Strategic Decarb 101

Strategic Decarbonization Planning Training Series

About the Series

The Empire Building Challenge (“EBC”) program was launched in 2020 to unlock replicable, scalable approaches to decarbonizing existing high rise commercial office and multifamily buildings in cold climates. Through its partnerships with the real estate and engineering communities, EBC has identified challenges that are preventing decarbonization from taking hold within the notably difficult to decarbonize large buildings sector. To combat these barriers, EBC has developed the strategic decarbonization planning (SDP) framework to deliver projects that achieve more effective decarbonization.

As part of the EBC and the Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings, NYSERDA, Building Energy Exchange, and in collaboration with RMI and Ember Strategies, have developed a three-part training series that will build capacity within the engineering, design, technology, and real estate communities towards the advancement of achievable, cost-effective, low carbon retrofits for large buildings. These courses will cover the essential concepts of the SDP framework through analyzing technical solutions and real estate conditions, constructing compelling and persuasive business case narratives, and creating decarbonization roadmaps for real-world projects.

Course 1

SDP: RED Framework and Technical Solutions (1.5 AIA LU)

This course will focus on Resource Efficient Decarbonization (RED) as a replicable solutions framework for developing carbon neutrality roadmaps for large buildings in cold climates, as demonstrated by EBC cohort retrofit projects. Attendees will learn how to incorporate the RED framework into retrofit planning to develop a comprehensive, cost-effective, long-term, decarbonization roadmap at the conclusion of the training.

Live Deliveries

Sign up now for May 13

Sign up now for May 15

Course 2

SDP: Finance and Asset Planning (1.5 AIA LU)

This course will focus on Strategic Decarbonization Finance and Asset Planning, the process by which technical, economic, and asset management components of the decarbonization roadmap are evaluated to support decision-making. Additionally, Course 2 will detail how to construct compelling and persuasive business case narratives to build support for decarbonization projects. Participants should be able to effectively develop business case narratives in support of building decarbonization projects at the conclusion of the course.

Live Deliveries

Sign up now for May 13

Sign up now for May 15

Source: Building Energy Exchange

Engineering Solutions

Large Building Decarbonization Price Index

This resource is available to aid design teams and building owners in navigating the complexities of rapidly shifting supply chains. It will provide up-to-date information on lead times and pricing for key equipment essential to the design and implementation of low-carbon building and retrofit projects in large commercial buildings. It will be updated semi-annually to reflect changes in the supply chain.

Source: NYSERDA

Tenant Resources

Strategies for Success

To help guide commercial real estate stakeholders through decarbonization efforts, this resource provides strategies to overcome commonly identified barriers to achieving meaningful emissions and energy reductions in leased tenant office spaces, highlighting mutually beneficial collaboration opportunities between owners, tenants, and their design and legal representatives. 

This resource is part of a series of actionable resources developed for the Decarbonizing New York City Offices (opens in new window) project, an initiative dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in leased commercial spaces by facilitating meaningful collaboration between building owners, tenants, brokers, lawyers, designers and others involved in leasing and office utilization decisions. Learn more about the initiative:  www.be-exchange.org/decarbonizing-new-york-city-offices (opens in new window)

Tenant Resources

Decarbonizing NYC Offices: Playbook for Consultants

This playbook provides consultants — such as architects, MEP engineers, and energy specialists — with curated guidance and resources to help prioritize energy efficiency and emissions reduction strategies across various phases of the leasing cycle. Consultants should reference and revisit the information attributed to each step as office spaces within their project portfolio move through various stages of the leasing cycle.

This resource is part of a series of actionable resources developed for the Decarbonizing New York City Offices (opens in new window) project, an initiative dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in leased commercial spaces by facilitating meaningful collaboration between building owners, tenants, brokers, lawyers, designers and others involved in leasing and office utilization decisions. Learn more about the initiative:  www.be-exchange.org/decarbonizing-new-york-city-offices (opens in new window)

Source: Building Energy Exchange

Tenant Resources

Decarbonizing NYC Offices: Playbook for Building Owners & Managers

This playbook provides commercial building owners and managers with curated guidance and resources to prioritize energy efficiency and emissions reduction strategies across various phases of the leasing cycle. Owners should reference and revisit the information attributed to each step as office spaces within their portfolio move through various stages of the leasing cycle.

This resource is part of a series of actionable resources developed for the Decarbonizing New York City Offices (opens in new window) project, an initiative dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in leased commercial spaces by facilitating meaningful collaboration between building owners, tenants, brokers, lawyers, designers and others involved in leasing and office utilization decisions. Learn more about the initiative:  www.be-exchange.org/decarbonizing-new-york-city-offices (opens in new window)

Source: Building Energy Exchange

Tenant Resources

Decarbonizing NYC Offices: Playbook for Tenants

This playbook provides commercial office tenants with curated guidance and resources to help prioritize energy efficiency and emissions reduction strategies across various phases of the leasing cycle. Tenants should reference and revisit the information attributed to each step as office spaces within their portfolio move through various stages of the leasing cycle.

This resource is part of a series of actionable resources developed for the Decarbonizing New York City Offices (opens in new window) project, an initiative dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in leased commercial spaces by facilitating meaningful collaboration between building owners, tenants, brokers, lawyers, designers and others involved in leasing and office utilization decisions. Learn more about the initiative:  www.be-exchange.org/decarbonizing-new-york-city-offices (opens in new window)

Source: Building Energy Exchange

Strategic Decarb 101

Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings Launch Event

On June 11, 2024, NYSERDA, BE-Ex, RMI, and Urban Land Institute hosted the launch of the Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings, showcasing replicable approaches for low-carbon retrofits from cohorts of the Empire Building Challenge. Additionally, NYSERDA announced its newest cohort of the Empire Building Challenge (EBC), featuring a number of leading affordable and low-to-medium income housing projects.

Opening Remarks

Michael Reed, Acting Head of Large Buildings, NYSERDA
Joe Chavez, Deputy Director, Resilient & Efficient Buildings, NYC MOCEJ

Presenters

Brett Bridgeland, Principal, Carbon Free Buildings, RMI
EBC Cohort 3 Winners

Moderators

Jennifer Leone, Chief Sustainability Officer, NYC HPD
Joe Chavez, Deputy Director, Resilient & Efficient Buildings, NYC MOCEJ
Samantha Pearce, Vice President of Sustainability, NYS HCR

Read more about the event takeaways in the program brief.

Strategic Decarb 101

The Role of Design Charrettes in Building Decarbonization Planning

As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the built environment has become a critical focus area to deliver progress. Buildings are significant contributors to global carbon emissions, and transitioning to more sustainable, low-carbon operations is essential for meeting climate goals. Planning for that transition now, through a thoughtful and rational approach, is key to achieving success over time.  

Design charrettes are an important tool project teams can use to support their decarbonization planning work. These collaborative design review workshops bring together diverse stakeholders to develop and refine strategies for reducing carbon emissions from buildings over time.  

What is a Design Charrette?

A design charrette is an intensive, multi-disciplinary workshop aimed at finding and refining solutions to complex problems. The term originated in 19th century Paris and refers to the practice of design students working intensely on their projects until the last minute, when a cart or “charrette” would be wheeled around to collect their final designs. The term has evolved to describe collaborative sessions that bring together developers, designers, domain experts, community members, and an array of other stakeholders to reach mutually beneficial outcomes. In the context of building decarbonization, design charrettes facilitate the rapid development of actionable (and at times substantially more innovative) strategies to reduce emissions from buildings, with alignment among multiple interested parties.  

Why Use Design Charrettes to Achieve Resource Efficient Decarbonization?

  1. Collaborative Problem-Solving: Building decarbonization requires input from a wide range of experts, including architects, engineers, asset managers, environmental scientists, and community leaders. A design charrette brings these diverse voices together in a collaborative setting, ensuring that all perspectives are considered. 
  2. Intensive Focus: The concentrated nature of a charrette allows participants to delve deeply into the problem at hand. Over several hours (or days), stakeholders can explore various scenarios, analyze data, and develop detailed plans that might otherwise take months to create using traditional methods. 
  3. Iterative Process: Charrettes are designed to be iterative, with multiple rounds of feedback and refinement as needed. This approach ensures that the final outcomes are well-vetted and robust, with broad support from all stakeholders. 
  4. Creative Solutions: The collaborative and open nature of charrettes fosters creativity and challenges deeply held assumptions about how to approach a problem by the charrette participants.  Participants are encouraged to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions that might not emerge in a more conventional planning process. 
  5.  Achieving Resource Efficient Decarbonization (RED): Charrettes enable stakeholders to develop highly strategic plans to transition a building away from on-site fossil fuel over time in a way that does not diminish high-performance operations, contains operating and capital expenses, and maintains a complex urban systems perspective including considerations relating to infrastructure and natural resources.

The Design Charrette Process

Charrettes are conducted just after a decarbonization concept plan is created and initial decarbonization measures are framed. A successful charrette requires being prepared to discuss the existing conditions of the building in detail, various decarbonization measures and approaches considered, and an understanding of the social and market conditions influencing the building owner’s decision making. The charrette process includes: 

  1. Preparation: Successful charrettes require careful preparation. This includes identifying key stakeholders and inviting them to join, gathering relevant data, and setting clear objectives for the workshop.  
  2. Workshop Session: During the charrette, the project team presents their building existing conditions and decarbonization approaches and engage in brainstorming, design review, and business discussions with a team of technical experts and industry leaders.
  3. Iteration and Feedback: Ideas generated during the sessions can be reviewed and refined through multiple rounds of feedback and additional charrettes as needed. This iterative process helps to improve and perfect the proposed solutions. 
  4. Implementation and Follow-Up: The final step is to translate the charrette outcomes into a formal strategic decarbonization plan and business case that leads to real-world actions. This may involve further planning, securing funding, and ongoing community engagement. 

Design charrettes are a powerful tool for addressing complex decarbonization challenges, especially in the planning and early implementation phase. With collaboration, creativity, and iteration, charrettes enable the development of effective and sustainable strategies to reduce carbon emissions from buildings.

Want to review your decarbonization plan with our team of experts?

Request a design charrette.

Strategic Decarb 101

Empire Building Challenge Overview

Through the Empire Building Challenge (EBC), NYSERDA is supporting forward-thinking leaders in the real estate and engineering industries, in the quest to find workable and scalable, cost-effective approaches to retrofit tall, complex, and hard-to-decarbonize buildings in New York. Partners and projects funded through the flagship $50 million demonstration program are working to reach a zero-emissions future. The groundbreaking work of these leaders is presented in this Playbook, which showcases a novel, compelling framework that can unlock opportunities for decarbonizing most buildings in a cost-effective manner, over time. We call the framework Resource Efficient Decarbonization.  

To date, NYSERDA has partnered with 27 commercial and multifamily real estate owners who have committed to eliminate carbon emissions from some of New York State’s tallest and most iconic buildings. These partners have pledged to decarbonize over 128 million square feet of space, and more than 3,500 units of affordable housing. The scale of these partner commitments and the early success of EBC demonstration projects sends a clear signal that New York’s real estate industry is ready to accelerate investment in the buildings of the future.  

Beyond these commitments, EBC partners collectively control and manage over 400 million square feet of real estate in New York.  This amounts to over 20% of commercial office space in New York City, and more than 200,000 housing units throughout the State, representing a potential for impact much greater than the sum of its parts.  The lessons learned during the planning, design, and implementation of EBC projects pave the way for the most viable solutions to gain traction and scale throughout the State, reinforcing progress toward the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050. 

Discover the Empire Building Challenge

Visit NYSERDA EBC Site(opens in new window) Explore Pitch Deck(opens in new window)
View Launch Webinar(opens in new window)

Read About Real-World Impact

Understand the real-world implications and successes of the Empire Building Challenge through this in-depth article, “How to get New York City’s biggest buildings to zero carbon,” by Canary Media. This piece highlights the practical steps and measures being taken to reduce carbon footprints across New York’s architectural landscape, showcasing the challenge as a beacon for carbon-neutral aspirations worldwide.

Source: NYSERDA, Building Energy Exchange, Canary Media