AI emerges as key technology for reducing building emissions, claims UN report

Buildings contribute a third of global emissions and waste, but progress in reducing their environmental impact is now visible though still insufficient to meet climate goals, according to a new UN report. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a critical technology for improving building sustainability through smarter design, construction, and operations. This development represents a significant opportunity for the building sector to accelerate emissions reductions while also improving efficiency and cutting operational costs.

The big picture: The United Nations Environment Programme reports that building emissions have halted their upward trend for the first time since the pandemic slowdown in 2020, signaling that government policies and efficiency investments are beginning to work.

• Despite this positive sign, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen warns that the current pace of change is “sluggish” and insufficient to meet global climate targets.
• Buildings generate approximately one-third of global emissions and waste, making them a critical focus area for climate action.

Why AI matters: Artificial intelligence is identified as a key technology for transforming building sustainability, according to Oliver Rapf, lead author of the UNEP report.

• AI and digital twinning technologies can both reduce emissions and improve the affordability of high-efficiency buildings.
• These technologies help building managers analyze the growing flow of data from smart building systems to prioritize interventions that maximize energy savings.

Real-world applications: Building operators across corporate campuses, stadiums, and airports are implementing AI solutions to tackle emissions and costs.

• Willow, a digital twin development company, reports helping clients save approximately 20 gigawatt hours of annual energy use, equivalent to a major city’s yearly consumption.
• Denver’s ambitious net-zero building goals for 2030 leverage AI to coordinate massive amounts of data about energy use, renewable energy production, and building codes.

The human element: AI implementation allows building professionals to focus on higher-value work while automating routine tasks.

• “We want the transformational work done by humans and the transactional work done by chat bots,” explained Sumana Nallapati, Denver’s chief information officer.
• The technology’s value comes from helping building managers maintain and operate structures efficiently for their entire lifecycle, which can extend beyond 100 years.

The long-term vision: Sustainable building practices must extend beyond initial construction to encompass the entire building lifecycle.

• “Buildings aren’t just built,” notes Bert Van Hoof, CEO at Willow. “They need to be managed, maintained and operated smartly for the next 100 years.”
• This approach represents an evolution beyond traditional green building certification systems like LEED, which were developed in the 1990s and focused primarily on design and construction.