Buildings & Materials
Here’s the deal
Buildings contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through the electricity and energy used to power, heat and cool. In 2017, Georgia’s commercial and residential buildings were responsible for about 30% of the state’s emissions. We know that increasing energy efficiency in existing buildings can reduce electricity and energy demand. This category also considers the emissions associated with materials, such as recyclables and hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants.
Recycling/Waste
Management
Recy...
Increased industrial and commercial recycling, increased paper recycling and increased recycling at the community/household level can reduce greenhouse gas emissions because recycling materials is often less energy intensive than creating new materials.
Refrigerant
Management
Refr...
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — the chemicals used to cool refrigerators and air conditioners — are an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Controlling leakages and replacing HFCs with alternative refrigerants as well as properly disposing of existing HFCs is a critical issue globally.
Retrofitting
Retr...
Buildings use electricity and natural gas for heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC), water heating, lighting, and to power appliances and electronic devices — up to 30% of greenhouse gases globally comes from these energy hogs. Retrofitting existing buildings to make them more efficient has tremendous potential to accelerate our progress.
Recycling/Waste Management
Increased industrial and commercial recycling, increased paper recycling and increased recycling at the community/household level can reduce greenhouse gas emissions because recycling materials is often less energy intensive than creating new materials.
Refrigerant Management
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — the chemicals used to cool refrigerators and air conditioners — are an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Controlling leakages and replacing HFCs with alternative refrigerants as well as properly disposing of existing HFCs is a critical issue globally.
Retrofitting
Buildings use electricity and natural gas for heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC), water heating, lighting, and to power appliances and electronic devices — up to 30% of greenhouse gases globally comes from these energy hogs. Retrofitting existing buildings to make them more efficient has tremendous potential to accelerate our progress.
Here’s where we are
Recycling often uses less energy than producing a new good. Therefore, it is a powerful way to reduce emissions in Georgia. According to UGA Extension, as much as 28% of Georgia’s household waste sent to landfills could be recycled. That’s nearly 2 million tons!
Here’s where we are
Stories & Studies
How Georgia Congregations Support Climate Solutions
Georgia congregations are playing a vital role in ensuring that climate solutions benefit all people through a healthy environment, a stable climate, and resilient communities. One of the simplest ways for communities of faith in Georgia to take action toward
How Recycled Building Materials Embrace History and Circularity
Recycled building materials--those that are reclaimed when a building is deconstructed rather than demolished-- play an important role in reducing emissions and air pollution and uplifting communities. It’s a topic that Kelley Lowe, director of
Mike Barcik on Energy Efficiency: A Georgia Climate Digest Interview
Taking action on climate isn’t just about solar panels and EVs - some of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint include less visible actions, like improving the energy efficiency of your home. If you’re looking to get inspired to make
Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries dominate in Georgia’s building products?
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia is a leader in paper and pulp products, with an economic output of $13.1 billion in 2018, representing almost 20,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in annual wages and salaries.
Why focus on refrigerants?
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are chemicals used to cool refrigerators and air conditioners. They are also an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with thousands of times the heat trapping potential of CO2. This class of chemicals was used to replace CFCs, a class of refrigerant chemicals that were phased out because they were depleting the ozone layer. In December 2020, Congress passed legislation to phase down HFCs nationwide by 40% by 2024 and by 85% by 2036. The phase down will be administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What is our current recycling rate?
In 2011, Georgia recycled only approximately 0.7 million tons out of 10.6 million tons of MSW, or a recycling rate of about 6.6%. This is significantly below the U.S. average rate of 22.6% reported by the same study (Shin, 2014).