A New Estimate of Building Floor Space in North America

Floor space is a key variable used to understand the energy and material demands of buildings. Using recent data sets building footprints, we employ random forest regression model estimate total floor (conditioned unconditioned) North American stock. Our for in 2016 88033 (+15907/–21861) million m2, which 2.9 times higher than current estimates from national statistics offices. We also show how per capita (m2 cap–1) not constant across region, highlighting heterogeneous nature stocks. As critical integrated assessment models project demands, this result suggests that there much more unconditioned previously realized. Furthermore, when estimating stocks, flows, associated embodied carbon emissions, per-capita estimates, such as those presented study, offer comprehensive approach comparison do capture space. This calls an investigation why vast difference between conditioned