translated from Spanish: Energy Efficiency in the Real Estate Sector

“A code red for humanity. The red flags are deafening and the evidence is irrefutable.” In this way, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, referred to the new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UN, which among other things, warns that human action is largely responsible for taking the planet to its warmest period in 2,000 years, which will have irreversible effects, with a gradual increase in climatic events such as droughts, floods and heat waves.
Undoubtedly, this first installment of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report that will be published in 2022, is no longer a wake-up call, but a “point of no return”, where as inhabitants of the planet we have two options, or we begin to mobilize and execute the actions that confront climate change; or else, let us sign the death sentence now. It’s that simple.
And in the real estate sector we cannot be left behind. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change itself pointed out that the real estate sector produces 26% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, this without considering the manufacture of materials, the transport of them, the construction of buildings and demolitions. Moreover, he pointed out that Europe’s commercial real estate sector will have to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 80% between now and 2050, to meet the main objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Faced with this panorama, the real estate sector has implemented various measures, but perhaps, one of the most relevant, is to implement Energy Efficiency in the residential sector. As can be seen from the Residential Guide to Energy Efficiency prepared by the National Energy Commission, Energy Efficiency is understood as the set of actions that optimize the relationship between the amount of energy consumed and the final products and services obtained.
According to the study called “Final uses and supply curve of energy conservation in the residential sector of Chile, 2018”, led by the Ministry of Energy, of residential energy consumption distributed percentage according to final use of energy, it was obtained that 53% is destined to heating and air conditioning (individual heaters, central heating and A / C), 20% in domestic hot water (shower, tub and earthenuffening) and 5% in food cooling (refrigerator and freezer).
Then, it becomes very important how we can make more efficient constructions when it comes to saving energy, and therefore, consume less to also pay less.
On February 13, 2021, Law No. 21,305 on Energy Efficiency was published in the Official Gazette, which states that “buyers of buildings and homes must be informed about their energy consumption.” And that is precisely what we in the real estate sector must do.
We can go one step further. We can be responsible for focusing our efforts so that the properties we promote have conditions of sustainability, thus contributing to this climate emergency.
As indicated by the Energy Efficiency Plan of the Ministry of Energy, homes are responsible for 69% of the final energy consumption of the building sector, therefore, we must be aware of the importance of our work and promote homes that meet the minimum conditions, in order to be real ambassadors of the real estate sector.
We shouldn’t just expect the authorities to make the laws and just be observant of how this changes… we are the ones in the real estate world, and more importantly, it is the clients who must demand a change now because it will soon be too late.

The content expressed in this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.

Original source in Spanish

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