A number of leading cities across the world have come together to help improve the energy efficiency of buildings…
A new partnership has been developed between the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the World Resources Institute-led Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) to increase the energy efficiency of buildings.
The partnership will see Green Building Councils in Columbia, the United Arab Emirates, Poland and South Africa work with mayors and staff in the cities of Bogota, Dubai, Warsaw and Tshwane, respectively. It is hoped the partnership will double the rate of energy efficiency by 2030.
The BEA will help cities to choose the best course of action to make improvements. BEA is one of six accelerators under Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All)—an initiative led by the United Nations Secretary-General and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
WGBC, alongside participating Green Building Councils, will turn climate finance into measurable actions, including offering direct support for city governments. WGBC will also share resources and develop green building certification programmes on both a national and local level.
The partnership was announced during the Green Building Council of South Africa’s annual convention in Johannesburg.
Terri Wills, CEO of the WGBC, said: “Cities and the buildings which make them up consume around 75 per cent of global energy, putting them at the coal face of our fight against climate change.
“But whilst they are a major consumer of energy, cities also have huge potential to dramatically reduce energy use, with buildings offering one of the most effective ways to do so. Through collaboration with cities, our Green Building Councils will provide on-the-ground expertise to help realise this opportunity.”
Jennifer Layke, Director, Building Efficiency Initiative, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, World Resources Institute, also commented: “Cities are powerful leaders: as owners, investors and regulators, they shape the sustainability of our future. Buildings that are efficient improve the productivity of both people and energy systems.
“By joining forces, the WGBC and the Building Efficiency Accelerator support the success of policy and project action taken by all cities: those that are inspirational examples and those that aspire to do much more. Working in partnership, WRI and WGBC bring more knowledge and resources to help BEA partner cities.”
Buildings account for significant carbon emissions in cities, with buildings in some larger cities responsible for up to 80 per cent.
Green Building Council of South Africa’s CEO Brian Wilkinson said: “We value our strong working relationships with a number of cities across South Africa. When the City of Tshwane expressed an interest to us and WRI to join the Building Efficiency Accelerator, we didn’t hesitate to offer our expertise.
“Helping the city to establish a policy or programme that will make a meaningful impact on the energy efficiency of its buildings is fundamental to our mission, and we’re delighted to be involved in this partnership through WGBC.”