Worldwide 30 -40 of all primary energy

Worldwide, 30 -40 % of all primary energy is used in buildings

In the UNECE region, buildings cover approximately 35 % of the total energy consumption

CO 2 emissions from buildings are expected to rise of 140 % cent by 2050

Worldwide energy consumption in buildings is expected to grow of 45% from 2002 to 2025.

2/3 of energy consumption in buildings is used for heating and cooling

Worldwide, 111 million people are employed in the building and construction sector

The average new U. S house is 45 % bigger than it was 30 years ago

Between 1985 and 1997, the average size of a European home increased from 83 sq. metres to 87 sq. metres

2, 5 million households in the world use solar lighting systems

80 -90 % of the total energy used during the lifespan of a building is consumed during the use phase

From 25 % to 40 % energy savings may be reached in the housing sector

After buildings, the transport sector is the next largest source of CO 2 emissions

80 % of energy is used in small households <1000 sq. m / Europe. Thus, there lies the largest saving potential

In France, the government has decided to refurbish all its public buildings by 2012 in order to cut the energy consumption by almost 40% by 2020

By using well-proven energy efficiency techniques, 70 to 90 % of a building’s energy need for heating or cooling can be cut.

Energy expertise is almost nonexistent within financial institutions

Investments in improved energy efficiency in buildings could generate an additional 2 - 3. 5 million green jobs in Europe and the United States alone

Typically, a low energy building uses at least 50 % less energy than standard buildings.

Passive housing reduces energy consumption with 90 % compared to ”conventional housing”

No other sector offers a cheaper way to cut emissions and save energy than the building sector

Renewable energy generates more jobs than employment in fossil fuels

Certain countries have 50 % more energy loss than other richer countries of the region.

In low income countries, the residential sector often represent over 90 per cent of all CO 2 emissions from buildings

2. 3 million people have in recent years found new jobs in the renewable energy sector alone

Out of more than 3000 CDM projects in the pipeline as of May 2008, only 6 seek to reduce energy demand in buildings

The building and construction typically provides 5 -10 % of employment at national level and generates 5 -15% of the GDP

In Germany for example, environmental technology is to grow fourfold to 16 % of industrial output by 2030

In 2030, biomass use will still represent over half of the residential energy consumption in developing countries

40 -50 % of the total flow in the global economy is used for the manufacturing of building products and components