The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Green Lab initiative have released the report “Industry Research and Recommendations for Small Buildings and Small Portfolios,” analyzing untapped opportunities in energy savings. Reported barriers to energy conservation for owners and operators of small buildings (<50,000 sf) and portfolios (a small number of small buildings) include limited capital, higher transaction costs relative to energy cost savings, lack of time to research and implement solutions, split incentive obstacles between owners and tenants, and lack of available sector-specific resources and technologies.
In addition, service providers, utilities, and financial institutions often cater to larger players because ROI is typically faster and larger with big projects. NREL points out that the “small” sector is still important because more than 90% of U.S. commercial buildings fall into this category, accounting for 51% of total floor space and consuming more than 40% of the energy used in U.S. commercial buildings. The authors offer the Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office a potential course of action for engaging owners and operators, removing barriers, and establishing and achieving sector-specific energy goals.
Related Stories
AEC Tech | Dec 17, 2020
The Weekly show: The future of eSports facilities, meet the National Institute for AI in Construction
The December 17 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
Multifamily Housing | Dec 16, 2020
What the Biden Administration means for multifamily construction
What can the multifamily real estate sector expect from Biden and Company? At the risk of having egg, if not a whole omelet, on my face, let me take a shot.
Giants 400 | Dec 16, 2020
Download a PDF of all 2020 Giants 400 Rankings
This 70-page PDF features AEC firm rankings across 51 building sectors, disciplines, and specialty services.
Building Owners | Dec 16, 2020
What developers and property owners really want from AEC firms
Calling all real estate developers, building owners, and facilities directors, BD+C editors would like your expertise and input for our "What Owners Want" editorial research project.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 10, 2020
The Weekly show: The future of medical office buildings, and virtual internship programs
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors spoke with leaders from SMRT Architects and Engineers and Stantec about the future of medical office buildings, and virtual internship programs
Multifamily Housing | Dec 4, 2020
The Weekly show: Designing multifamily housing for COVID-19, and trends in historic preservation and adaptive reuse
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors spoke with leaders from Page & Turnbull and Grimm + Parker Architects about designing multifamily housing for COVID-19, and trends in historic preservation and adaptive reuse
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Science & Technology Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the S+T sector
HDR, Jacobs, and Turner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Laboratory Facilities Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. laboratory facilities sector
Affiliated Engineers, HDR, and Skanska top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest laboratory facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Industrial Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. industrial buildings sector
Clayco, Jacobs, and Ware Malcomb top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest industrial buildings sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Convention Center Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. convention center sector
AECOM, Gensler, and Jacobs head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest convention center sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.