DOE Lays out Decarbonization Plan for 2050

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released guidelines designed to decarbonize buildings by 2050. 

National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector lays out a national strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and describes action the federal government can take to meet specific targets for increasing building energy efficiency, accelerating onsite emissions reductions, transforming the grid edge and minimizing embodied life cycle emissions. 

With more than one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions produced by commercial and residential buildings, buildings are positioned to help achieve emission reduction goals of 65 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2050. 

The blueprint is a nonbinding plan that building owners and state and local governments are not required to honor. But it outlines four objectives that, if followed, could help buildings play a significant role in reducing overall emissions. The objectives are: 

• Increasing building energy efficiency in buildings by 35 percent by 2035 and 50 percent by 2050 vs. 2005. 
• Reduce onsite greenhouse gas emissions in buildings by 25 percent by 2035 and 75 percent by 2050 vs. 2005. 
• Reduce electrical infrastructure costs by tripling demand flexibility potential by 2050 vs. 2020. 
• Reduce embodied emissions from building materials and construction 90 percent by 2050 vs. 2005. 

Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facilities market. 

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