Toward net zero: Assessing the decarbonization impact of global commercial building electrification

Electrification is expected to accelerate the low-carbon transition in building operations globally. However, the extent to which building electrification reduces carbon emissions depends on the decarbonization of electricity. This study is the first to evaluate how the operational carbon intensity of commercial buildings has changed since 2000 and to assess the decarbonization impact of building electrification across different countries via the decomposing structural decomposition method. The key findings indicate that (1) the operational carbon intensity of commercial buildings showed a decreasing trend, with a sharper decline after 2011 (average annual decrease across 16 countries: −3.8 % per year). The…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• NP
  National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science

  Award: 24BJY129