IEA report looks at how builders can use less steel and cement
The agency identifies better design, waste prevention and recycling as ways to curb demand for energy-intensive materials.
The International Energy Agency says the way buildings and infrastructure are designed can affect demand for steel and cement. In a November 11 report presented at COP31, the agency examined how to use materials more efficiently, recover more from discarded products and turn some residual organic waste into energy.
For construction, design choices made early in a project can influence how much material is needed and what can be recovered later. The report argues that policies should reward efficient use of materials across the life of a building. It also calls for investment in collection and sorting so that recovered materials can be put back to work.
The IEA estimates its wider package could avoid more than 1.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year by 2035. That estimate covers measures across several sectors, including waste management and energy, as well as changes in how industry uses materials.