Commercial Buildings Account for 17% of CO2 Emissions in 2015

Commercial buildings are responsible for roughly 17% of CO2 emissions. Overall, more than 70% of building sector emissions come from electricity use, with the remainder from direct fuel use for space heating and water heating. That’s important because energy use is one of the leading factors of greenhouse gas emissions. Considering buildings use about three quarters of electricity, understanding how and where they’re using electricity is critical.

Lighting, space heating, space cooling, and ventilation are the highest priority targets for building owners and managers looking to increase their buildings energy rating. High-efficiency light bulbs, updated mechanical equipment, and building automation systems are making their way into buildings all across the nation as landlords and managers look to set their building apart and avoid costly fines.

The good news is that overall energy usage is steadily declining. According to the Energy Information Administration, building CO2 emissions have decreased 16% since 2005. With the rising investment in energy efficiency, those trends are likely to continue. The right technology and equipment has the potential to save consumers and businesses approximately 1 billion MWh of electricity by 2030, by White House estimates.

Read the full report: “United States Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization”