Buildings and Energy Use
There is a mutual reinforcement between both resilience and decarbonization. Effective decarbonization strategies can enhance resilience. For example, implementing energy efficiency projects or transitioning to renewable energy sources not only reduces emissions but also decreases reliance on the energy grid, making a facility less vulnerable to things like price fluctuations and supply disruptions.
Strategies and Practices
Getting Started
- Energy audits and facility assessments.
- Replace lighting with LEDs, install motion sensors in low-traffic areas, and utilize daylighting.
- Upgrade and maintain heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and use temperature setbacks when unoccupied.
- Implement building automation systems to control lighting, HVAC, and other energy-consuming devices automatically.
- Regularly maintain and optimize systems to ensure ongoing efficiency improvements.
- Implement retrocommissioning (RCx) projects that evaluate and optimize the performance of existing building systems to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible.
- Install low-flow faucets, toilets and shower heads.
Long Term Strategies
- Pursue Purchase Power Agreements (PPAs): long-term renewable energy contracts.
- Reduce facility energy use through efficiency and design initiatives. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications specify actions for new and existing buildings.
- As equipment is needed, purchase equipment with favorable ENERGY STAR or similar efficiency ratings.
- Use drought-resistant plants to minimize water use and harvest rainwater.
