The task of identifying, prioritizing and finding solutions for greenhouse gas emissions from numerous buildings and HVAC systems of different eras and performance efficiencies can be daunting for facility executives and managers. A new assessment tool aims to provide guidance and encouragement for facilities on the road to net zero emissions.
The Green Building Initiative recently released Green Globes Journey to Net Zero, a third-party sustainability building assessment and certification tool. The program is designed to enable commercial real estate owners to evaluate performance using a science-based approach to implement impactful change.
The program is intended for owners or managers of any building — in any phase of its life cycle and regardless of progress made — to evaluate current site energy use intensity and carbon dioxide emissions in pursuit of net zero.
The program was developed to align with the U.S. Department of Energy’s ‘National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building. It incorporates design, operations, and renewable energy strategies to reach net zero. The Green Globes Net Zero Calculator leverages accounting principles to identify site energy use intensity and carbon dioxide emissions percent reductions against a baseline. The proprietary software provides transparency and encourages collaboration within the project team.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
