Building Performance and Decarbonization Planning Guide
Understanding Building Decarbonization
Introduction: Understanding Building Performance & Decarbonization
This section of the guide covers the fundamentals of building decarbonization.
We’ll begin with definitions and outline areas of importance. We’ll also discuss the financial benefits of decarbonization, which will help you evaluate your options when considering different investments. Lastly, we introduce the basics of creating a strategic decarbonization plan, which will be explored further in the subsequent sections of this guide.
Decarbonization Planning Guide
A. What is Decarbonization and Why is it Important?
Building Decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from building energy systems. Read this section to understand the path to decarbonization and the role of energy efficiency.
B. Benefits of Planning for Decarbonization
Planning for decarbonization now will pay off later. Building systems periodically have to be replaced. By planning ahead with your building’s planned maintenance needs in mind, you can line up financing and other aspects in order to make investments in your building at the most cost effective time and that have the least tenant disruption. Also read this section to learn how to calculate the full value of strategic decarbonization investments.
C. What is a Strategic Decarbonization Plan?
Tie energy efficiency and emission reduction goals into a long-term actionable plan which aligns technical and financial considerations. This section introduces the concept of the Strategic Decarbonization Plan, which is the framework for guiding building efficiency, performance, and electrification investments in the most cost-effective way.