The Building Button, a new tool launched by the Investor Confidence Project (ICP), standardizes the collection of data from energy efficiency projects, and “makes it easy to share that information with investors, building owners, developers, and utilities,” according to a news release.
Based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Energy Data Exchange Specification, the tool integrates best practices and specifications developed by ICP and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), including the Building Energy Data Exchange Specification (BEDES). Expressing energy efficiency data in a common language, the Building Button allows all parties to compare specifications across multiple projects with one click. This ability helps to reduce underwriting and actuarial analysis costs, builds trust in energy savings, and drives market demand for energy efficiency projects.
“One of the major barriers to wide-scale adoption of energy efficiency is the hassle factor,” said Matt Golden, ICP director. “Every investment is unique, with data lodged in incompatible spreadsheets, documents, and other digital files. The lack of uniform data standards means that transaction costs are prohibitively high. The Building Button helps solve that by establishing guidelines for all project data, streamlining the process of project development and investment.”
In 2017, ICP will join Green Building Certification Inc. (GBCI) to create the first global underwriting standard for energy efficiency projects.
Related Stories
| Jun 11, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Regenerative design — When sustainability is not enough
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), HMC’s Eric Carbonnier poses the question: What if buildings could actually rejuvenate ecosystems?
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: T3 mass timber office buildings
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), architect and mass timber design expert Steve Cavanaugh tells the story behind the nation’s newest—and largest—mass timber building: T3 in Minneapolis.
Green | May 25, 2018
The healing power of green spaces
The healthcare community is looking at adopting integrated care systems in which outdoor healing and therapeutic gardens are an essential complement to the indoor treatments.
BD+C University Course | May 24, 2018
Building passively [AIA course]
17 tips from our experts on the best way to carry out passive house design and construction for your next multifamily project. This AIA CES course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
Green | Apr 13, 2018
evolv1 earns Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building-Design certification
The multi-tenant commercial office building is currently under construction.
Sustainability | Apr 11, 2018
Hampshire College is home to the largest Living Certified higher education project in the world
The project joins 16 other Living Buildings certified to date.
Green | Mar 27, 2018
The world’s biggest tropical greenhouse under one roof will be built in France
Coldefy & Associates Architects Urban Planners will design the project.
Sustainability | Mar 21, 2018
LEED v4.1 — a game changer or business as usual?
The largest number of changes in v4.1 affect materials.
