Online seminar: Low energy and material demand futures for buildings: challenges and opportunities

We will welcome Dr. Alessio Mastrucci from the Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Program at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria to explore the potential for decarbonization and improved well-being through reducing energy and material use in buildings.

Buildings are crucial in supporting human activities and well-being while being responsible for major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to energy and material consumption. Enhancing the provision of buildings-related services while reducing energy and environmental impacts is imperative to achieve climate and sustainable development targets. After discussing the key challenges and opportunities to achieve low energy and material demands in buildings, this presentation will focus on recent scenarios work carried out at IIASA to explore the potential of ambitious demand-side strategies to decarbonize the building sector while providing improved wellbeing around the world.

The event will be moderated by Prof. Masahiro Sugiyama at the Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo.

[About Dr. Alessio Mastrucci]
Alessio Mastrucci is a senior research scholar associated with the Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Program at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria. His research focuses on energy and material demand modeling for the building sector at regional and global scale, climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios, and linkages between energy and human development. He is co-lead of the Buildings working group of the EDITS project and is involved in several international projects. Mastrucci holds a PhD in Buildings, Architecture, and Structures and a master’s degree in Building Engineering and Architecture from Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy.

[About the Project and the Seminar Series]
The JST Social Scenario Research Project aims to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society in Japan, emphasizing sustainable development through science and technology. This initiative envisions a desirable future society and explores the pathways, options, and strategies to achieve it. Since April 2023, the project has expanded to integrate knowledge from a broad range of researchers, including those from the humanities and social sciences, fostering further development and societal contribution. A key aspect of the project is the “Social Scenario for Accelerating Carbon Neutral Transition,” focusing on both quantitative and qualitative analyses of carbon-neutral technologies, and developing strategies for societal implementation and system design.

The seminar series with scenario experts is part of this effort, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and strategies to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral society.

Email: cn-scenario-group★g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp (★→@)

**For inquiries about this event, please do not reply to this email. Instead, send your questions to the address provided above.