Equally important as the adoption of renewables is ensuring that the buildings they use are also sustainable. Electrek Talk to Breana Wheeler, director of US operations at BREEAM, the world’s first green building certification program, about what the ideal decarbonized building looks like and how US real estate investors should view climate change as an opportunity.
Electrek: What does BREEAM do, and what does the ideal decarbonized building look like?
Breana Wheeler: BREEAM was the first green building certification program in the world when it was launched in 1990, and it has been recognized and adopted by more than 89 countries. It is owned by BRE – a for-profit organization with over 100 years of building science and research background.
An ideal decarbonized building is one with a highly efficient building envelope, fully electrified, and fully powered by renewable energy – such as solar or wind – produced on site. It also has a low carbon footprint, measured and managed through materials and construction processes throughout its life cycle. BREEAM helps clients measure and manage carbon emissions at all stages of decarbonization.
Electrek: To what extent do you think the Supreme Court’s decision in EPA v. West Virginia — which severely curtailed the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions that cause climate change — will negatively affect the trail the decarbonization of buildings?
Breana Wheeler: The Supreme Court’s decision in EPA vs. West Virginia has prompted a strong response from industry leaders across markets, as the federal government is a key factor in tackling climate change. However, I am confident that cities and states will continue to take the lead and fill the gaps left by the federal government in this area, whether through Building Performance Standards, building codes, or building commissions. public utilities.
In addition, public awareness and understanding of climate risk continues to grow every day. Investors, the business community, and cities are showing a keen understanding of the potential consequences if climate change goes unchecked. These people and organizations continue to push for improved climate-related performance and road design, regardless of this decision.
Electrek: How can state and local governments fill the gaps left by the Supreme Court decision?
Breana Wheeler: There are many local governments developing and implementing climate action plans. With buildings making up large parts of most city footprints, we’re seeing more local jurisdictions consider how they can use their policy levers to combat climate change.
Energy benchmarking ordinances, which require buildings to measure and report their energy use, are an important first step. Transparency often drives buildings to start managing the performance they report when they see how they compare to their peer buildings.
Building Performance Standards, which require measurement and reporting as well as certain performance levels with the threat of punishment if not met, go a step further. In cities like New York, Boston, and St. Louis, we see the Building Performance Standards ensure that the cost of poor performance is clear.
Cities have divested pension funds from fossil fuels, and states like California have implemented programs like the Climate Change Scoping Plan, which encourages local governments to set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15% below 1990 levels by 2020, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Thirty states, Washington, DC, and two US territories have active renewable or clean energy requirements, and an additional three states and one territory have set voluntary renewable goals. or that energy. New York, California, and Illinois have policies that require a large portion of their power to come from renewables within the next few decades.
I expect these efforts to be tightened and strengthened after the ruling with added urgency as the effects of climate change continue to be felt.
Electrek: If state or local governments choose not to pursue a decarbonization path, can the private sector make a difference?
Breana Wheeler: In fact, the private sector is at the forefront of climate change in the US. Private sector investors are increasingly aware that climate change poses a significant financial risk to their assets. A built environment that is not sustainable results in a disrupted economy, threatens public health, and can damage the long-term value of real estate. If the change is not implemented now, investors risk reduced returns and potentially stranded assets.
The most thoughtful investors see climate change not only as a threat but also as an opportunity. As a result, they invested $31 billion in climate mutual funds and exchange-traded funds by the end of 2021, a 45% increase from nearly $22 billion last year, according to Morningstar’s report.
There is a huge financial opportunity to facilitate a more equitable, sustainable decarbonized future, and investors are seeking strategies to fund climate change solutions as competition in global markets continues. .
Electrek: To what extent do you think the general public has adopted and acted on the need for the decarbonization of buildings within the context of the climate crisis?
Breana Wheeler: Climate change is a crisis that affects, and already affects, individuals on a global scale – compounding social issues such as food scarcity, poverty, and inequality. In the US, the extent of the damage is growing: As of July, there have been nine disasters costing more than $1 billion this year, and the effects of extreme heatwaves have not been fully measured.
In recent years, we have seen the majority of Americans calling on federal and local governments to step up and implement policies to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The science is clear – we must act to avoid the worst impacts in the next decade. The real estate sector has a responsibility to address the impacts. We are excited to work with many organizations that recognize the risks of climate change and want to manage them and turn them into opportunities.
Read more: The EPA decision by the US Supreme Court is unfortunate, but here’s why all is not lost
Photo by Scott Webb on Pexels.com
Breana Wheeler became director of US operations in 2016 for the Building Research Establishment (BRE), a 100-year-old building science research organization focused on delivering better, healthier buildings for people and for nature. BRE created BREEAM, the world’s first and leading science-based sustainability suite for the validation and certification of built assets in the world, which has successfully managed 550,000 certifications since 1990.
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