low cost sustainable building materials 
Low-cost sustainable building materials and construction technologies
THE CHALLENGE
The building and construction industry is considered a major contributor to climate change - and a key player in sustainable development - with the potential to significantly impact the environment in both positive and negative terms. According to the International
Energy Agency, buildings account for 30 to 40 percent of energy use worldwide. The construction industry consumes over 3 billion tons of raw materials each year
(40% of total global use)1.a With growing concern over global warming and climate change, global responsibility in the consumption and production of renewable energy becomes not only a vital necessity, but a moral imperative.
© UN-HABITAT/Caylee Hong
METHODOLOGY
THE RESPONSE
Improving building energy efficiency is an important instrument in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and preserving limited natural resources in the short to mid-term, as well as for adapting to the new conditions brought about by climate change.
In recognition of its important role and influence in the development of affordable and green housing policy guidelines for
Ministries of Housing and local authorities,
UN-HABITAT’s Shelter Initiative for Climate
Change Mitigation and Adaptation
(SICCMA) aims to encourage the use of low-cost energy-efficient sustainable building materials and construction technologies and green building and neighborhood design in order to mitigate and adapt to the new conditions of climate change. The initiative is developed within the framework of
UN-HABITAT’S Sustainable Urban
Development Network (SUD-Net), and accordingly with the Kyoto Protocol.
Shelter Initiative for Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation (SICCMA) aims to encourage research into, and use of, energy-efficient and low greenhouse gas emitting building materials, manufacturing processes and construction technologies, and will also encourage collaborating building and neighborhood design to
THE CHALLENGE
The building and construction industry is considered a major contributor to climate change - and a key player in sustainable development - with the potential to significantly impact the environment in both positive and negative terms. According to the International
Energy Agency, buildings account for 30 to 40 percent of energy use worldwide. The construction industry consumes over 3 billion tons of raw materials each year
(40% of total global use)1.a With growing concern over global warming and climate change, global responsibility in the consumption and production of renewable energy becomes not only a vital necessity, but a moral imperative.
© UN-HABITAT/Caylee Hong
METHODOLOGY
THE RESPONSE
Improving building energy efficiency is an important instrument in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and preserving limited natural resources in the short to mid-term, as well as for adapting to the new conditions brought about by climate change.
In recognition of its important role and influence in the development of affordable and green housing policy guidelines for
Ministries of Housing and local authorities,
UN-HABITAT’s Shelter Initiative for Climate
Change Mitigation and Adaptation
(SICCMA) aims to encourage the use of low-cost energy-efficient sustainable building materials and construction technologies and green building and neighborhood design in order to mitigate and adapt to the new conditions of climate change. The initiative is developed within the framework of
UN-HABITAT’S Sustainable Urban
Development Network (SUD-Net), and accordingly with the Kyoto Protocol.
Shelter Initiative for Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation (SICCMA) aims to encourage research into, and use of, energy-efficient and low greenhouse gas emitting building materials, manufacturing processes and construction technologies, and will also encourage collaborating building and neighborhood design to