Sustainable Construction & Design
Sustainable Construction & Design
Climate-Smart From The Start: Rebuilding Building From The Ground Up
The buildings we live and work in are some of the biggest drivers of climate change. When you count both the materials that go into them and the energy they consume over their lifetimes, buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions. With the total space we live and work in set to grow 15% by 2030, the decisions we make today will lock in emissions for decades to come. That’s why we need to rebuild the way we build, integrating climate intelligence into every square foot of every new structure — and retrofitting what’s already standing. We already have powerful tools at our disposal — from modular, industrialized construction and circular building systems to high-performance envelope retrofits and design optimization tools that slash waste. Pair these strategies with more ambitious concepts like carbon-negative building shells and next-generation structural materials that can outperform cement and steel, and it’s entirely possible to transform a $13 trillion industry from the ground up.
Emissions at stake in 2050: 4.0 Gigatons
Innovation Imperatives
Innovation Imperatives
Critical needs that can help accelerate the path to net zero
Design Optimization
Create new design tools to improve material efficiency in construction and enable low-carbon material selection
Traditional design processes often prioritize cost and performance without factoring in efficiency or long-term impacts. Next-generation design tools can align these priorities by integrating lifecycle cost, comfort, and carbon data into one platform. By helping architects and engineers optimize for material efficiency, structural performance, and operating costs all at once, these tools enable solutions that save money and improve occupant experience while also reducing emissions as a byproduct. At scale, this kind of optimization has the power to normalize climate-positive design decisions.
Envelope Retrofits & Passive Design
Accelerate retrofit processes for improved building insulation and design buildings to self-cool
Heating and cooling drive a major share of building emissions. Innovations such as high-performance insulation materials, advanced glazing, reflective and absorptive paints, and dynamic window tints can dramatically cut energy demand in both new and existing buildings. Prefabricated retrofit systems make upgrades faster and more affordable, while passive design strategies — like orientation, shading, ventilation, and thermal massing — allow buildings to regulate temperature naturally. Together, these solutions reduce reliance on HVAC, lower costs, and improve resilience in a warming climate.
Industrialized Construction
Increase industrialization of construction using modular, panelized, unitized, and volumetric solutions with low-carbon materials
Traditional construction methods are slow, labor-intensive, and carbon-heavy. By shifting toward modular, panelized, unitized, and volumetric systems built in controlled factory settings, developers can reduce waste, integrate low-carbon materials more easily, and deliver higher-performing building envelopes. This repeatability leads to tighter, more energy-efficient buildings from the outset, cutting operational emissions for decades to come. At the same time, industrialized approaches speed up delivery and reduce costs, making sustainable building more affordable and scalable worldwide.
Moonshots
Moonshots
High-risk, high-reward innovations that could radically reshape our path to net zero
Carbon-Negative Building Shells
Develop easy-to-apply building coatings and surface materials that actively remove GHGs
What if buildings didn’t just emit less carbon, but actively pulled it out of the air? Carbon-negative shells imagine exterior coatings and surface materials that remove or capture greenhouse gases through mineralization, photocatalysis, or bio-based processes. If made affordable and easy to apply, these materials could transform buildings into distributed carbon sinks, turning cities into active participants in climate mitigation.
Superior Structural Materials
Create low-carbon building materials that outperform steel and cement in structural applications
Steel and cement are the backbone of modern construction, but they’re also among the most carbon-intensive industries on Earth. It may be possible to engineer entirely new classes of structural materials — engineered composites, bio-based alternatives, or advanced ceramics — that can match or surpass steel and cement in strength, durability, and cost, while also slashing emissions. Breakthroughs in this area could redefine the built environment, enabling sustainable infrastructure without sacrificing performance.
Tech Categories
Tech Categories
Groupings of climate technologies
| Cluster Name | Readiness | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Commercial | |
Construction focuses on reducing emissions during the building process through more efficient equipment, electrified machinery, and waste reduction. | ||
| Green Materials | Pilot | |
Green materials have low embodied carbon, often sourced sustainably or made from recycled or renewable content. Examples include recycled steel, low-carbon concrete, cross-laminated timber, and bio-based insulation. |
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