This expert shares how to make sustainable buildings

The author argues that the built environment is responsible for approximately 40% of carbon emissions, which have risen by 1% annually since 2010. To combat this, the author advocates for the adoption of the EU Green Deal, emphasizing the need for circular economy practices—such as redeveloping existing structures rather than demolishing them—and building optimization through real-time energy monitoring and carbon-neutral energy generation. The text highlights the use of hybrid wood-concrete construction and material repurposing as viable methods to reduce CO2 emissions.

• The built environment is responsible for approximately 40% of carbon emissions, and these emissions have increased by 1% per year since 2010 despite existing measures.
• The real estate industry largely ignores circular principles, with renovation and redevelopment rates for existing buildings at only 1%, as most large developers prefer demolition and new construction.
• Energy use in buildings accounts for up to 40% of EU carbon emissions; this can be mitigated through real-time energy insight, replacing gas-powered heating with cooling and underground heat storage, and utilizing solar energy to become energy neutral or positive.
• Hybrid construction using wood alongside concrete and the repurposing of old materials, such as using a natural stone facade as ground floor flooring, significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

APA

van Oostrom, C. (2020). This expert shares how to make sustainable buildings. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/eu-green-deal-real-estate-industry/

Chicago

van Oostrom, Coen. This expert shares how to make sustainable buildings. World Economic Forum, 2020. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/eu-green-deal-real-estate-industry/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=van Oostrom |first1=Coen |title=This expert shares how to make sustainable buildings |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=24 January 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/eu-green-deal-real-estate-industry/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{vanoostrom2020this, author = {van Oostrom, Coen}, title = {{This expert shares how to make sustainable buildings}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/eu-green-deal-real-estate-industry/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }