Planning and Selecting GHG Reduction Projects

Organizations that own and operate buildings are increasingly setting aggressive targets to reduce their emissions. These targets are driven by a variety of factors that are creating an environment of carbon risk. Some of these factors include increasing carbon taxes, carbon pollution limits, corporate social responsibility, and tenant demands. At the same time, extreme heat and wildfire events are challenging us to create more climate resilient buildings. To meet these aggressive targets, many organizations are undergoing a priority shift from energy efficiency measures to decarbonization projects. This means undertaking projects with more stakeholders, higher costs, and more complex technical and operational considerations. These factors can make planning for a low carbon transition and selecting decarbonization projects a complicated endeavour. Where do you start? What projects or buildings do you prioritize? How do you determine the best path to decarbonize your portfolio? This course walks you through how to select the best path to decarbonize your portfolio. We use case studies to illustrate some important decarbonization project considerations and success factors.

This two-day course is designed to provide participants with a guide to decarbonize their facilities. Day 1 is focused on decarbonization planning and portfolio level prioritization. We review triggers for decarbonization upgrades, benchmarking tools, and energy studies. Participants create a plan for decarbonizing an example portfolio. Day 2 is focused on prioritizing individual projects within buildings, interactive building effects, and the implementation and M&V considerations as well as how to develop a low carbon roadmap for an individual facility. The course content is presented using a number of case studies across the commercial, institutional, multi-unit residential, and light industrial sectors.

This course provides participants with the tools and expertise needed to determine the best path to decarbonization aligned with multiple organizational objectives including emission reduction targets, capital planning cycles, operator capacity and expertise, and climate adaptation. Participants learn best practices as developed through real world expertise to ensure their decarbonization projects are effective in both the short and long term.

Key Learning Objectives

• Translate company targets into building specific plans
• Prioritize GHG reduction projects within buildings
• Select and justify different types of studies
• Define an effective decarbonization project
• Develop a low carbon roadmap for a portfolio of buildings

• Apply best practices

Audience

This course is relevant to anyone involved in facility management, operations management and planning, or sustainability planning. It is especially valuable to those tasked with identifying and implementing decarbonization projects in commercial, industrial, multi-unit residential, and institutional buildings.

• Sustainability, environment, or decarbonization managers
• Planning or strategy managers
• Energy managers
• Accountants
• Consultants
• Operational efficiency specialists