August 2023
Building sector emissions fell 8.4 percent during the first half of 2023 with the greatest factor being a drop in coal-generated electricity, which declined an unprecedented 29 percent during that period. Photo by Studio 37, Shutterstock
By Edward Mazria featured in Architectural Record.
According to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics, U.S. building sector operating emissions fell in the first half of 2023 by about 8.4 percent percent, or 78.8 million metric tons CO2, compared to the same time last year.
This fact is astonishing considering we added roughly 4 billion square feet to our building stock during that period according to the EIA. By contrast, we have been reducing emissions by an average of only 1.9 percent annually since 2005…
