Quantifying embodied energy consumption and air pollutant emissions in China's real estate development in 2000–2020

The real estate industry, an end user and pivotal economic driver worldwide, significantly affects material and energy consumption, and indirectly determines air pollutant emissions. Assessing these variables from the angle of end users is essential to provide a national evaluation strategy for energy consumption and air pollutant emissions, particularly for future policies. As the first step, this study aims to develop a framework to estimate the consumption of building materials and energy, and the resultant embodied pollutant emissions from real estate development in China between 2000 and 2020. Data derived from the framework indicate a rise in building material consumption from 111.8 Mt. in 2000 to 325.1 Mt. in 2020, despite a post-2014 decline due to reduced construction activities. The real estate sector is integral to the demand for key materials, such as steel, cement, and glass, although their relative consumption has decreased within the sector. In detail, energy use in real estate development increased from 57.1 Mtce in 2000 to 134.7 Mtce by 2020, representing 3–5% of China's total energy consumption. A substantial decrease in major pollutant emissions from the real estate occurred from 2010 to 2020 in China, which is attributed to improved control measures and technologies. In addition, a focused regional analysis indicated a developmental shift towards the central and western provinces, emphasizing the need for tailored emission-reduction strategies therein. These findings underscore the substantial role of China's real estate development in material, energy consumption, and pollutant emissions. The insights provided by this study are vital for formulating strategic plans and foundational data to support China's continuous efforts to improve air quality.