Decarbonisation Worth $1.8 Trillion in Global Market with AI Top Saving

FOR THE FIRST TIME, AI energy management tools have surpassed traditional building retrofits as the most effective in achieving net zero.

A World Economic Forum report identifies integrated energy management as a critical strategy for achieving a collective 80% reduction in emissions. For the first time, it was placed as more important than insulation or traditional renovations.

Buildings are responsible for 37% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, and 34% of the earth’s species are enduring habitat loss as a result of urban development.

Owners and investors are now being encouraged to invest in digitalisation to monitor and optimise energy management to achieve operational savings.

Architects and engineers are being urged to deploy energy management systems. While utilities and operators are advised to provide technology and services to generate new revenue streams and build synergy with renewable development.

“It was only a matter of time until we saw AI-driven platforms highlighted in reports. They enable real-time optimisation of building energy systems, managing data from thousands of sensors to ensure peak efficiency,” said Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio, a Baltics company that focuses on AI-based building energy performance solutions.

AI Top Saving

The World Economic Forum’s report suggests a $1.8 trillion global market opportunity through the decarbonisation of buildings by 2030.

As well as energy management, the report identifies 10 other strategies to reduce building carbon emissions by 80%:

1. 1. Green energy supply
   2. Recirculation of materials and minerals
   3. Decarbonisation of traditional materials
   4. Heating and cooling system upgrades
   5. Integrated energy management
   6. Building insulation retrofits and upgrades
   7. Conversion to sustainable materials
   8. Shared facilities and services
   9. Self-sufficient facilities
   10. Water recycling
   11. Design for four key characteristics

The report emphasises that the whole value supply chain must work together to overcome barriers to transforming the built environment.

The report claims that the $1.8 trillion opportunity will arise from premiums, new market growth, and improved ESG performance. It also highlights China’s critical role, given its status as the world’s largest construction market, and showcases best practices from other emerging economies like the UAE.

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