As we approach the new year, we are excited to share the most popular resources of 2024 on the Better Buildings Solution Center. Dive into the most-viewed partner solutions and toolkits from the past year to learn how to save energy, increase operational efficiency, and more!
Jump to toolkits
Partner Solutions
1. Showcase Project: UW Health: Eastpark Medical Center
UW Health's 469,000-square-foot Eastpark Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin was designed with energy efficiency in mind. UW Health implemented multiple sustainability features, including the state’s largest solar carport, which is estimated to reduce the medical center’s energy use by 44 kBTU per year. Read more.
2. Showcase Project: Lockheed Martin: Transforming a Parking Lot into an Energy-Generating Solar Carport
As part of Lockheed Martin’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions per dollar of gross profit by 70% by 2030, the organization sought to explore onsite renewables integration. Lockheed Martin identified its Sand Lake Road Campus in Orlando, Florida, as an ideal site to convert a parking lot into a renewable energy-generating solar carport. Since its activation in December 2021 through May 2024, the solar carport has avoided $800,000 in energy costs and produced 7.6 million kWh. Read more.
3. Implementation Model: City of Norfolk: Watts Going Down Energy Efficiency Campaign
To increase awareness of City of Norfolk’s participation in the Better Buildings Challenge and to expand sustainability efforts, the City’s Environmental Sustainability Division came up with the Watts Going Down, Norfolk campaign. Within six months of the launch, the campaign engaged nearly 90% of City staff and identified more than 70 Energy Champions across 26 unique departments and divisions. Read more.
4. Implementation Model: Marriott International Implements Data Automation Tools & Artificial Intelligence for Scope 3 Emissions Reporting Enhancements
Marriott International improved its scope 3 emissions reporting by automating data management with AI tools. The automation has decreased the amount of time spent on data and enhanced Marriott's sustainability reporting. The new AI solution streamlines emissions tracking and applies accurate emissions factors, resulting in an estimated 250 work hours saved and a 5-10% reduction in scope 3 emissions. Read more.
5. Showcase Project: Celanese Improves Plant Energy Performance with Boiler Upgrade
Better Plants Challenge partner Celanese reduced annual energy costs by nearly 20% after completing a $160 million boiler replacement project at its plant in Narrows, Virginia. The project replaced coal-fired boilers with natural gas-fired boilers, substantially improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste. Read more.
6. Implementation Model: NYCEEC Green Predevelopment Loan for Energy Efficiency and Electrification
In collaboration with other local organizations, Financial Ally New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation offered St. Francis Friends of the Poor a $90,000 zero-interest loan to renovate three affordable housing buildings. This funding enabled pre-development work necessary to evaluate energy efficiency and electrification measures that reduced energy consumption by 35% annually. Read more.
7. Implementation Model: IHG Hotels & Resorts Green Engage™ Program
IHG Hotels and Resorts created the IHG Green Engage™ system as a comprehensive online sustainability platform. It allows hotels to track, measure, and report on their carbon footprint and utility consumption. With over 200 Green Solutions, including detailed action plans, guidance, and case studies, Green Engage can help hotels avoid up to $67 million in utility costs while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Read more.
8. Implementation Model: Denver's Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
As part of its 80x50 Climate Action Plan, the City and County of Denver set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. To accelerate progress toward its goal, Denver passed an ordinance establishing an energy efficiency program requiring covered building owners to benchmark building energy performance. Read more.
9. Implementation Model: PACE Equity Funding a New Low-Carbon Industrial Warehouse
Financial Ally PACE Equity partnered with a developer working on a new warehouse space to refine project plans to meet CIRRUS™ Low Carbon design specifications, allowing PACE Equity to issue a $4.5 million loan. This financing enabled the developer to implement additional sustainability measures at the property reducing CO₂ by 26,700 MT and annual electricity savings of 564,070 kWh. Read more.
10. Showcase Project: Iron Mountain Data Centers: Geothermal Cooling System
Iron Mountain Data Centers' Boyers, Pennsylvania, site is located 200 feet underground in a former limestone mine with a 35-acre water reservoir. Leveraging the mine's year-round low ambient temperature and the lake for geothermal cooling, the team developed an innovative energy-efficient cooling system, reducing customer energy consumption, increasing reliability, and improving security, resulting in 34% annual energy savings. Read more.
Toolkits
1. Green Revolving Funds Toolkit
This collection of solutions provides guidance on establishing a green revolving fund to overcome a lack of dedicated capital. A green revolving fund is an internal capital pool dedicated to funding energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability projects that generate cost savings. A portion of those savings is then used to replenish the fund, establishing an ongoing funding vehicle to help drive energy efficiency and sustainability investment over time. Read more.
2. Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit
To help building owners and operators reduce carbon emissions, this toolkit offers guidance on how to achieve deep carbon reductions in existing buildings with a primary focus on retrofits and operational strategies. Low carbon technology strategies are available for 10 building types, with a supplement for commercial kitchen equipment. Recommendations are grouped by technology and categorized as either simple, intermediate, or advanced. Read more.
3. Low Carbon Pilot Toolkit
For two years, 65 partners participated in the Better Buildings Low Carbon Pilot. The design, implementation, and completion of the Better Buildings Low Carbon Pilot were instrumental in understanding the pathways being taken to reduce emissions from building and manufacturing operations. This toolkit outlines the Pilot’s key learnings and materials from these partners. Read more.
4. Emissions Reduction Planning Toolkit
This toolkit provides organizations that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with tools and guidance on developing an Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and strategies for implementation and tracking. Organizations can use the toolkit to develop its ERP, aligning with the Framework for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Planning, to create a specific, actionable plan to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions. Read more.
5. Commercial PACE Financing for New Construction Toolkit
Commercial PACE (CPACE) financing helps building owners overcome the upfront costs of implementing energy, water, or resilience projects at their properties. This toolkit provides resources and project case studies for building owners and developers that may want to take advantage of CPACE for new construction. Read more.
6. High-Efficiency Rooftop Unit Replacement Toolkit
This toolkit helps HVAC contractors and service companies work with their customers through a step-by-step process of evaluating and managing their inventory of rooftop units (RTUs) and how to evaluate the business case for high-efficiency replacements. From an incentives database to a comparison calculator, the toolkit provides everything needed to make an informed decision regarding RTU replacements. Read more.
7. Healthcare Water Efficiency and Program Management Toolkit
Water used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities comprises 7% of the total water use in commercial and institutional facilities in the United States, largely due to cooling equipment, plumbing, medical process rinses, and more. This toolkit aggregates resources to provide guidance and strategies tailored to the healthcare sector for efficient water management to maintain healthy facilities. Read more.
8. A Guide to Efficiency-as-a-Service Toolkit
Efficiency-as-a-Service (EaaS) is a pay-for-performance, off-balance sheet financing solution that allows customers to implement energy and water efficiency projects with no upfront capital expenditure. This toolkit provides resources and case studies from Better Buildings partners to help building owners, operators, and occupants take advantage of EaaS for energy and water efficiency projects. Read more.
9. Incorporate Solar PV on Your Healthcare Facilities Toolkit
Solar PV has the potential to provide significant benefits to hospitals and other healthcare facilities by reducing overall costs and improving patient experience. Use the Solar Decision Guide for Healthcare and relevant case studies to learn more about the benefits of solar. Read more.
10. Rooftop Air Conditioning Unit Evaluation Methodology Toolkit
This toolkit contains resources to guide building owners and facility managers through a step-by-step method of evaluating and managing their inventory of RTUs and how to make the business case for replacements, retrofits, and quality maintenance practices. Read more.