What you can do to bring about change in buildings and households

As you saw in the last step, buildings and households account for a significant portion of our carbon emissions, but we’ve also explored the many types of positive changes that are possible. Again, learning is an important first step, but what is needed is action.

Below you’ll find examples of inspiring initiatives, campaigns and actions that communities and organisations have undertaken to reduce emissions from buildings and households. As you explore each example, consider:

• Which actions resonate most with you and why?
• Could you see yourself or your community implementing something similar?
• What other ideas do these examples spark for your local context?

Housing cooperatives

LILAC (Low Impact Living Affordable Community) in Leeds, UK, is an inspiring example of a housing cooperative – a community-owned housing model where residents collectively manage and share ownership. LILAC’s 20 eco-friendly homes are built using straw bale construction, which provides excellent insulation and reduces energy use. The cooperative combines affordable housing with sustainability by integrating renewable energy, shared green spaces and community decision-making.

Retrofit revolution: Energiesprong

Energiesprong (‘energy leap’ in Dutch) is an innovative approach to home retrofitting that began in the Netherlands in 2010 after several housing associations campaigned for cheap and sustainable home retrofitting. The programme transforms outdated housing into net-zero energy homes using pre-built insulated facades and roofs with solar panels, smart heating systems, and monitoring equipment. What makes it special is the speed and scale – entire rows of houses are upgraded in as little as a week using prefabricated elements. By 2023, over 13,000 homes in the Netherlands had been retrofitted.

People United for Sustainable Housing

People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) Buffalo is a membership-based community organisation that is dedicated to affordable housing, equitable jobs and ecological sustainability. Community members built sustainable and affordable housing using green building methods in Buffalo, one of New York’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The project reuses vacant buildings or homes and aims to hire local contractors to benefit the community as much as possible.

Solar my School

Solar my School, launched in Sydney, Australia in 2016, is a free council-run programme helping schools transition to solar power. The initiative has expanded across Australia and provides schools with technical support, education resources and funding guidance. Over 200 schools have engaged with the programme reducing close to 5,500 tonnes of emissions every year. The programmes also have educational benefits for students and have engaged over 50,000 students so far.

Cool Roofs initiative in Ahmedabad

Launched in 2017 as part of its fifth Heat Action Plan, the Indian city of Ahmedabad’s Cool Roofs initiative has become a model for urban climate adaptation and mitigation. The programme focuses on simple and affordable solutions using white lime wash or solar reflective paint to reduce indoor temperatures. This improves thermal comfort, reduces energy use for cooling and helps reduce deaths and health impacts from heat waves.

Rain harvesting programme in Mexico

This social programme helps Mexico City residents collect rainwater with simple yet efficient rainwater capture systems. It helps them achieve greater water autonomy and relieves pressure on traditional (and scarce) water sources. Mainly focused on schools, almost a billion litres are captured annually, reducing the energy requirements to pump water up to the high elevations of Mexico City.

Remember, these are just a few examples of the many ways communities are taking action. Whether you’re interested in starting something new or joining existing initiatives, there are many paths to making a difference in reducing building-related emissions.

Consider researching similar initiatives in your area or connecting with local environmental groups to explore opportunities for involvement.

Share your thoughts

Thinking about these changes in the building and household sector, consider your responses to the following questions: 

• Which of these initiatives do you find most inspiring? 
• Could any of these approaches be adapted to work in your community? 
• Do you have any other ideas for reducing emissions from buildings and households in your area? 
• What resources or support would you need to implement similar initiatives?  

Share and discuss your responses with other learners in the Comments section.