New Buildings Institute (NBI) has released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code. NBI bills the document as āa new way for jurisdictions to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate action plan goals and interconnected goals around public health and equity.ā
New construction represents less than 2% of building activity in any given year, NBI says, āleaving a vast opportunity to update technologies in the current building stock. By requiring existing buildings to be more energy efficient, cities could cut about 30% of all urban emissions by 2050.ā
NBIās released the Building Decarbonization Codeāthe first off-the-shelf solution for jurisdictions to transform energy codes into decarbonization codes for new buildingsāin February 2020. Expanding on that platform, the Existing Building Decarbonization Code adds provisions for existing buildings covering both residential and commercial buildings, including all-electric and mix-fuel energy use pathways.
The new code provisions have been crafted to match reasonable and effective decarbonization strategies with replacement events. The code outlines strategies to pair key opportunities to decarbonizeāincluding change of occupancy, additions, and alterationsāwith additional efficiency measures.
The Existing Building Decarbonization Code also incorporates trigger events and solutions for the inclusion of grid integration measures including renewable energy production, electric vehicles, and battery storage.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 11, 2017
Top 60 construction management firms
Jacobs, Kraus-Anderson, and Hill International are among the nationās largest construction management and project management firms, as reported in Building Design+Constructionās 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 11, 2017
Top 115 contractor firms
Turner, Whiting-Turner, and AECOM top Building Design+Constructionās rankingĀ of the nationās largest commercial construction firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 9, 2017
Related Companies unveils plans for One Hudson Yards luxury rental residences
The 33-story tower will be positioned on the High Line with views of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 9, 2017
Multifamily developers, designers cater to occupantsā need for mobility
Bike storage facilities and ābicycle kitchensā are among the most popular mobility amenities in multifamily developments, according to a new survey by Multifamily Design + Construction magazine.
Giants 400 | Aug 9, 2017
Innovation at 72 design firms
The following is a list of advancements architecture and A/E firms underwent in 2016, as reported inĀ Building Design+Construction's 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Contractors | Aug 7, 2017
A Wisconsin contractor takes a personal approach to getting employees to achieve their full potential
Miron Constructionās āDream Projectā helps remove obstacles to self actualization.
Contractors | Aug 4, 2017
4 ways to prepare for a negotiation
Practice, practice, practice, and understanding both sides of the deliberation are critical to success in any negotiation.
Laboratories | Aug 3, 2017
Todayās university lab building by the numbers
A three-month study of science facilities conducted by Shepley Bulfinch reveals key findings related to space allocation, size, and cost.Ā
Lighting | Aug 2, 2017
Dynamic white lighting mimics daylighting
By varying an LED luminaireās color temperature, it is possible to mimic daylighting, to some extent, and the natural circadian rhythms that accompany it, writes DLR Groupās Sean Avery.Ā
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 2, 2017
8 healthcare design lessons from shadowing a nurse
From the surprising number of āhunting and gatheringā trips to the need for quiet spaces for phone calls, interior designer Carolyn Fleetwood Blake shares her takeaways from a day shadowing a nurse.
