Buildings are bad news for the climate -- but they don't have to be. While our structures are currently responsible for a third of global energy consumption and emissions, a future where they create more energy than they consume is possible. Energy policy analyst Ksenia Petrichenko has a three-tiered strategy for thinking differently about buildings, transforming them from passive users to active players in the energy system and bringing us closer to our climate targets.

What if buildings created energy instead of consuming it?

Buildings account for about one third of the world's energy use and emissions, yet most are still inefficient concrete boxes. With energy-efficient design, electrification, and smart technology, buildings can shift from passive consumers to active players in the energy system. Some homes already generate far more energy than they need, like a Swiss house producing 800 percent of its requirements. Embracing this vision will help lower energy bills, improve comfort, and push society closer to critical climate targets.

Buildings Can Become Energy Producers, Not Just Energy Users

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TED Stage Talk

Ksenia Petrichenko: What if buildings created energy instead of consuming it?