Affiliation:
1. School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
2. Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Abstract
As efforts to mitigate climate change become increasingly urgent, the need to address the environmental impact of the built environment has gained significant attention. Buildings, as major contributors to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, have a substantial embodied and operational carbon footprint resulting from their construction materials, practices, and lifetime operation. This paper examines the economic landscape of strategies and policies aimed at reducing the embodied and operational carbon footprint of buildings on a global scale, with specific case studies from various national contexts. It delves into various innovative approaches, including economic analysis techniques, market instruments, market demands, and the role of government incentives to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The study highlights the crucial role of government policies, financial incentives, and market forces in promoting sustainable practices and fostering the adoption of low-carbon alternatives. By shedding light on the economic dimensions of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, this research aims to facilitate informed decision-making by policymakers, engineers, and other stakeholders, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and climate-resilient built environment.
Funder
International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada
Reference108 articles.
1. Exploring the Pathway From Zero-Energy to Zero-Emission Building Solutions: A Case Study of a Norwegian Office Building;Moschetti;Energy Build.,2019
2. Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Carbon Footprint Analysis and Frontier Decarbonization Pathways of District Buildings in Subtropical Guangzhou, China;Pan;J. Clean. Prod.,2023
3. A Review of Distributed Energy System Optimization for Building Decarbonization;Zhu;J. Build. Eng.,2023
4. Comparative Advantage of an Exterior Shading Device in Thermal Performance for Residential Buildings;Kim;Energy Build.,2012
5. Cannon, A.J., Jeong, D.I., Zhang, X., and Zwiers, F.W. (2020). Climate-Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure: An Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Climatic Design Data in Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Technical Report.