Towards a green economy

households currently use for lighting, heating and cooking. Replacing these traditional fuel sources will produce significant environmental and public-health benefits.

Table 2 summarises elements that describe sector in developed countries the

retrofitting and new construction potential in greening the building

and

emerging economies. It is clear that there is a strong case for retrofitting buildings in developed countries. In emerging economies, retrofitting and new construction both have compelling cases although the potential for new construction is much greater than retrofitting. Figure 3 correlates the expected value of new construction and retrofitting potential with its level of sustainability (from low to high share of green construction). It can be seen that emerging economies such as China and India have a great potential for new construction, but it is not

A conscious effort is needed to turn new construction green in developing countries and emerging economies, given that buildings generally last for decades and often centuries, whereas a country’s car fleet may be turned over in as little as 12 years. If a building is constructed to low standards of efficiency, retrofitting it later is an unnecessary complication compared with getting it right the first time. Retrofitting existing buildings, however, reduces energy demand compared with new- builds through a lower demand for building materials such as steel, glass and cement, which themselves require considerable amounts of energy to produce.

expected to be particularly green. Developed countries have a high potential for retrofitting, with a high level of sustainability. The new construction potential in these countries is very low.

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