What is United States's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?
Buildings
The building sector CO₂ emissions in the US have fluctuated since the 1990s but have slightly trended downward as the sector electrifies and uses less oil. In 2017, the sector’s CO₂ emissions accounted for 8% of total US emissions.
United States' energy mix in the buildings sector
petajoule per year
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Graph description
Energy mix composition in the buildings sector in consumption (EJ) and shares (%) for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050 based on selected IPCC SR1.5 global least costs pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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Our analysis indicates that direct CO₂ emissions in the building sector would need to decline by 61–73% by 2030 and reach zero by 2034 to 2049. This would be enabled by increased electrification, from about half of the sector’s energy use in 2019 to 70–75% by 2030 and 90–92% by mid-century.
The US does not have a national emissions reduction target or strategy for the building sector; however, several states have adopted policies and several federal programmes exist to improve energy efficiency of buildings. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes provisions for both new buildings and for the retrofit of existing buildings, such as support for states and local governments to implement more stringent energy codes and incentives for improved efficiency and electrification particularly for low- and moderate-income households.1
United States' buildings sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)
MtCO₂/yr
Direct CO₂ emissions only are considered (see power sector for electricity related emissions, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here).
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Graph description
Direct CO₂ emissions of the buildings sector in selected 1.5°C compatible pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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1.5°C compatible buildings sector benchmarks
Direct CO₂ emissions and shares of electricity, heat and hydrogen in the buildings final energy demand from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for United States
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
Decarbonised buildings sector by
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Direct CO₂ emissions
MtCO₂/yr
|
551
|
148 to
216
|
14 to
114
|
7 to
51
|
2034 to
2049
|
|
Relative to reference year in %
|
-73 to
-61%
|
-97 to
-79%
|
-99 to
-91%
|
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Share of electricity
per cent
|
49
|
70 to
75
|
86 to
88
|
90 to
92
|
|
Share of heat
per cent
|
1
|
0 to
1
|
0 to
2
|
1 to
4
|
|
Share of hydrogen
per cent
|
0
|
0 to
4
|
0 to
28
|
0 to
46
|
All values are rounded. Only direct CO₂ emissions are considered (electricity, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here; see power sector for emissions from electricity generation). Year of full decarbonisation is based on carbon intenstiy threshold of 5gCO₂/MJ.
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Methodology
Data References
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