Industry pressures abound to decarbonize existing buildings, and some geographies and asset classes make it more challenging than others. This is particularly the case for tall buildings in cold climates keen on decarbonizing their heating system as part of a larger retrofit plan. What technologies are best for the retrofit? How do owners make the projects pencil out financially? Has anyone done these projects before, or do owners face first-mover risks?
The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority has been working to overcome these challenges through its innovative program, the Empire Building Challenge (EBC), a partnership between NYSERDA and leading commercial real estate owners. Through this program, NYSERDA will invest $50 million to elevate new design approaches for low-carbon retrofits in New York’s high-rise buildings.
Now, NYSERDA is keen to share the innovative best-in-class engineering and design solutions beyond the EBC participants to the broader buildings community. Through the launch of its new Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings, NYSERDA is bringing to market is a knowledge-sharing platform dedicated to supporting building owners, operators, and their design and engineering teams in creating cost-effective, long-term decarbonization strategies for large buildings.
“Investing in new clean, resilient technologies is just one way that New York is advancing progress toward our ambitious Climate Act goals, and the Empire Building Challenge is one of the most successful programs in decarbonizing high-rise buildings,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This program continues to demonstrate how collaborative partnerships can develop solutions that lower harmful emissions from buildings, creating healthier spaces for all New Yorkers to live and work, and I look forward to what this new round will bring.”
ULI is a partner on this effort, alongside RMI and BE-Ex, bringing the real estate perspective to the broader effort so that it is approachable and actionable to encourage actual implementation of retrofit solutions. “Retrofitting large assets is hard. Add in the complexities of electrification and a cold climate, and it’s even harder,” says Marta Schantz, co-executive director of the ULI Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate. “ULI is thrilled to work with NYSERDA in educating the market on strategic decarbonization with its new Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings resource.”
The theory behind the Playbook aligns directly with ULI’s net zero mission priority, and includes guidance for solutions that address energy efficiency, electrification, renewables, grid interactivity, and tenant solutions – all in a strategic phased manner in line with an asset’s capital planning and equipment life cycles. Key Features of the Playbook include:
- Strategic Planning Guide: Developed from proven strategies in New York City’s landmark buildings for phased decarbonization over time
- Case Studies: Offers transparent cost analyses and economic benefits of retrofit strategies over time, with real numbers on cost and value
- Community Engagement: Provides a platform for industry leaders to share successes and insights, enhancing project visibility and fostering collaboration.
The Playbook is a valuable resource for building owners keen to decarbonize and electrify heating of tall buildings in cold climates, particularly those aiming to comply with New York’s LL97 and capitalize on new tax incentives. It aligns with major real estate firms’ climate commitments with plans for how to modernize assets. NYSERDA encourages the real estate industry to utilize this resource, share these resources across networks, and contribute success stories.
“We’re excited to demonstrate continued commitment to achieving net zero carbon by partnering with leading industry professionals and NYSERDA to identify scalable, effective solutions to drive meaning reductions in carbon emissions in our properties. We see immense opportunity in collaborating in these types of initiatives to support successful transition to a net zero economy.” Michael Daschle, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Brookfield Properties.
Significant findings from the Playbook include:
- Focus on heat: reducing, recycling and storing heat is a primary way to drive down a building’s greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a strong return on investment.
- Small steps create a large impact: incremental investments achieve significant carbon reduction over time.
- Traditional energy audits are not enough: decarbonization requires a rigorous systems analysis of whole-building heating and cooling, ventilation, domestic hot water, and envelope.
- Tenants are key: building owners will accelerate investments in climate-friendly office spaces if tenants demonstrate demand.
