Buildings for Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Buildings are a critical part of human existence; they are more than just physical structures. Due to the huge impact that buildings have on our world, however, the environmental footprint of structures is receiving more and more attention. This effect includes energy and resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste production. The building sector is a major stakeholder in the worldwide energy and environmental landscape, using 36% of the world’s total energy consumption and emitting about 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the context of global sustainability and climate change mitigation, it is crucial to comprehend the significance of addressing and lowering the energy and environmental footprint of buildings. Energy is used by buildings over their entire lifespan. Up to 90% of the energy used throughout the life of a building can be attributed to its operating phase. Prominent building sustainability measures include efficient design and operation strategies and the incorporation of renewable energy systems. Energy demand in new and existing buildings can be reduced by 30% to 80% with the help of commercially feasible technologies. The chapter provides an overview of the role of buildings in energy and environmental sustainability. It discusses the energy and environmental footprint of buildings before reflecting upon the importance of buildings in terms of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also describes the importance of energy conservation and management and renewable energy for sustainable buildings. The chapter also discusses the major challenges facing the wider adoption of sustainable buildings.