A Smarter Planet needs Smarter Buildings

Sustainable Cities Collective
Adam Christensen // February 22, 2010

Following is a guest post from Florence Hudson, an energy and environment strategy executive from IBM:

Buildings have always been much more than roofs over our heads. Over the last century, as towers of steel reached higher into the sky and homes sprawled farther and farther into the surrounding landscape, our buildings not only housed burgeoning urban populations and growing economies – they also served as symbols of modernity and progress. Unfortunately, today’s offices, factories, stores and homes are also symbols of something else – waste and pollution.

Consider some of the following:

The building sector is responsible for more electricity consumption than any other sector, 42%, and 15% of all Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions.

In the U.S., buildings represent 72% of all energy usage and 39% of Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions (pdf). Yet, up to 50% of that electricity is wasted.

In New York City, buildings account for 80% of NYC’s Carbon Emissions.

By 2025, buildings will be the single largest energy consumers and emitters of greenhouse gas on our planet.

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