Probably the most precious guides to constructing decarbonization in 2024

The final yr has seen unprecedented authorities funds, personal sector engagement and public consciousness across the sustainable constructing motion. On Dec. 5, at COP28 in Dubai, 28 international locations representing a 3rd of the worldwide inhabitants launched a brand new initiative known as the Buildings Breakthrough that “goals to strengthen worldwide collaboration to decarbonize the constructing sector and make clear applied sciences and sustainable options essentially the most reasonably priced, accessible and engaging choice in all areas by 2030.”

Bold packages similar to this present the chance to transform all of our progress so far right into a constructing industry-wide coordinated effort on decarbonization. Sharing assets, finest practices and classes discovered will enable us to align and speed up our shared aspirations for sustainable outcomes within the new yr. 

To that finish I’ve compiled among the finest guides on constructing decarbonization. This checklist was crowdsourced on LinkedIn along with my very own analysis. This assortment shouldn’t be a best-of; it’s a concise checklist of what I discovered to be essentially the most precious. Finally every firm’s sustainable constructing journey is exclusive and these guides are supposed as a primer that will help you get began. 

A 101 information for business constructing house owners and managers

CBRE’s Decarbonizing Business Actual Property

CBRE hits a stability between being concise and complete on this information. It’s like an eloquent marketing consultant supplying you with a free crash course on holistic constructing decarbonization. It’s targeted on “making your carbon-reduction technique a actuality,” with sensible recommendation on helpful steps, the place to begin and studying extra. My solely warning is that I wouldn’t take the framing round phases to suggest a inflexible sequence; we have to tackle as many phases concurrently as doable. 

A 201 roadmap for sustainable constructing coverage makers

Constructing Decarbonization Roadmap: Produced for the US Local weather Alliance

Insurance policies are sticky; as soon as they’re in place they have an inclination to remain in place. However the insurance policies wanted to realize sustainable constructing outcomes shift regularly, and new coverage instruments are being carried out to drive the adjustments wanted at present. A terrific instance is constructing efficiency requirements, similar to NYC’s Native Legislation 97, that are quickly being adopted throughout the U.S. This report does a terrific job of masking all of the related laws at play within the sustainable constructing area. Whereas it’s supposed for a coverage viewers, that is additionally a precious skim for a company viewers. 

A 301 information for constructing professionals  

The Constructing Decarbonization Follow Information 

Launched by the William J. Worthen Basis in August, this information already has nearly 5,000 downloads. Divided into seven volumes for particular constructing sorts and decarbonization points, it’s one of the vital complete and in-depth guides I’ve seen in my 15-year profession as a sustainable constructing marketing consultant. Collectively funded by huge gamers together with Google and Microsoft, it’s more likely to be the go-to useful resource for constructing professionals engaged on sustainability in 2024. 

Don’t reinvent your personal constructing decarbonization wheel

To complement the three assets above, beneath is an extended checklist of further guides, toolkits, roadmaps and reviews on this subject. Many are particular to a constructing typology, or area which makes them much more precious to these working in that area. 

The ULI Blueprint for Inexperienced Actual Property: The City Land Institute’s Greenprint Heart for Constructing Efficiency features a who’s who of the worldwide actual property {industry} engaged on enhancing the environmental efficiency of buildings. This information compiles the invaluable knowledge of their membership, employees and {industry} consultants. 

Framework for Greenhouse Fuel Emissions Discount Planning: Constructing Portfolios: Created by the US Division of Vitality (DOE) Higher Local weather Problem Workforce, this can be a nice information on portfolio degree decarbonization. 

Decarbonization Roadmap Information For Faculty Constructing Resolution Makers: This roadmap for varsity decarbonization provides templates, assets, visualization and easy-to-follow steps. Created by the New Constructing Institute (NBI), which provides a wealthy bigger suite of fantastic content material. 

Information: Greatest Practices for Reaching Zero Over Time for Constructing Portfolios: This information is a selected strategy to current constructing decarbonization that “units business constructing portfolios on a financially viable path to realize internet zero power.” Created by RMI, it’s considered one of a full assortment of RMI’s wonderful assets.

Decarbonization Roadmap for Multifamily Reasonably priced Housing: It is a finest practices guide on decarbonizing New York Metropolis’s multifamily reasonably priced housing inventory. Created by the Constructing Vitality Alternate, that is what a neighborhood information on a selected kind of constructing ought to appear to be. 

Challenges and Alternatives for Residence Decarbonization: This report focuses on the distinctive problem of decarbonizing housing. Created by Berkeley Labs, it unlocks the housing {industry}’s must speed up decarbonization. 

AIA-CLF Embodied Carbon Toolkit for Architects: Tackling the carbon emitted in the course of the manufacturing of constructing supplies is central to constructing {industry} conversations proper now. This toolkit by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is particularly for architects engaged on this problem. Try the Carbon Management Discussion board’s (CLF) web site for a complete lot extra on this topic.