Urbanizing cities represents great challenges and in In many cases, urban planners spend time and time looking for new solutions, but too often they forget to the very buildings that make up the cities. Some buildings , which are often are outside the «urban renewal strategy» but that with different actions can become efficient buildings helping to alleviate many of the challenges cities face; from the climate change to public health problems, unemployment or poverty, among others.
A new WRI research report (World Resources Institute) examines the role of the building efficient and the role it plays in the future of sustainable cities and their development from economic, social and environmental points of view before the energy efficiency of the building .
We must remember that the strategy that we can apply in the city in relation to buildings, involves all sectors as a whole:
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Buildings are actually big investments and Long duration. If we look at the statistics, the sector of Construction represents 10% of world GDP, being truly long-term investments that create jobs and constant economic movement.
efficient buildings produce fewer risks , that is, the buildings and the construction are responsible for 60% of the consumption of electricity, 12% of water use, 40% of waste, 40% in the use of materials, occupy 50% or more of the ground surface of a city…etc. Each of them is a cost, but each improvement in efficiency of the building in the use of energy and resources, removes a cost that the city and its inhabitants no longer they have to pay.
For example, each Euro invested in the energy efficiency can save more than two Euros in the expense of the power supply, so the efficiency savings free up money for other investments, which can be extended to other resources scarcer.
Another example would be that improvements and energy saving measures energy are particularly important for inhabitants with lower incomes, because a greater portion of their income goes to the energy expenditure of housing, are less able to pay the higher prices power or cope with unexpected fluctuations in the costs.
Cities are expected to increase by 3 Billion between 2008 – 2050, almost double the current urban population. The expansion and shelter needs that must be prepared highlights a great problem within urbanism and the building architecture of cities, especially in developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Africa…etc. Reaction!…. The emissions of CO2 will be accompanied by a significant increase.
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How cities decide how to build in a immediate future, will be of great relevance both for a sustainable development as future cities more efficient . These countries could reap the economic and climatic benefits of buildings energy efficient, avoiding decades of inefficiency and the costly needs of future renovations for the benefit of energy efficiency. (See article benefits and costs of sustainable construction)
In addition to reducing infrastructure costs and expenses home, efficient construction also provides a higher return on investment the reduction of CO2 emissions in the face of change climate.
Provides a much faster return on investment on energy costs. a significant difference in the face of savings investments in emissions in comparison to other sectors such as agriculture or the transportation, which are relatively expensive or result in the lowest emissions reduction.
One more example of a building efficient can significantly reduce pollution-related illnesses and deaths air. Contribute to better indoor air quality and outside by reducing pollution (Less spending energy, less pollution) and improve the ventilation, which entails economic benefits and health.
The highest rates of exposure are in cities where development, where people depend on the combustion of fuels inside homes and houses for the heating or cooking. In China and India, they have the regions with the highest death rates related to air pollution.
