Decarbonization Planning Guide

This Guide is for Owners, Operators, and Managers of Large Buildings in California

This guide will help you as a building owner/operator/manager make decisions about how to improve the operations and energy efficiency of your building through strategic investments. Whether you manage a single property or a large portfolio, this roadmap supports your efforts to reduce carbon emissions, enhance operational efficiency, and make strategic investments that strengthen your building’s long-term value. This guide breaks down the decarbonization process into clear, actionable steps that detail what is involved, why it is important, how to do it, and where to find help and resources.

Introduction: Understanding Building Performance & Decarbonization

Start by understanding the fundamentals of building decarbonization and how California’s policies and GHG emissions reduction targets may affect your building. Understanding this background will help you understand the need for longterm planning when considering different building performance options.

Step 1: Get to Know Your Building

The first step in decarbonization is to understand and document your building in the context of reducing operational energy and GHG emissions combined with long-term planning needs.

Step 2: Develop Your Decarbonization Plan

Nobody knows your building better than you. This section discusses key components of decarbonization and how they contribute to a holistic plan that can be tailored to your building.

Step 3: Implement Your Decarbonization Plan

Finally, implement your plan and monitor your progress. This section includes best practices for turning your plan into action by creating and reviewing an RFP, selecting team members, and incorporating measurement and verification.