The biggest source of emissions and energy consumption both in this country and around the globe: BUILDINGS
Energy issues have been everywhere in the news lately, and concerns about rising gasoline costs and utility rates are two of the most pressing issues for American voters. Policymakers, the media, and the public seem to be focused on revamping our automobiles as the key to solving our energy and climate change problems. In our quest to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions and lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, we have overlooked the biggest source of emissions and energy consumption both in this country and around the globe: buildings and the energy they consume each year.
Buildings and their construction account for nearly half of all the greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumed in this country each year. This includes energy used in the production and transportation of materials to building construction sites, as well as the energy used to operate buildings, globally the percentage is even greater. The Building Sector is the key source of demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases.
