3 - Building Usage

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We consider here buildings' usage, not their construction (which is included in the card on Industry). This includes heating, air-conditioning, lighting, electronics, etc. The big topic in Europe and the US is the thermal insulation of buildings. As far as new construction is concerned, it is vital to build well-insulated buildings. However, the stakes are limited as the standards for new buildings are much higher than in the past and only a small proportion (1%) of buildings are constructed each year. The challenge is therefore much more in the thermal renovation of buildings.

Earth from Space
Tokyo, with a population of over 14 million residents, is one of the most populous cities in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes its six neighboring prefectures, is the most-populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024. ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet spent six months on the International Space Station. In his free time,he assembled this collage of Toyko, is made from around 70 pictures taken on 10 August 2021 from 00:49 GMT mapped together, digitally rotated and assembled into one large image.
Credits :ESA/NASA-T.Pesquet/W.Harold
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1
Cause

Building Usage

accounts for 20% of GHG emissions

1
Consequence

Building Usage

1
Other possible cause

Building Usage

see 5=>1

3
Other possible consequences

Building Usage

Buildings emit few aerosols directly. The only significant emissions are chimney fires. In Chamonix, 85% of the fine particles present in the atmosphere come from wood heating.

Building Usage

Soil artificialisation is also responsible for flooding because the soil is no longer able to absorb rain water.

Building Usage

It can be said that heating buildings with wood is in part responsible for deforestation, but it is not significant. Neither is building a major cause of deforestation. Agriculture is the main cause of deforestation, way in front of buildings and their usage.