Why Buildings Matter

Buildings are central to how we live, work, and connect — and they also have an outsized impact on the environment. The materials and energy that go into constructing and operating buildings shape everything from carbon emissions to community health to economic resilience.

Globally, the construction sector contributes nearly 40% of energy-related carbon emissions, and close to a third of that comes from embodied carbon — the greenhouse gases released during the sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials. The materials used to construct buildings account for 40–50% of global raw material use, including half of the world’s steel and vast quantities of concrete, the second most-consumed material on Earth. Each year, this adds up to more than 3 billion tons of raw materials used for construction worldwide. Too many of these materials end up in landfills – in Alameda County, construction and demolition debris comprises at least 20% of the waste stream. But this impact also represents opportunity. Advances in material efficiency, smart design, electrification, and renewable energy can transform the Bay Area’s construction sector into a driver of climate action, economic resilience, and improved housing access.

At StopWaste, we address both sides of the carbon equation - essential to creating buildings that contribute to long-term community and environmental health

Deconstruction and reuse of wood on forklift

Sustainable Materials

Embodied carbon is generated throughout a material’s entire life cycle — from extraction and processing to construction and end of life
Woman next to solar panels on her roof

Saving Energy

Programs to reduce operational carbon through energy efficiency in buildings.

Enabling a Shift Towards a Circular Economy  

We see our role as helping the region shift away from a “take-make-waste” approach toward an economy where materials are used wisely, reused often, and sourced or produced in ways that support community well-being and ecological health.

Our work spans research, policy, technical assistance, grants, and market development to help create buildings that are resilient, resource-efficient, and reflective of regional needs.

  • Research & Analysis: We study emerging materials, technologies, and practices to help transform the built environment. This includes embodied carbon research, biobased materials, and analysis of regional opportunities.
  • Policy Development & Industry Standards: We support local jurisdictions with code updates, ordinances, and coordinated approaches to embodied carbon, electrification, and construction and demolition (C&D) practices. Our long history tracking green building policies helps ensure that local standards remain effective, adaptive, and aligned across the region. Learn more about policies here.
  • Technical Assistance, Grants & Incentives: We provide hands-on support for projects and organizations, helping teams navigate codes, adopt innovative materials, improve energy performance, and access available incentives.
  • Education & Practitioner Support: We work with architects, builders, manufacturers, and local officials to increase awareness and adoption of new practices, from C&D recycling to efficient electric building systems to biobased and reused materials.
  • Market Development & Collaboration: We partner with key stakeholders — from industry innovators to community-based organizations — to grow markets for circular building materials, expand reuse infrastructure, and explore new models for low-carbon, place-based construction.
  • Community Engagement & Workforce Pilots: We collaborate with local communities to ensure that climate solutions reflect local priorities and expand equitable pathways into green jobs and emerging construction sectors.

Transforming Buildings into an Environmental Solution

Buildings have the potential to move from being a major source of emissions to becoming a powerful climate solution. In the Bay Area, we are advancing that shift by:

  • Developing circular building-material markets
  • Expanding reuse and deconstruction infrastructure
  • Growing pathways for biobased materials
  • Supporting equitable energy efficiency and electrification programs
  • Aligning policy, practice, and innovation across jurisdictions
  • Connecting practitioners with the tools, training, and support they need

By working across materials, energy, and community needs, we are helping transform the region’s construction ecosystem into one that supports long-term climate resilience, economic opportunity, and healthier communities.