Energy efficiency vs resiliency to extreme heat and power outages: The role of evolving building energy codes

The public understanding of climate change, methods, mitigation, adaptation and the reason behind it have been investigated in developed countries. The current knowledge levels in the Global South remains limited, this while countries forming part of the Global South are more vulnerable to resultant effects of global warming. This requires the urgent attention by both citizens, who lack relevant information as well as decision makers lacking environmental literacy to establish long-term sustainable strategies. With just 9 years left, the probability of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is unlikely and will require the complete redevelopment of the building sector. Focusing on the built environment, this paper uses contemporary definitions of the Global South to establish the contribution, significance and lack of energy efficiency mechanisms in the face of climate change. A combination of literature, desk research and data gathering from various sources are employed to establish the contribution of the Global South built environment to climate change. Using Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions, 2050 urban population figures and distinctive climatic regions as basis, this study selected the largest role players to establish the status, extent and efficacy of building energy codes. The review point towards a built environment lacking the necessary building energy codes, with approximately 47% of selected Global South countries not implementing any form of building energy efficiency regulations or related policies. As part of the recommendations, Global South countries lacking the necessary regulations are encouraged to revise, update or adopt possible best practice standards from relevant countries that implement mandatory building energy codes. This study aims to address the gap in knowledge, establish a way forward and facilitate a larger implementation of building energy codes and strategies in the Global South

Download Full-text

How Much Energy Do Building Energy Codes Save? Evidence from California Houses

The American Economic Review ◽

10.1257/aer.20150102 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 106 (10) ◽

pp. 2867-2894 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Arik Levinson

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Environmental Policy ◽

Energy Use ◽

Energy Savings ◽

Building Energy ◽

Energy Codes ◽

New Buildings ◽

Building Energy Codes

Regulations governing the energy efficiency of new buildings have become a cornerstone of US environmental policy. California enacted the first such codes in 1978 and has tightened them every few years since. I evaluate the resulting energy savings three ways: comparing energy used by houses constructed under different standards, controlling for building and occupant characteristics; examining how energy use varies with outdoor temperatures; and comparing energy used by houses of different vintages in California to that same difference in other states. All three approaches yield estimated energy savings significantly short of those projected when the regulations were enacted. (JEL Q48, Q51, Q52)

Download Full-text

Corrigendum to “The impact of building energy codes on household electricity expenditures” [Econom. Lett. 186 (2020) 108841]

Economics Letters ◽

10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109738 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 200 ◽

pp. 109738

Author(s):

Matthew J. Holian

Keyword(s):

Building Energy ◽

Energy Codes ◽

The Impact ◽

Building Energy Codes

Download Full-text

Analysis of the Influence of the Roof Greening Technology on Building Energy Efficiency

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.253-255.716 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 253-255 ◽

pp. 716-719

Author(s):

Yang Wang ◽

Yan Chen

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Building Energy ◽

Building Energy Efficiency ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Positive Role ◽

Building Energy Conservation ◽

Technological Characteristics ◽

Roof Greening

Under the circumstances of the increasing energy consumption of buildings, the development and application of building energy efficiency technology have attracted the attention of many people. As one of the important building energy efficiency technologies, roof greening has played a positive role in building a low-carbon and energy-saving society. This paper analyzes the technological characteristics and the formation methods of the roof greening system. It also expounds on the role of roof greening in building energy conservation.

Download Full-text