Green buildings less costly path

April 2, 2007

NZ Building Industry Federation

Green buildings less costly path to counter global warming

An aggressive energy efficiency and conservation policy toward both commercial and residential buildings offers a more certain and less costly path to counter global warming than other alternatives, says the New Zealand Building Industry Federation (BIF).

Chief Executive Bruce Kohn said today that a United Nations Report stating that “buildings” can play a key role in combating climate change emphasised the value of a concentration on energy efficiency and conservation.

“U.N. environmental officials consider that globally a more aggressive energy efficiency policy might deliver over two billion tons, or close to three times, the amount of carbon dioxide emission reductions scheduled under the Kyoto Protocol.

“Kyoto focuses on cuts which can be achieved through lower burning of fossil fuels but the U.N Environment Programme sees global action to promote greener buildings as likely to be more effective.

“The potential savings seem huge and certainly the costs to implement greener building are relatively low by comparison with other greenhouse gas saving alternatives, especially in New Zealand.

“Policy implementation in this area is also likely to be much less controversial than in a number of other sectors.

“Government encouragement has been helpful in ensuring that the Green Building Council, architects, designers, and the building industry supply chain are well positioned to move forward with innovative design, assessment systems and products that will provide more energy efficient buildings and homes.”

ENDS

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