Without an increased demand for electrical energy, there is no need
for additional coal-fired power plants.
As the single largest contributor to global warming,
buildings account for approx. 48% of total annual US
energy consumption (40% for building operations, 8% for
building construction). Globally, the percentage is even
greater.
Building operations (heating, cooling, ventilation, hot
water, etc.) account for 43% of total annual US GHG
emissions [12].
76% of all the electricity produced at power plants in the
US goes to operate buildings.
Buildings have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years, throughout which they consume energy and produce emissions.
Over the next 30 years, the United States will add 33 million buildings that will not only consume electricity
produced at a central power plant, but will also directly burn oil, natural gas and/or propane in boilers,
furnaces and hot water heaters.
While a moratorium on the construction of any new conventional coal plants is a must to keep atmospheric levels
of CO2 below 450 ppm, it is also necessary to address the increasing energy demands of the US. With 76% of all
the electricity produced at power plants going to operate buildings, reducing the operating energy demand of
the Building Sector is essential. Without an increased demand for electrical energy, there is no need for additional
coal-fired power plants. Therefore, as we implement a moratorium on coal, we must simultaneously focus our
efforts on reducing energy consumption in the Building Sector.
12. Marilyn Brown, Frank Southworth, Therese Stovall, “Towards a Climate-Friendly Built Environment,” Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, June 2005.
