Low Carbon Auckland: Buildings and Green Infrastructure

Green is the New Normal

Buildings use about a third of the City of Auckland’s energy and are responsible for a similar proportion of its greenhouse gas emissions. That makes the built environment and infrastructure a key focus of Auckland Council efforts to cut emissions.

Targets for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The target of reducing emissions to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2040 would be tough enough even if the city didn’t get any bigger. But at the present rate of energy demand and with the population projected to grow, it’s estimated that by 2025 Auckland’s carbon emissions will be 46 per cent higher and, by 2040, energy use will have climbed by almost two-thirds.

What hope, then, is there of hitting the target? According to green building proponents, by making new and existing commercial and residential structures more energy efficient, there is every chance.

The challenge, says Alex Cutler, chief executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council, is to convince developers and home builders that green is the new normal. “With what we know about the principles of designing and building for energy efficiency, and the statistics connecting poor respiratory health with damp, mouldy homes, the building and construction sector possesses a significant opportunity to address the challenge,” says Cutler.

To Learn More:

To read the complete story as published by the New Zealand Herals, click on Low Carbon Auckland: Buildings and Green Infrastructure