Carbon dioxide emissions from existing housing stock - Essay Example

The world community today has become increasingly conscious about the way we should treat our environment while carrying out routine jobs and business activities. The gaining popularity of green buildings, green technology and green standards of living are an indication towards the increasing consciousness for reducing the usage of substances harmful to the nature. The existing housing stock is another cause of worry for the environmentalist for couple of reasons. This study is an effort to look into the extent of carbon dioxide gases released by the housing stock and how some concerned citizens and organisations have taken up the task of minimising these emissions.

Boardman (2007) contends that, "Of the homes we will inhabit in 2050, around 80 percent are already standing today and these have to be the main focus of carbon-reduction policies". This study is an effort to analyse the statement in right earnest and to understand the severity of the dangerous proportions it may acquire if we do not take the requisite steps for our future generations. In UK alone about a quarter of all carbon emissions are stated to be emanating out of the domestic building stocks1.

This has resulted into efforts towards environment friendly housing. . for Urban Design Information (RUDI) an independent body catering to the needs of researchers in the field of urban design and place-making, predicts that, UK might fall 'drastically short' of long-term targets towards reducing emissions without urgent action to cut carbon dioxide output from homes2.The Global TrendsUK is not the only country facing the ill effects of carbon emissions. The Energy Information Administration, EIA (2008), a US government agency has come out with startling statistics pointing out the sources of carbon emissions in different parts of the world.

As per the report from EIA titled, 'International Energy Outlook 2008', Carbon dioxide happens to be the most abundant anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Though studies point out that about 82 percent of the greenhouse gases are because of the energy consumption by the people and industries, but the EIA study points out that3 the building sector contributed to more than 48 percent of carbon emissions since 1990. This is an indication towards how the rapid pace of globalisation and industrialisation is adversely affecting the ecological balance around us.

OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 30 industrialised nations like USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea etc, has been the torch-bearers of globalisation and industrial activities. The EIA report indicates that 'Carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the OECD economies are significantly higher than in the non-OECD economies (Figure). The figures indicate that if things continue with the existing pace the situation might be headed to uncertain times for the humanity.

While the projected increase in the carbon emissions per capita is almost similar in OECD and non-OECD nations, the