Without policy intervention, U.S. building emissions are expected to remain relatively constant through 2050, an incompatible trajectory for limiting warming to a 1.5°C target. Fortunately, transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity can help meet a net-zero target while providing U.S. residents with clean air and lower energy bills in their living and working spaces.
Resources
Closing The Emissions Gap Between The IRA And 2030 NDC: Policies To Meet The Moment
The U.S. Energy Policy Simulator identifies policies capable of closing the emissions gap between what the Inflation Reduction Act could achieve and the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution of 50 to 52 percent emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2030. The modeling finds additional federal and state actions can close the gap, while creating 2.7 million jobs, adding $700 billion to the economy, and avoiding $1.7 trillion in climate damages between 2023 and 2030.
Implementing The Inflation Reduction Act: A Roadmap For Federal And State Buildings Policy
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) building sector provisions will save consumers money, improve public health, create good-paying U.S. jobs, and cut building sector emissions. This report explains how federal regulatory agencies can effectively implement the IRA’s building provisions, recommends complementary federal policies to accelerate building decarbonization. It also outlines how state policymakers can leverage the new law to reduce building sector pollution, increase building efficiency, and lower energy bills.
Making Buildings Better: Building Electrification Provisions In The Build Back Better Act
Building electrification and energy efficiency investments in the Build Back Better Act will decarbonize the building sector, improve public health, and reduce consumer bills.
Building Codes: A Powerful Yet Underused Climate Policy That Could Save Billions
EI’s Amanda Myers explains why building codes are a powerful tool for reducing building sector emissions, while helping drive economy-wide decarbonization, and highlights California’s upcoming opportunity to adopt an all-electric building code.