Skanska-sponsored global study shows that energy use in buildings can be cut 60 percent by 2050

Skanska-sponsored global study shows that energy use in buildings can be cut 60
percent by 2050 

Today, buildings use more energy than any other sector in the world -
approximately 38 percent of the global energy use compared with 33 percent for
industry and 26 percent for transportation sectors. But if a major, coordinated
and global effort is launched, it would be possible to cut energy use in
buildings 60 percent by 2050 and arrive at a situation in which buildings
produce or recover as much energy as they consume. 

These are among the major findings in a new research report, “Transforming the
Market: Energy Efficiency in Buildings,” released April 27 by the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This is the most rigorous study
ever conducted on the subject and the findings apply to both existing and new
building stock. Skanska is one of 14 global companies behind this report and is
the only Nordic participant and the only construction company involved in the
study. 

“Buildings use more energy during their life cycle than any other sector, and as
such are a major contributor to climate change. Unless there is immediate
action, thousands of new buildings will be built without any concern for energy
efficiency and millions of existing, inefficient buildings using more energy
than necessary will be standing in 2050,” says Johan Karlström, President and
CEO, Skanska AB.

The study is based on extensive research and also included developing an
advanced computer model for analyzing energy use for millions of existing and
new buildings and projecting it out to 2050. Using these simulations,
researchers have been able to identify the optimum mix of financial, technical,
behavioral and policy options. The result is six principle recommendations for
action:

• Strengthen building codes and energy labeling for increased transparency.
• Use subsidies and price signals to incentivize energy-efficient investments.
• Encourage integrated design approaches and innovations.
• Develop and use advanced technology to enable energy-saving behavior.
• Develop workforce capacity for energy saving.
• Mobilize for an energy-aware culture.

“The study shows that there is a need for immediate action to significantly
reduce energy consumption. This has to be done in a joint and coordinated global
effort to achieve the necessary results. Skanska is supporting this and some of
the actions that the report calls for are already on our agenda. We will now
assess how we can intensify our efforts,” says Johan Karlström.

Skanska is currently applying such environmental certification systems as EU
GreenBuilding and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to reduce
energy use in buildings and has also implemented the Nordic Swan label for its
Uniqhus residential concept. Other actions already on the company agenda are
extensive training of employees in energy efficiency and energy saving behavior
as tenants. The integrated design tool Building Information Modeling (BIM) is
also being implemented in all design/build projects. 

Later this year Skanska and the other companies behind the research study will
commit to further actions for energy efficiency through a company manifesto
linked to the report. 

The full report, "Transforming the Market: Energy Efficiency in Buildings," is
available at: www.wbcsd.org.


For further information please contact:

Noel Morrin, SVP Sustainability and Green Construction, Skanska AB, tel +46 73
076 88 98.
Roy Antink, Development Manager, Green Construction, Skanska AB, tel +358 40 759
1810.
Dan Haas, Development Manager, Green Construction, Skanska AB, tel +1 206 718
1594.
Peter Gimbe, Group Press Officer, Skanska AB, tel +46 10 448 88 38. Direct line
for media: tel +46 10 448 88 99.


This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com

Skanska AB may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant
to the Securities Markets Act.

Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction
groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential
projects and public-private partnerships. The Group currently has 56,000
employees in selected home markets in Europe, in the US and Latin America.
Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange,
Skanska's sales in 2008 totaled SEK 144 billion.