to local enterprises.

Material suppliers were assessed orcompliance with air labour practice andsupport or historically disadvantagedindividuals (ie individuals who werediscriminated against under the apartheidregime). Technology used was appropriateto the skills level o the community.

FoCuS

The Kuyasa CDM project entailedthe retroftting o 2,300 homes withsolar water heaters, insulation andenergy efcient light bulbs.Credit: www.kuyasacdm.co.za


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS There is not currently enough data on

green building to provide statistics.However it is known that per capita theuse o energy in buildings is generallyhigher in the UAE due to the extreme

temperatures and the need or signifcantcooling and air conditioning.

19 Buildings are US LEED rated, all owhich are in Dubai.

The UAE has the highest ecological ootprintand the second highest CO2 emissions percapita in the world. It is an arid land, with aserious shortage o surace water, and ishighly dependent on desalinated water, with anestimated consumption in excess o 400 litres/person/day.There are also other challenges. Electricity ismostly generated rom gas, and total yearlyconsumption is high due to demand or air

conditioning. Most building materials have tobe imported into the country and, since therecession, there is an over-supply o real estateon the market.

However, the UAE government is embracinggreen building legislation. The emirate oAbu Dhabi has recently introduced its ownEstidama rating system or Communities,New Buildings and Villas. However, no ormalincentives are oered or retroftting existingbuildings as the UAE is a tax ree state.

The high profle MASDAR initiative is a projectto develop a zero carbon city based in AbuDhabi. The construction o the frst stage iscompleted, which includes a 10 MW solarpower plant.

emats G Bg Cc (eGBC)

Established in July 2006 and was the frst

GBC to be established in the Middle East. The EGBC has around 300 members.

Abu Dhabi has already introduced a ratingtool through their Estidama system.

In general the USGBC LEED rating systemis widely accepted or the time being asa rating tool where a total o 518 projectsare registered with USGBC or LEEDcertifcation.

There is interest in a BREEAM Gul tool.

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The emirate o

Abu Dhabi hasrecently introducedits own Estidama

rating system orCommunities,

New Buildings

and Villas

UAE Dubai Marina and Palm.Credit: www.istockphoto.com

The plentiul sunshine means an abundance osolar power but also a high demand or electricityor air conditioning. Credit: www.istockphoto.com


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The Americas region is traditionally dividedinto three geographical regions (North,Central and South) and with each sub-regioncomes a widely varying set o social, economicand environmental issues, as well as vastdierences in climate, geography andwealth. As a result, the countries withinthis region have dierent priorities andapproaches to sustainability. In North America,sustainability is requently associated withrecycling, energy conservation and ecological

protection, whereas in the South sustainabilityis connected with poverty alleviation,development and movements against resourceexploitation.

Climate change is expected to have a severeimpact and some countries are already eeling itseects. Central America and the Caribbeanare seeing increasingly requent and intenseweather events, coastal erosion and changingrainall patterns. Climate change is alsocausing glaciers across the region to melt.Within the next 15 years, tropical glacierslike those ound in the Andean region oSouth America are predicted to completelydisappear, leading to changes in rainallpatterns that are estimated to drasticallyaect water availability or tens o millions opeople and reduce hydroelectric generation,which makes up a signifcant portion oenergy generation in several countries.3

In a warmer climate, insects can spreadmore rapidly, putting many old-growth orestsand their large carbon stores at risk. Risingtemperatures and changes in precipitationpatterns are expected to worsen the already

signifcant water shortage in the breadbasket or central states o the US whichhas important consequences or agriculturaloutput. Coastal areas are increasingly atrisk o sea-level rise and storm surges ashurricanes increase in severity.4

In recent years the region has suered roma number o natural disasters and extreme

New Orleans Credit: www.istockphoto.com:

weather events. In 2010 alone, the Americassuered the devastating eects o the Haitianearthquake; Tropical Storm Agatha - thedeadliest tropical cyclone in the easternPacifc since 1997, which resulted in thesevere ooding o Guatemala, Nicaragua,and El Salvador; the Chilean earthquake,which displaced 1.5 million people; andHurricane Alex, which tore up the easternMexican coastline. A ew years earlier, theU.S. bore witness to the utter destruction o

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita alongthe Gul Coast two Category 5 and Category3 hurricanes within one month o each otherin 2005.

The disasters in the Americas have alsoprovided an eye-opening insight intohow city inrastructure and housing invulnerable areas can be built, and rebuilt,both sustainably and resiliently withclimate adaptation in mind. Buildingsand inrastructure that protect valuableecosystem services, are sited appropriatelyaway rom ood plains, and utilize bothdesign methods and materials to increaseresistance to extreme weather can drasticallyreduce the social and economical toll onatural disasters on a community.

THE

AMERICAS


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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

rom buildings will bring multiple

beneits to both the economy and to

society. The building sector

contributes up to 30% o global

annual greenhouse gas emissions

and consumes up to 40% o all

energy. The construction, renovation,

and maintenance o buildings

contribute 10 to 40% o countriesGross Domestic Product (GDP), and

represent on a global average 10%

o country-level employment.

I careully planned, greenhouse gas

mitigation strategies or buildings

can stimulate the growth o new

businesses and jobs, as well as

contribute to other, equally pressing,

social development goals, such as

better and more sustainable housing

and access to clean energy and

water. Such strategies may promote

minimization o energy consumption,

improvement o climate adaptability,

as well as support to the

dissemination o renewable

energy alternatives.

An opportunity is oered by the

climate change crisis to strengthen

the cooperation with all stakeholders

involved in the building sector

and establish the oundation or

sustainable development today

and or the uture.

Ms. Margarita Astrlaga, Regional Director,UNEP Regional Ofce or Latin America andthe Caribbean

No society will have a chance to

prosper i a oreseeable uture is

not in sight and we all know that

a sustainable environment won't

arrive overnight.

Creating the bases or a world in

which everyone has a air chance to

live in will take generations o people

investing on behal o those who arenot born yet, while giving up

expectations o an immediate

payback. It is no longer about us,

today, it is about a uture that doesn't

belong to us.

I can't think o a more encouraging

message to our society as a whole,

than the living example o sustainable

buildings, they will be here long ater

today's builders are gone.

Claudio Tanco, Head o Corporate RealEstate, HSBC

3 UNFCCC, 2007, Climate Change Impacts,Vulnerabilities and Adaptation in DevelopingCountries

4 Nicholls, R.J., P.P. Wong, V.R. Burkett, J.O.Codignotto, J.E. Hay, R.F. McLean, S. Ragoonadenand C.D. Woodroe, 2007: Coastal systems andlow-lying areas. Climate Change 2007: Impacts,Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution o WorkingGroup II to the Fourth Assessment Report o theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L.Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutiko, P.J. van der Lindenand C.E. Hanson, Eds., Cambridge University Press,Cambridge, UK

The disastersin the Americas

have providedan eye-openinginsight into how

city inrastructurecan be rebuilt, both

sustainably andresiliently.


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS Buildings are responsible or 42%

o energy consumption and 35% oemissions in Brazil.

The Brazilian civil construction industry isresponsible or 9.2% o the GDP.

There are 16 LEED certifed buildings and180 registered or LEED certifcation.

Brazil is the largest country in South America,in terms o population, area, and economy.The population is highly urbanized andpopulation growth is relatively high. Theseactors, combined with very uneven incomedistribution, contribute to an ongoing housingshortage. Crime remains a major challenge orgovernment.

There are a number o critical environmentalconcerns in Brazil, with deorestation o the

Amazon rainorest being amongst the mostpressing. The rainorest constitutes a globallysignifcant carbon sink, which is being depleteddue to agriculture, logging, and development.Urban pollution is another key environmentalpriority, and green buildings can play animportant role in the eort to make Brazilscities healthier and more sustainable.

Green building in Brazil is playing an importantrole in providing aordable, quality housingacross the country. The Federal Governmentis currently investing a lot in inrastructurethrough its Growth Acceleration Programme,and it has also initiated the Minha Casa MinhaVida 5 project which is designed to stimulatethe growth o popular dwellings to end thehousing shortage in Brazil.

Various levels o government have developedpolicies to improve energy efciency andencourage sustainability. Procel Edifca is aederal initiative that rates buildings accordingto their energy efciency perormance.Currently this is a voluntary initiative, but it maybecome a requirement in the near uture. ManyBrazilian cities have also shown leadership

by requiring waste reduction plans orconstruction projects, solar water heaters ormedium and large residential developments,and providing incentives such as increasedheight or oorspace allowances or proposalsthat incorporate green building principles.

Many o the larger Brazilian cities aredeveloping carbon emissions reporting

G Bg Cc Bas (GBC Bas)

Established in March 2007

Membership base o 370 companies.

THE

AMERICAS

BRAZIL

tools as part o their strategies or reducingemissions. The city o So Paulo has alreadypublished its carbon emission report andapproved the law to attain its goals - a 30%reduction in emissions by 2012 compared to2005 levels. This law specifcally addresses thecivil construction industry and green buildingpractices.

5 Translation: My house my lie.6 Folha.com; http://www.gbcbrasil.org.br/in/index.php?pag=noticia_ull.php&id=156


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FOCUS

Bazs G W Cp 2014

Brazil is synonymous with ootball andootball has always been a source o prideor Brazilians. Ofcial host o the 2014 FIFAWorld Cup, Brazil is looking to showcasesomething never beore seen in the world oootball the very frst Green World Cup.

BrazilGBC is working closely with WorldCup organizers to ensure that the countrysnew stadia demonstrate state o the artenvironmental design. In order to secureup to $400 million in fnancing rom theBrazilian Development Bank (BNDVS) oreach o the proposed stadia, the structuresmust meet the environmental requirementso the Ministry o Sports. Key ocus areaso these requirements include designelements such as a waste collectionprogram and greywater capture, as well asconstruction elements such as the use olocally sourced materials.

According to Vicente de Castro Mello, anarchitect responsible or the design o theNational Stadium in Brasilia, the addedinvestment o building a green stadiumwill pay itsel o within 7-10 years ollowingconstruction. The National Stadiumin Brasilia is currently seeking LEEDcertifcation. Gustavo Penna, an architectworking on the retroft o the MineiroStadium in Belo Horizonte, believes thatonce complete, the stadium will be able to

produce enough o its own energy throughsolar panels to meet the energy demand onmatch days.6

The new National Stadium in Brasilia is currentlyseeking LEED certifcation.

Credit: Castro Mello Architects


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production o cleaner energy and cleaner uelsas shown through the Government o Canadasinvestment o close to $10 billion since 2006.

CanadaGBC is involved in green buildingadvocacy at both provincial and ederallevels. Initiatives include the Living BuildingChallengeeducational workshops whichpull together the most progressive thinkingrom the worlds o architecture, engineering,planning, landscape design and policyand

the Smart Growth Program. The CaGBC isalso working together with the Federation oCanadian Municipalities (FCM) on capturingthe widespread interest rom dierent levelso the public and the private sector regardingthe green loan concept. The GBC and FCM aredeveloping a one-day strategic workshop withsenior levels o government and key businessleaders to create a ramework which willaddress growing market and societal demandsor eective green fnancing.

With the second largest land area in theworld, a highly urbanized population anda diverse economy, Canada is aced with arange o social, economic and environmentalchallenges. As the population continues togrow, meeting the demand or housing in asustainable manner is a key priority. A lack oaordable housing in many urban centers andFirst Nations reserves is a critical aspect othis. Due to the harsh climate in many partso the country, increasing energy efciency

through stricter building codes and incentivesor increasing perormance in both new andexisting buildings is also an important priority.

A variety o extractive industries play asignifcant role in the Canadian economy,and a major priority in these industries is tomaintain valuable employment and investmentwhile integrating various sustainability goals.The eects o climate change such as meltingarctic ice, thawing o tundra and expansiono pests will directly impact many sectors othe Canadian economy including agriculture,orestry, fsheries, and oil. Northern and FirstNations communities will also be aectedas ice recedes and winters become shorter.Reducing emissions in the building sectorand other areas is a major priority in termso mitigating negative impacts on both theecosystems across the country and thenational economy.

The Canadian Governments position on the roleo the built environment in terms o climatechange mitigation is one that seeks to balanceenvironmental protection and economicprosperity. A major ocus has been on energy

efciency, and the ederal government hasintroduced several policies through the Ofceor Energy Efciency since it was establishedin 1998. The government is also looking to leadby example and since 2005 all new governmentofce buildings have had to meet LEED Goldstandards. The government is committedto investing in green inrastructure, energyefciency, clean energy technologies and the

Caaa G Bg Cc (CaGBC)

Established in 2002

2,300 corporate members rom across thebuilding sector.

Developing the next generation o LEED inCanada.

CaGBC has launched GREEN UP -Canadas Building Perormance Program.

THE

AMERICAS

CANADA

7 http://www.bchousing.org/news/news_releases/2009/01/07/5590_0901071102-000


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS 41% o emissions in Canada originate

rom buildings

Between 1990 and 2005 energy usein the commercial and institutionalbuilding sector increased 33% despitethe availability o energy efciencytechnologies

Current estimates or domestic newbuilds in Canada are between 166,900 and199,600 units in 2010

There are 249 LEED Certifed Buildings inCanada (with 196 certifed by CaGBC) andanother 2,400 that are registered or LEEDcertifcation

There are 308 buildings registered withthe GREEN UP benchmarking program

FOCUS

hav Gas: Cabks leedSc-Stag hsg

Haven Gardens, a LEED Gold developmentin Cranbrook, British Colombia, is a placewhere women and children eeing romabusive relationships can call home.This three-storey wood rame development

includes 18 units o second-stage housing,made possible by the Canadian MentalHealth Association (CMHA) or theKootenays region.

Bill Bennett, East Kootenay MLA andMinister o Energy, Mines, and PetroleumResources, explains that This housingwill provide a stable and supportiveenvironment or women and children whoare at risk o homelessness. We have awonderul transition house in Cranbrook,but the women and children who ee toour transition house must leave ater a setperiod o time to make space or those inurgent need. Oten, they have nowhere togo. With this new acility, they will have avery positive option they have not had beoreand will not be as likely to return to a violentor abusive situation.

While supporting an important socialcause, the building also demonstratesexcellent environmental perormanceincluding a storm water management plan,close proximity to public transportation,and use o locally-sourced and recycled

building materials, among other eatures.In addition, the building was designed suchthat 90% o the spaces have views to theexterior. The CMHA even initiated a greenbuilding education policy with the purposeo educating the residents and visitors oHaven Gardens about the buildings keyeatures and many benefts.7

As the population

continues togrow, meeting the

demand or housingin a sustainablemanner is a key

priority.

Vancouver Harbor.Credit: www.istockphot


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20

ramework at this point in time, although thereare some guidelines in dierent academicstudies and legislative acts that aim to promotecompact and dense cities avoiding urban sprawl.

The government is currently writing a whitepaper on actions or climate change mitigation,and GBC Colombia (CGBC) is working orthe inclusion o sustainable developmentand construction guidelines. To encouragegreener development, there are some taxincentives, and CGBC is currently working

with national and local governments to designand implement dierent kind o incentives tosupport green building, as part o a nationalpolicy on sustainable urban development andgreen building.

8 CIA World Fact book - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-actbook/geos/co.html,

The environmental and urban issues Colombiaaces are numerous. Large developments oinormal settlements, especially on the urbanperiphery, are common place, due to urbanpoverty. Inormal settlements in Colombiaaccount or nearly 20% o the housing provisionthat the urban population needs, and peoplesettle in illegal locations (landslide risk areas,oodable lands or environmentally protectedareas) which oer a poor urban environment,ew or non-existent public spaces, and many

times no basic inrastructure or urban services(water, sanitation, public buildings or transportation).In 2007, the housing shortage in Colombiareached 3.8 million units, and each year nearly177,000 amilies have to look or a home in theinormal segment o the housing market.

Due to suburbanization and changes in landuses, many o Colombias urban centres havebecome obsolete, losing important residentpopulation and businesses to other city areas,and as Colombian cities have grown andincreased their densities, the quality and supplyo public space has reduced.

Increasing urbanisation has also put a strainon biodiversity. Urbanisation, coupled withother issues such as the growth o somebiouel crops and habitat pollution, hasresulted in an increase in the number othreatened species and some protected areashave been reduced.

The impacts o climate change are alsobringing new challenges: Colombia has 92%o the moorlands (pramos) o the planet, anddue to rising temperatures such environments

and their endemic populations are at risk.It has also been predicted that Colombiasglaciers will completely disappear within thenext 100 years.

Since the early 1990s, Colombia has taken aseries o actions to reduce GHG emissions andto increase their capture. However, Colombialacks a comprehensive green building policy

Cmba G Bg Cc (CGBC)

Formed in February 2008 and has117 members.

CGBC engages with both national andregional/local governments, seeking toinuence policy and proposing greenbuilding incentives.

Colombia GBC is also working withthe Government and the ICONTEC (theColombian Technical Rating Institute)to develop a Colombian EnvironmentalGreen Building Certifcation Systemor new constructions, which may alsoincorporate certifcation o low-incomehousing projects and other low-marginsectors.

THE

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BuildinG STATiSTiCS In Colombia no current fgures are

available on emissions rom buildings orthe construction sector.

The construction sector in Colombiarepresents 6% o GDP and the sectoraccounts or 5% o the totallabour orce.8

There is one LEED (Silver) certifed greenbuilding in Colombia (an ofce buildingowned by Novartis). Additionally, there are27 LEED registered projects.

FOCUSG Cty: A hstc Vs ubadvpmt

One o the largest residential projects in thecountry, Green City, located in Bogot, is anexample o a large-scale green urbanismoperation. This project proposes a balancebetween green and liveable areas. GreenCity covers an area o 328 hectares, 108 will

be designated towards the constructiono more than 36,000 low-income homes,a combination o houses and apartments,which will be sold between 2010 and2016, and will be developed by severaldevelopers. The remaining 220 hectares willbe designated to develop public areas andamenities.

The project stands out or its proposed mixo uses, which supports the generationo economic activities and jobs orthe inhabitants o the sector and thelocal municipality. In this way, dynamic

communities that live, work and enjoytheir surroundings are created, withoutgenerating impacts associated withdispersed urban lie such as trafc andthe excessive commuting times betweenresidential areas and work areas.

In the frst stage the investment ininrastructure will rise to US$30.2 million,create 21,000 direct and indirect jobs, andoer public acilities or the community,such as a health centre, a school with alibrary, a nursery, a shopping centre witha supermarket, green zones and parks,ample routes o transportation and routesor the buses that eed into the massivetransportation system.

Green City demonstrates that it is possibleto develop scaled solutions or lowerincome amilies in ways that are sociallyresponsible and in harmony with theenvironment.

Credit: ColombiaGBC


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the outcome o multilateral negotiations onclimate change. Special emphasis is placedin the economic possibilities rom the CleanDevelopment Mechanism. During COP 15,Mexican President Felipe Calderon madeclimate change a priority. Calderon announceda commitment to cut Mexicos emissions by50% rom 2002 levels by 2050. COP 16 takesplace in Mexico.

9 Certifed Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)with Instituto Nacional De Estadistica Y Geografa(INEGI )data10 Cmara Mexicana de la Industria de la Construccin(CMIC)

In Mexico, the national distribution o wealth ismarkedly unbalanced, and inrastructure andtechnology availability also varies rom regionto region. As a result, Mexicans are aectedby environmental, social and economicalproblems such as lack o aordable housing,problems with basic urban inrastructure,water shortages, energy availability, etc; allthese challenges being increased by the latestglobal recession. In addition, the citizens haveexperienced a recent security crisis, due to

violence rom illegal drug activities.

As in most parts o the world, some areaso Mexico have been hit lately by extremeweather. For example, in July 2010 hurricaneAlex brought to Monterrey City its averagetotal yearly rainall in only 48 hours. Theensuing oods washed away homes, roadsand major public inrastructure services ata cost o ca. $1.2 billion dollars. The ederaland state governments are developing alongwith the academia and the local industry- aGreen Renewal Project at the main riverembankments and the aected areas, in thelight o uture climate change risks.

The Mexican governments environmentalpolicy aims to stop the historical trends oenvironmental degradation and depletiono natural resources, and looks to stimulatesignifcant economic growth through cleanerproduction processes, and to develop servicesthat improve the living conditions o around 26million people suering rom extreme poverty,especially in rural areas.

In the past, the Federal Government has

developed a set o actions designed tomitigate climate change, however it is notable to accurately quantiy all o them. Duringthe nineties, the Mexican economy grew oncleaner production patterns than in the past,and mechanisms were established to avoidthe creation o greenhouse gases. Mexico iscommitted to maintaining the momentumcreated by such activities, irrespective o

Mxc G Bg Cc(MxcGBC)

With 100+ members since its inception in2005, Mexico GBC is the frst non-proftnon-governmental organization (NGO)in the country integrated by leadingcompanies and organizations that wishto promote a more sustainable builtenvironment.

MexicoGBC serves as a platorm andbridge or academia, government,businesses and other NGOs to identiy theappropriate strategies to improve the builtenvironment and as a source or greenbuilding education.

MexicoGBC has been supporting USGBCsLEED rating system, which already hasa presence in the country with 7 certifedand 100+ registered projects.

THE

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BuildinG STATiSTiCS In 2005, buildings represented around

12% o total Mexican emissions.

The construction industry has had thelargest growth o any sector in the last 2years. In the frst 3 months o 2010 thesector contributed to 6.6% o the nationalGDP.9

Nearly 1 million new houses are expectedto be built yearly or the 2007-2012period. Typical CO2 emissions per urbanhousehold: 1.68 to 5.14 tons per year.

In 2009, the total national buildingproduction was US$17,400 million,o which nearly 50% is residential,commercial, industrial and institutionalbuildings.10

Mexico is the frst country worldwideto develop a Sustainable (Low-Income)Housing Program accepted as a CleanDevelopment Mechanism (CDM)

by the UN.

FOCUS

CdM Sstaab hsg Pgam

Mexicos National Housing Commission(CONAVI) has developed guidelines andmethodology or the worlds frst nationalsustainable housing program that qualifesor the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM), within the context o the KyotoProtocol. One o the requirements othe CDM involves the development o adatabase or tracking and monitoringGHG emissions rom homes. The carbonemissions savings generated as a resulto this program can then be sold in theinternational market as carbon stocks.

In order to qualiy or the CDM SustainableHousing program, development projectsmust meet certain eligibility criteriaconcerning their overall cost, the builtarea, type o building materials used,and the socio-economic level o the

building occupants. In addition, the projectmust demonstrate that it incorporatesdierent combinations o energy-efcienttechnologies. The Federal Government alsocontributes $4.5 million dollars each year inhousing subsidies or low-income amilies.

The Los Silos development is one suchproject that was made possible throughthe CDM Sustainable Housing program.Los Silos sought to create sel-sustainable,aordable housing o the highest quality orlow-income amilies. The project consists o6,000 homes on the outskirts o Tlajomulco,

Jalisco. Environmental protection andaordability were two o the projects coreconcepts, with a view to improving theoverall quality o lie or its residents. Theproject also included training workshopsand environmental awareness raisingcampaigns or its uture residents.

The Los Silos development pro-vides sustainable, aordable, high

quality housing or low-incomeamilies. Credit: Pedro Truyol


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BuildinG STATiSTiCSIn the U.S., the building sector accounts

or 38% o GHG emissions and 40% ototal energy use.11

There are 125 million existing homes andbuildings in the U.S.

Annual new builds account orapproximately 1% or less o the existingbuilding stock in the U.S., emphasizingthe need to ocus on green retrofts orexisting buildings.

There are 40,339 LEED Registered orCertifed buildings, including 36,588 inthe US and 3,388 abroad. In 2008, greenbuildings occupied nearly 10% o the totalconstruction market share.12

Both bodies o the U.S. Congress have yet topass comprehensive clean energy legislationthat limits greenhouse emissions. All o themajor proposals introduced in Congress,including the American Clean Energy andSecurity Act (ACES) that passed by the Houseo Representatives in 2009, underscorethe importance o the built environment inmitigating climate change through robustprovisions relating to end-use energy andwater efciency in buildings. ACES establishes

a long-term incentive program or modernizingand retroftting Americas existing buildingstock as well as incentivizing energy efcienthome-mortgages, improving buildingefciency codes, and creating a building energyperormance labelling program. In order orthis bill to become law, similar legislation mustbe passed in the Senate.

President Obama has led the way in pursuingsustainability goals or the ederal government.In 2010, he announced a commitment toreduce ederal government GHG emissionsby 28% by 2020. The 14 ederal agenciesthat have adopted LEED standards or theirbuilding stock will assist the government inachieving this target, as well as the many othersustainability targets and timetables put orthby the Obama Administration on efciency,renewable energy, waste reduction, and more.

11

Energy Inormation Administration (2008).12 Sources: Booze-Allen-Hamilton, 2009; Departmento Commerce, 2008.

T u.S. G Bg Cc (uSGBC)

Established in 1993

17,000 members, including small andlarge corporations, non-profts, andgovernments.

The organization is currently certiying1 million square eet per day with theLEED rating system.

THE

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President Obamahas led the wayin pursuing

sustainabilitygoals .

FoCuS

nata dsasts arbg G

As the impacts o climate change becomeincreasingly requent, local economies mustfnd a way to build inrastructure that isadapted to withstand more severe naturaldisasters, while also preserving natural

ecosystems and reducing the energy usethat is a chie cause o climate change.Below are three examples o work theUSGBC is conducting in this area that areparticularly ocused on green building as aresponse to natural disasters.

hatIn response to the earthquake disasterin Haiti, USGBC has partnered withArchitecture or Humanity and theAmerican Institute o Architecture tosupport a Sustainable Design Fellowship.

The Fellow will be stationed withArchitecture or Humanitys team in Haiti, toassist in sustainable rebuilding eorts.

Gsbg, KasasIn the small town o Greensburg, Kansas,USA, residents and local governmentofcials sought to capture opportunity inthe wake o tragedy ater their rural townwas demolished by a tornado in 2007. Acommunity-based eort to rebuild the townsustainably has transormed Greensburginto Greentown, with a mission tobecome a model green town or the uture.

Greensburg GreenTown, a grassrootscommunity-based organization, has worked

side-by-side with city and county ofcials,business owners and local residents toincorporate sustainable principles into theirrebuilding process.

That year, USGBC pledged that LEEDprojects ees would be waived or projectsregistering and certiying at the LEED

Platinum level. Greensburg became thefrst city in America to commit to rebuildingtheir public (city-owned) buildings to LEEDPlatinum levels. Throughout Greensburgsgreen initiative rebuilding eort, USGBC andone o our long-time corporate partners,BNIM (Architecture and Design), assistedGreensburg through technical advice andcommunity support. The Greensbergcommitment has spurred local economicdevelopment and provided a blueprint orsustainable communities across the U.S.

nw oasAter Katrina hit New Orleansin 2005,USGBC organized a charrette on Gul CoastReconstruction which resulted in The NewOrleans Principles a consensus-baseddocument that identifed specifc strategiesor a sustainable rebuilding eort. Theprinciples represented a consensus amongthe 160 participants, including residents oNew Orleans, along with experts in urbanplanning, waste and water management,engineering, and architecture. One othe central themes o the Principles wasinclusivity; recognizing that local community

involvement and investment is at the core oany eort to build or rebuild a city.

One o many homes being built byMake It Right New Orleans, thepost-Hurricane Katrina housinginitiative


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Over hal o the worlds new constructionin the next decade is expected to occurin Asia alone.13 Whereas the Asia Pacifcregion has already enjoyed brisk economicdevelopment in recent years, this rapidgrowth has not come without cost to theenvironment. An increase in economicprosperity, coupled with rapid populationgrowth has placed considerable strain onenergy, water and ood supplies all owhich put corresponding strains on the

environment. An increase in extreme weatherevents, which is consistent with predictionso climate change, have aected manycountries through the destruction o property,disruption o agriculture, draining reservoirsand displacement o people. In Australiaor example, the eects o climate changeare already being elt with increasing waterscarcity and devastating bush fres becomingmore common.

The challenge then is to meet developmentpriorities, including alleviating poverty andallowing the region to continue to thriveeconomically, while also ensuring thatdevelopment minimises environmentalimpacts.

Prior to the economic crisis, the region hadbeen making signifcant progress in the eortto achieve the Millennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs) outlined by the UNDP.14However as the global fscal squeeze tookhold and expansion became contraction,it now estimated that a total o 21 millionpeople could be living on under $1.25 aday by the end o 2010.15 This increase in

poverty will lead to an amplifed strain on theenvironment as people are orced to exploittheir surroundings in an eort to fnd asecure supply o ood, energy and water.

Energy security is a central problem dueto the regions heavy reliance on importeduels, growing concerns about the increasedvolatility o crude oil prices, and decreasing

An increase in poverty will lead to a greater strainon the environment as people are orced to exploittheir surroundings. Credit: www.istockphoto.com

domestic energy reserves. Across theterritory, around 1.7 billion people still relyheavily on the use o traditional biomass orcooking and heating, with nearly1 billion living without electricity.16 Lack oenergy security is a key barrier to povertyalleviation and until the problem is addressedissues such as ood security, watersecurity, environmental degradation andunsustainable economic growth will continueto surace and limit development.

13 Asia Business Council, Building Energy Efciency:Why Green Buildings are Key to Asias Future, 2007.14 The main goals are to halve extreme poverty, reducehunger and increase access to sae drinking water,reduce child and maternal mortality, reduce diseases,achieve universal primary education and to promotegender equality and empowerment o women, ensureenvironmental sustainability and promote a globalpartnership or development.15 UN Economic and Social Commission or Asiaand the Pacifc (ESACP), Achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals in an Era o Global UncertaintyAsia-Pacifc Regional Report ,2010

16 ESCAP, Energy Security and SustainableDevelopment in Asia and the Pacifc,2008

ASIA

-PACIfIC


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Over hal o the

worlds newconstruction inthe next decade is

expected to occurin Asia alone.

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Maria Atkinson, Group Head o Sustainability,Lend Lease

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Mrs Carrie Lam, Secretary or Development,The Government o the Hong Kong SAR


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practical projects that save water and reducewater losses in cities and towns nationally withpopulations o less than 50,000.

Like many countries, Australia has beenaected by the global economic crisis. Inthe commercial building sector a sharpreduction in demand or ofce space, alongwith increased unemployment and decliningeconomic growth orecasts, have taken atoll on the industry. With 9% o the national

labour orce involved in the constructionindustry (representing 7% o AustraliasGDP), any uctuation to this sector has asignifcant impact and subsequent owon eect in the Australian economy. TheConstruction Forecasting Council orecaststhat the construction industry will contractby $12 billion during the upcoming two years irrespective o the ederal governmentsspending eorts. They estimate more than75,000 jobs could be lost due to sharp alls inbuilding activity.

The Green Building Council o Australiahas been at the oreront o the sustainableproperty industry and drives the adoptiono green building practices throughmarket-based solutions. GBCA works withgovernment, industry and the communityto promote energy and water efciency andensure that the nations buildings are resilientto the eects o uture climate change such asooding and bush fres.

The Australian Government has alsointroduced legislation to promote greenbuilding across the nation. For example, in July

2010 the Australian Government announcedthe Building Energy Efciency Disclosure Act2010 which requires sellers or lessors o ofcespace o 2,000 square metres or more to obtainand disclose an up-to-date energy efciencyrating. On 25 July 2010, the AustralianGovernment announced Tax Breaks or GreenBuildings. This means that rom 1 July 2011,businesses that invest in eligible assets or

As an island nation that encompasses an entirecontinent, Australia has a variety o climatesand a corresponding variety o ecosystems.Australia has a population o around22 million with 89% o the population livingin urban areas.

This means sustainable management oAustralias urban environments is an importantpriority. Other issues that aect Australiaspopulation are water scarcity, energy efciency

and protecting vulnerable areas againstbushfres. About 94% o Australias energyis derived rom combustion o ossil uels:coal, oil and natural gas and increasinglythere has been a movement to reduce thecountrys reliance on ossil uels and usher in aculture centred on energy efciency which willencourage urther research into renewable andclean energy technologies.

The issue o orest fres has been wellpublicised globally since the Victoria bushfresthat occurred in early 2009 in the southeast o the country. Over 2000 houses weredestroyed and 173 people lost their lives as aresult o the JanuaryFebruary 2009 bushfresin Victoria. In an eort to combat the threatposed by bushfres, new planning and buildingregulations have been put in place to reducethe risk to property and lives.

Australia also aces signifcant challengesensuring sustainable water supply in the aceo an increasingly dry climate and a steadilyrising demand or water. The AustralianGovernment has launched the Water orthe Futureinitiative that provides national

leadership in water reorm or all Australians.The initiative includes our key priorities: takingaction on climate change, using water wisely,securing water supplies and maintaininghealthy rivers.17 Low water supplies havebecome increasingly common in many cities.The Australian Government has committed$254.8 million through the National WaterSecurity Plan or Cities and Towns to undA

SIA

-PACIfIC

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BuildinGSTATiSTiCS 23% o Australias GHG

emissions rom buildings

12% o total energy usecomes rom residentialsector

Building sector accounts

or 19% o energy use inAustralia.

CO2 emissions perhousehold:5.44 t CO2/hh

261 certifed Green Starprojects in Australia witha urther 431 projectsregistered

FOCUS

G Css a GBCA: B it BackG Vcta

The bushfres that swept through Victoriaon 7 February 2009 destroyed or damaged3,400 properties including schools,kindergartens, sporting clubs, businessesand over 2,000 homes. 173 people lost

their lives.

Green Cross Australia, a not-or-proftorganization that prepares communities orenvironmental impacts, received a grant o$177,000 rom the Victorian GovernmentSustainability Fund to develop a Build itBack Green website to stimulate interestin green solutions, connect residents withlocal suppliers and help create green

jobs. The website will also incorporate avolunteering portal and Green BuildingCouncil o Australia (GBCA) is encouragingthe large network o people rom its 900national corporate members rom theproperty development and building sectorto volunteer on the ground; buildingnew homes and sustainable communityinrastructure.

Build it Back Green partners hope to be asource o green jobs, advice, leadership,practical tools and capacity to assistVictorian communities to emerge ascohesive, healthy, thriving and resilient,communities. It is the aim o Build itBack Green that a minimum o 400

households will be supported to increasetheir eco-resilience with innovative hazardreducing materials, technologies andpractices, while reducing their greenhouseemissions by 10 tonnes per annum. 18

G Bg Cc Astaa

Established in 2002

900 Member companies o GBCA

Rating tool: Green Star

GBCA promotes 5 key green buildingpriorities:

Provide visionary government leadership.

Retroft and improve existing buildings.

Green education and healthcare acilities.

Move beyond buildings to communitiesand cities.

Embed green skills across all industrytraining.

capital works to improve the energy efciencyin their existing buildings will be able to applyor a one-o tax deduction o 50 % o the costo the eligible assets or capital works.

17 http://www.environment.gov.au/water/australia/priorities.html18 http://www.greencrossaustralia.org/our-work/build-it-back-green/rom-the-ashes-o-victoria-build-it-back-green!.aspx

Credit: www.istockphoto.com


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS

The construction industry in India hasbeen growing at an astounding rate o10% per annum over the last ten years.23

As o August 2010, a total o 703 greenbuilding projects across the six climaticzones o the country (over 438 millionsq.t) are registered with IndiaGBC, owhich 112 green buildings have beencertifed.

In 2009, there was close to 200 million m2o built ofce space, which is expected togrow by over 70% by the year 2030 (890million m2).24

India is a country that is experiencingrapid economic growth and is undergoingsignifcant change on many ronts. Some othe key social and economic priorities are ocourse in relation to the rapidly urbanizingand steadily growing population, and to thedeveloping economy.

There is a great disparity o wealth withinthe country, rom the vast business centreso modern India, to the poorest slum

neighbourhoods where meeting even the mostbasic needs is still an everyday challenge.

An environmental consequence o Indias rapiddevelopment is the ever increasing demandor energy which is urther exacerbated by theact that roughly 55% o Indias electricity iscurrently generated rom coal.19 As a result,emissions are steadily on the rise, with severepollution, worsening air quality, and a rapidlychanging natural landscape.

Indias Bureau o Energy Efciency (BEE) isthe government body that oversees energyefciency initiatives or the country and is alsoinvolved in developing energy conservationbuilding codes. The BEE developed andlaunched the Energy Conservation BuildingCode (ECBC) or commercial buildings in 2007with assistance rom the United States Agencyor International Development (USAID).20I the Energy Conservation Building Code wereto be ully implemented, the overall energyconsumption rom new commercialbuildings could be reduced by 25-40%.21I existing commercial buildings wereretroftted to these standards as well, the

overall energy consumption fgure would dropanother 25%.22

ia G Bg Cc (iGBC)

Formed in 2001 by the Conederation o

Indian Industry (CII). Over 960 members with good

representation o the many dierentplayers involved in Indias building sector.

Customized rating tools or a variety obuilding types: homes, ofces, actories,and schools (coming soon).

ASIA

-PACIf

IC

INDIA


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FOCUS

ratg systms a t ia GBC

The soon to be launched India GBC-GreenTownships Rating System promotes thecreation o diverse, connected, aordable,sae and healthy communities that enhancesocial interaction and also emphasizes theenhancement o quality o lie.

Green building rating systems in Indiaencourage the use o building materials andproducts that are manuactured regionally.This has provided impetus to the localcommunity to develop green products andtechnologies which in turn enhanced theemployment opportunities and paved theway or the creation o many new green jobs.

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)has received encouraging support rom thegovernment both at central and state level.For instance, IGBC is working closely withthe national Ministry o Commerce andIndustry (MoCI) to launch the IGBC-SEZRating System. In the State o AndhraPradesh, the Hyderabad MetropolitanDevelopment Authority (HMDA) has decidedto oer automatic ast-track clearancethrough a Green Channel program orall applications that are awarded with aCertifcate rom IGBC, which specifesthat the project in question is proposed tomeet green building requirements. IGBCis also working with the State Governmento Maharastra to develop Environmental

Guidelines or buildings.

The Conederation o Indian Industry SohrabjiGodrej Green Business Centre received the presti-

gious LEED Platinum rating in 2003. This was thefrst Platinum rated green building outside o U.S.Aand the third in the world. Credit: IndiaGBC

19 Hong, W., Chiang, M., Shapiro, R., Cliord, M. (2007)Building Energy Efciency: Why Green Buildings AreKey to Asias Future Asia Business Council, Hong Kong.20 http://www.hareda.gov.in/SHABNAM.ppt#256,1,Slide 121 Hong, W., Chiang, M., Shapiro, R., Cliord, M. (2007)Building Energy Efciency: Why Green Buildings AreKey to Asias Future Asia Business Council, Hong Kong.22 Hong, W., Chiang, M., Shapiro, R., Cliord, M. (2007)Building Energy Efciency: Why Green Buildings AreKey to Asias Future Asia Business Council, Hong Kong.23 Construction Industry Development Council, India.India Country Report, 2005-0624 Architectural Curriculum in India. (2008).Background Paper (Drat). Available at: http://www.

eco3.org/downloads/007-Education%20Curriculum/Architecture%20Curriculum%20Background%20Paper.pd


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frst cap and trade programme inJapan and Asia.

The green building sector is crucial in theeort to tackle Japans social, economic andenvironmental challenges. By living or workingin a green building, individuals develop agreater understanding o the environment andactively seek out ways to improve it. To do this,measures have to be put in place at a regionallevel to kick start a shit in thinking. The use o

local resources should be promoted to createbuilt environments that are specifc to localrequirements. Forests should be planted tooset the large amounts o wood used in theconstruction industry. Labelling and evaluationsystems should be introduced so as to allowpeople to see the environmental perormanceo a building which could in turn boost its valueand oer a fscal incentive to go green. Perhapsmost importantly, this vision must be sharedwith all parts o society.

or some time, Japan has been sueringrom the decline and depopulation oprovincial city centers and agricultural andfshing communities, which has become aserious social issue. The time has alreadycome to reconsider our current socialstructure and plans or the uture, whichare based on the assumption o continuouspopulation growth. This represents a totallynew paradigm. The measures needed tocounteract global warming extend over time

and are inevitably linked to social reorm.Thereore, it is necessary to share the visionwe have or buildings and cities/regions withthe citizens concerned. 25

This quote is taken rom a report by 17building related organizations in Japanwhich met in the run up to the 2009 climatenegotiations in Copenhagen. The groupoutlined a vision o a sustainable Japan or2050 that would address a number o social,economic and environmental issues. Japanis encountering signifcant depopulation dueto an extremely low birthrate and an agingsociety. Increasing urbanisation as peoplehave moved away rom rural areas into urbancentres has led to urban overcrowding andsprawling communities with a loss o citycentres. This in turn is characterised by therising prevalence o energy intensive liestylesand the rapid depletion o national resources.

A vision o a sustainable Japan is one wherelocal resources are used, rural areas arerevitalised, urban areas are sustainablymanaged and peoples liestyles are based onan appreciation or the environment and an

understanding o the impact that they haveon their surroundings. At a national level, theJapanese Government introduced mandatorytargets or reduction in overall greenhousegas emissions or large-scale emitters aspart o an emissions trading program in June2008 which will be begin to be enorced thisyear. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (TMA)passed the bill and thereby introduced the

Japa G Bg Cc (JaGBC)

Established in 2001 under the auspiceo the Ministry o Land, Inrastructure,Transport and Tourism.

Rating tool: CASBEE (ComprehensiveAssessment System or Built EnvironmentEfciency).

ASIA

-PACIfIC

JAPAN

25 Vision 2050/Building-related Measures to CounteractGlobal Warming towards Carbon-Neutralization, 2009,


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BuildinG STATiSTiCS Total energy-originated CO2e in Japan

during 2009 was 1,304million t-CO2, owhich 236million (18.1%) came rom thebusiness sector and 180million (13.8%)came rom the household sector.

In 2009, 788,410 domestic dwelling unitswere constructed along with 63,517non-residential buildings.

CO2e rom buildings can be estimated as416million t-CO2 and approximately 32%o the total emissions or the country.

Credit: www.istockphoto.com


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In a country that has one o the highestpopulation densities in the world, it hasbecome important or Singapore to integrate

green areas into the maze o apartment blocksand ofces. Many apartment blocks now havegreen roos where grasses and other plants arelet to grow wild. The benefts o this practiceare an increase in biodiversity and a 2-degreedecrease in a buildings ambient temperature.The government has also built reverse osmosisplants or recycling o waste water.

As a relatively low-lying, densely populatedisland in the tropics, Singapore is vulnerableto climate change. Much o the islandis less than 15m above sea level, with agenerally at coast. In addition, Singaporehas a relatively high average temperatureand high average rainall levels, and is alsosituated in a region in which communicablediseases such as dengue are endemic. Withlimited natural and physical resources aswell as a small land area, Singapore has

to plan long term and optimise the use oavailable resources o land, water, clean airand energy. Due to Singapores geographicalposition and small size it has to importmuch o its energy with 98% o the mixbeing made up o ossil uels, especiallynatural gas (79%).Ater gaining independence in 1965, theSingaporean government pledged to alleviatethe slum situation in the country by investingheavily in aordable public housing projects,continually constructing higher buildings tomeet increasing demand or housing. Today80% o all housing in Singapore is publichousing, with the post independence publichousing drive reaching its 50th year.With a highly urbanised population,constructing a clean, environmentally riendlyand easily manageable urban environmentis central to Singapores social, economicand environment uture. Sustainability andenergy efciency are important parts oSingapores uture and continued prosperity.Up to now, Singapores development hasbeen underpinned by a combination o

long- term vision, holistic urban planning,sound environmental policies and highregulatory standards. To meet their goalo a sustainable and livable urban space,Singapore has looked to maintain a goodstandard o ambient air quality, managewaste eectively to reduce the strain onlandfll, conserve water supplies andincrease energy efciency.A

SIA

-PACIfIC

SING

APORE

Sgap G Bg Cc (SGBC)

Formed in 2009

210 corporate and 16 associate membersrom across the building industry.

Developing a dedicated Green BuildingProducts Certifcation Scheme to belaunched in September 2010.

Environmental rating tool: The GreenMark Scheme (launched 2005)

Zero Energy Building at BCA, Green Mark Platinum


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Sgaps GBg Mastpa

The Singapore government is leadingthe promotion o economic, social andenvironmental sustainability through aGreen Building Masterplan which was frstlaunched in 2006 and updated in 2008. TheMasterplan promotes fnancial incentives

or green building and retroftting, minimumstandards or building, research anddevelopment and building the industryscapability through education and training.The Masterplan has led to the introductiono minimum standards or buildingsthrough revisions to the Building ControlAct which mandates that all new buildingsmeet green requirements (implementedin 2008). In addition, the SingaporeanGovernment promotes green buildingby oering fnancial incentives or greenbuilding projects.

A green building rating system, called theGreen Mark Scheme was launched in2005. This green building rating system

FoCuS

was developed by the Building andConstruction Authority (BCA) and continuesto be managed by the BCA, orming thebackbone o the governments Masterplan.The Green Mark Incentive Scheme or NewBuildings (GMIS-NB) oers cash incentivesto private developers, building owners andproject consultants whose new projectachieves a Green Mark Gold plus ratingor higher.

The government has high hopes or greenbuilding and is looking to have 80% o theexisting building stock Green Mark rated by2030. Retroftting the existing building stockis key to achieving this ambitious goal andthe governments Masterplan oers urtherincentives or constructors and owners togo green or undertake green retrofttingprogrammes. The Green Mark IncentiveScheme or Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB) isproviding $100 million SGD to jump start theretroftting programme, with the schemeco-unding 35% o the retroftting costs orenergy improvements.

BuildinG STATiSTiCS

Commercial and institutional buildingsaccount or 16% o Singapores CO2emissions, which equates to 6,235kilo tonnes o CO2. I emissions romhouseholds and consumers are included(9% or 3,631 kilo tonnes) this equates toaround 25% o total Singapore emissions.

Due to Singapores geographical positionand small size it has to import mucho its energy with 98% o the mix beingmade up o ossil uels, especiallynatural gas (79%).

Each year around 4 million sq metres onew buildings are constructed.

97% o Singapores housing stock isapartment buildings, with the other3% being detached or semi detachedhouses.

80% o all housing in Singapore is publichousing, with the post independence

public housing drive reaching its 50thyear in 2010.

In 2009 Green Mark registered buildingsaccounted or 210 million sq metres oexisting oor space.

There are around 480 green buildingsmaking up 8% o the total building stock.


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The European region diers rom others dueto the act that the nations within it are closelylinked both politically and economically.Most European countries are memberso the European Union and many share acommon currency. Europe has a Parliamentand Commission which sets legislationand manages the needs o the Union asa whole. This also means Europe has astrong, co-ordinated position in internationaldiscussions and negotiations.

Despite the credit crunch, there remains aclear ocus on tackling climate change andaddressing sustainability. Many countriessuch as the UK and Spain are looking toreinvigorate their economies through thecreation o green jobs and skills.

However, the economic crisis is still aectingpeople and business. Unemployment isrising, the number o job vacancies is stillalling and companies continue to announcesubstantial job reductions across severalsectors, oten with the most vulnerable partso the labour orce being the worst aected.26

There are also key environmental issuesto be tackled, with climate change, waterand biodiversity all continuing to be areaso concern. Europe has traditionally beena leader in the eort to curb global climatechange and this was demonstrated by theEUs pledge to reduce carbon emissionsbetween 20-30% by 2020. However, while thisleadership is to be applauded, it is vital theregion moves beyond the rhetoric and startsto ensure that these targets will be met.

26 Mainstreaming sustainable development into EUpolicies: 2009 Review o the European Union Strategyor Sustainable DevelopmentE

UROPE

Europe hastraditionally been a

leader in the eortto curb globalclimate.

Buildings are responsible or 40% o

total energy use and or 28% o gas

emissions. In order to reduce the

energy use and to increase energy

eiciency in this sector, the EU has

taken measures in order to guarantee

better building designs an

worldgbc special report 2010

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