ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the expansion and application of emissions trading on the building sector as a means to incentivise energy efficiency, conservation and renewable measures. It begins by providing an overview of emissions trading programmes followed by specific examples of key programmes that have addressed building practices. A number of emissions trading programmes include provisions that reward green building practices that reduce energy consumption by either assigning allowances from a set-aside pool or granting offsets for such activity. In the absence of a federal mandate, there are a growing number of state, local and regional climate change initiatives in the USA that help to create a market for greenhouse gas reductions. The chapter illustrates some of the features common to trading programmes, followed by a discussion of how these key elements are applied in buildings. It discusses some of the obstacles that have arisen in the application of emissions trading regimes to the building sector.
