The energy requirements of buildings are enormous, resulting in a significant proportion of global CO2 emissions – both in the construction phase and during the building’s use and eventual demolition. In an era of energy transition and extreme weather phenomena, the question “How do we build in a time of climate change?” becomes all the more urgent. This volume presents international best-practice projects characterized by sustainable design and provide forward-looking answers.

A sustainably built wood and concrete supermarket that includes a roof farm; a kindergarten constructed from locally sourced recycled materials; the renovation of an office building so that it can dispense with its air conditioning and ventilation systems: in addition to the choice of materials and innovative operating concepts, the possibilities for reducing emissions and energy requirements lie above all in thinking about the entire life cycle of a building, including refurbishing rather than new construction when possible. This volume brings together real-world examples and offers starting points for how to approach construction today and in the future.