For all the talk about the need for buildings to reduce their carbon emissions to help meet net-zero goals, the United States appears to be heading in the opposite direction, according to one study.
The Global Retrofit Index (GRI), a second-annual report courtesy of sustainability management consultant company 3Keel and building solutions company Kingspan, revealed that greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from buildings are reversing in the U.S. based on the last decade.
The report reveals that building emissions in the U.S. have increased by 3 percent since 2010, going against the trend of other G20 nations, some of whom (UK, France and Germany) are stalling on their carbon emission efforts.
The study says that the U.S. must reduce its building emissions by an additional 73 percent from the current rate to match net zero goals.
GRI attributes some of the country’s struggles to retrofit national buildings to lack of private investment, workforce skills shortages and public awareness. It also cites five elements that the country must adopt to reach net zero goals.
Dave Lubach is executive editor for the facility market.
