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 | Jul 29, 2019
ASCE group unveils structural safety database
Confidential reporting on structural failures, near misses, and other incidents.
Codes and Standards | Jul 26, 2019
Floating landscape infrastructure wins top ASCE innovation prize
Climate resiliency a key theme of entrants.
Codes and Standards | Jul 24, 2019
New York making slow progress on resiliency seven years after Hurricane Sandy
Property owners face many challenges; coastal defense project plans are complex and need more time to plan.
Codes and Standards | Jul 23, 2019
Berkeley, Calif. passes nation’s first ordinance to make new buildings all-electric
No gas hook-ups will be allowed in new houses, apartments, and commercial buildings.
Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2019
San Francisco office building is city’s first structure certified by BREEAM USA for existing buildings
The Landmark @ One Market is one of San Francisco’s most architecturally distinctive buildings.
Codes and Standards | Jul 16, 2019
ASCE seeks comments on update to Calculation Methods for Structural Fire Protection standard
Pertains to fire resistance rating times.
Codes and Standards | Jul 15, 2019
USGBC calls for proposals for feedback, concepts for next LEED version
The move follows successful public input on LEED 4.1.
AEC Tech | Jul 15, 2019
Lack of standards hampers development of exoskeleton industry
Guidelines, common terminology, and testing methodology are needed, says expert.
Concrete | Jul 8, 2019
Concrete repair code requirements released
American Concrete Institute offers guidance on assessment, repair, rehab of existing concrete structures.
K-12 Schools | Jul 8, 2019
Collaborative for High Performance Schools releases 2019 Core Criteria Version 3.0 Update
The update adds credits to lower carbon footprints and to promote climate change resiliency.
