Factors Affecting Carbon Emissions in the Construction Industry based on STIRPAT Model: Taking Henan Province of China as an Example

The construction industry of China is characterized by its huge consumption and carbon emissions, thereby making this industry one of the most important areas that require energy conservation efforts. Identifying those factors that affect carbon emissions in the construction industry carries great significance in reducing building carbon emissions, promoting low-carbon cities, and achieving China’s emission reduction goals. This paper firstly reviews the literature on those factors that affect the carbon emissions in the construction industries of developed countries. Second, by using Henan Province as an example, those factors that influence carbon emissions are measured by using the classical STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology) model. Third, some measures for reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry are developed. Those factors that influence the carbon emissions of buildings are multi-dimensional and diversified. Resident population, urbanization rate, building carbon emission intensity, per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and per capita added value of the tertiary industry all have significant effects on the carbon emissions of buildings in Henan Province. Some policy suggestions can be derived from the findings of this work, such as encouraging building energy conservation, improving the energy efficiency of the construction industry, adjusting the use of building materials, and improving the extant policies for building emission reduction. The results also provide a theoretical basis for identifying those factors that affect the carbon emissions in the construction industry and for formulating and implementing strategies for the low-carbon development of this industry.