Event Description

Decarbonizing our vast commercial and public building stock is a challenge that we must face without delay – and one that the Biden administration and a range of state and local governments are confronting aggressively. But where do we begin and how do we conduct this process smartly, strategically, and cost-effectively? This free online Greenbuild session will provide a series of perspectives to help building decision makers and implementers complete this needed transformation, with a focus on overcoming major, common challenges.

Those challenges include technical questions like what are the best and most efficient technologies to replace fossil fuel-powered HVAC systems and what kinds of infrastructural changes, e.g., electrical system upgrades, will be needed to accommodate these new technologies? They also include financial issues, such as how to incorporate electrification and other decarbonization technologies and techniques into performance contracts and other financing vehicles and how to adjust policies such as life cycle costing guidance to make needed energy efficiency, renewable power purchases and beneficial electrification happen.

The panel will draw on the experiences of two large governmental agencies working to resolve these issues: the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which manages an inventory of over 370 million square feet of workspace and has a long term commitment to sustainability and innovation; and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), one of the premier state energy agencies, which manages New York’s Empire Building Challenge, a partnership with leading commercial real estate owners for the low carbon retrofit of high-rise buildings.

The session will cover policy approaches being pursued by these organizations as well as detailed case studies about major building renovation projects through which the principles of decarbonization and electrification are being put into practice. 


Learning Objectives:

• Explain the business case for electrification of public and commercial buildings.
• Understand how building decision makers should approach addressing the electrification challenge.
• Detail major technical options to replace fossil fuel powered HVAC systems with electric systems.
• Outline ideas and strategies to justify electrification investments, including in the context of performance contracting.