flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Property owners need systematic approach to GHG emissions reduction

Codes and Standards

Property owners need systematic approach to GHG emissions reduction

Energy hog buildings at risk for becoming stranded assets.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | December 16, 2021
CO2

Courtesy Pixabay

Commercial property owners should commit to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction—a strategy that reaps financial benefits and prevents buildings from becoming stranded assets, according to an energy efficiency consultant writing in GlobeSt.

A systematic drive to reduce emissions across the portfolio will garner savings on energy and water, as well as on levies for exceeding carbon emissions standards enacted by local governments. Decarbonization can avoid “stranded assets … properties that will be exposed to the risk of early economic obsolescence due to climate change because they will not meet future regulatory efficiency standards or market expectations.”

The first step is to set minimum standards for the entire portfolio and efficiency goals for individual properties. Portfolio standards could be performance based (e.g., 10% reduction of all assets by 2030), or prescriptive based (e.g., 100% LED lighting at all assets by 2025).

An energy and water audit, a comprehensive analysis of the property’s energy and water consumption using the ASHRAE Energy Audit Standards, should be conducted at each site. The audit measures energy and water usage, identifies property conditions that may cause excessive use, and provides efficiency measures to improve energy and water efficiency.

Other GHG reduction measures include building automation and controls, retro-commissioning, sourcing green energy from utilities, fully electrifying buildings, and integrating renewable energy systems into the property.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | May 7, 2018

Plan advances in Los Angeles for Climate Emergency Mobilization Department

Would oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the city.

Codes and Standards | May 3, 2018

Data collection, machine learning boost building efficiency

Sensors, software algorithms squeeze out waste.

Codes and Standards | May 1, 2018

ASHRAE publishes new energy simulation-aided design standard

Requires building energy modeling during schematic design.

Codes and Standards | Apr 30, 2018

CALGreen projects pre-approved for streamlined LEED v4 requirements

Reduces need to run additional energy models.

Codes and Standards | Apr 26, 2018

New standard supports community resilience

ASTM International guidance supports cost-effective ways to withstand and recover from disasters.

Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2018

Lessons learned from decades of Superfund cleanups guide contaminated land reuse

Sites repurposed for residential, commercial use, and solar energy generation.

Codes and Standards | Apr 24, 2018

Vibrant downtown core the key for urban multifamily development

Nighttime activity makes the difference.

Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2018

ILFI launches new Zero Carbon Certification

Offers greater flexibility around project fuel types and offsetting renewables.

Codes and Standards | Apr 18, 2018

New Green Globe pilot program launched

Precursor to revised Green Globes Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021