Climate Action 2011-2012

The importance of the CCM is that it allows local
governments, and other organisations, to transparently keep
track of progress and to identify sectors or specific buildings
that require special attention.
Codes and sTandards
Once a baseline has been established there are a number
of possible approaches for pursuing energy efficiency
improvements; analysis and research by UNEP-SBCI,
however, has shown that the most cost-effective and
economically beneficial steps a city or local government
can take to encourage the adoption of energy efficiency is
the establishment of building codes and minimum design
standards. Regulatory statues such as building codes provide
for the greatest reduction in energy use at the least financial
cost, while at the same time increasing employment and
improving the disposable income available to residents.
Building codes and other regulatory tools are not a
panacea and must also be tied directly to code enforcement,
education and capacity building. In order to propagate a new
technology or building technique, the building professionals
involved must be able to actually apply them. In this regard
experts have listed the following training needs for the
development of personnel to certify a building’s performance:
• Qualification of raters;
• Development of a code of standards for the field and
performance testing verification;
• Definition of quality assurance requirements; and
• Definition of insurance requirements.
Today, many governments have agencies and staff dedicated
to the promotion of energy efficiency. According to a survey
of 70 countries conducted by the World Energy Council and
the French Environment and Energy Management Agency
(ADEME) in 2008, about two-thirds of the countries surveyed
had a national energy efficiency agency and over 90 per cent
had a ministry or department dedicated to energy efficiency.
The European Union has even created an ‘Intelligent
Energy Europe’ agency to manage energy efficiency projects,
including for buildings, and supported the creation of local
and regional energy efficiency agencies. These agencies often
play a co-ordinating role to facilitate consultative processes
and communication between stakeholders, including between
different branches of the government itself.
learning opportunities by documenting them as case studies
and through performance monitoring. Governments can
also educate the private sector in the value of sustainable
development strategies by supporting sustainability
performance rating schemes for buildings, rewarding best
practice, and assisting the mainstreaming of sustainable
building through establishing communities of practice
supported by information technology. These communities of
practice can help support the review and reform of the school
curriculum to ensure that sustainable building education is a
core component. These initiatives allow the private and public
sectors to share knowledge and educate each other about energy
efficiency and building sustainably on a project-by-project basis.
Government at all levels must
ensure that innovative projects
become learning opportunities by
documenting them as case studies.
It is when local and national governments lead by example,
utilising public procurement to drive the adoption of more
efficient technologies, mandating energy efficiency through
building codes, and designing standards and educating the
designers of today and the residents of tomorrow, that the
broad adoption of energy efficiency in buildings can be
assured, and strong action can be taken to combat global
climate change.
Curt Garrigan has served since 2010 as the Coordinator of the United
Nations Environment Programme’s Sustainable Buildings and Climate
Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) in Paris, France. Before joining UNEP, he
served in a number of capacities for the city government in Nashville,
Tennessee, including Deputy Mayor, where he co-ordinated municipal
policies and initiatives and assisted in developing the city’s US$1.5
billion budget. He led master planning and facilities development for
the city’s Parks Department and implemented a $150 million capital
plan. He had previously been Assistant Director of the city’s Historical
Commission. Following Nashville’s historic flood, he was appointed
by the city’s mayor to co-ordinate planning and infrastructure for the
city’s post-disaster recovery team.
eduCaTing The nexT generaTion
In addition to ensuring that the relevant city or national
agencies have trained staff that can review, support, and lead
the initiative for more energy efficient buildings; it is also
incredibly important for cities and governments to train
and educate the next generation of residents. Education
for sustainable buildings and energy efficiency can help
ensure the ongoing success of these important efforts.
UNEP-SBCI’s Guidelines on Education Policy for Sustainable
Built Environments lists a handful of helpful guidelines for
local and national governments. Namely, that government
at all levels must ensure that innovative projects become
The United Nations Environment Programme’s Sustainable
Buildings and Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) works to promote
sustainable building practices worldwide. This is a joint effort with
key stakeholders in this sector (industry, businesses, governments,
local authorities, research institutions, academia, experts and NGOs).
Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative Secretariat
United Nations Environment Programme – DTIE
15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris cedex 09, France
Tel: +33 1 44 37 14 31 | Fax: +33 1 44 37 14 74
Email: sbci@unep.org | Web: www.unep.org/sbci
175 climateactionprogramme.org