Decarbonization: reflections and insights from ASHRAE’s Decarbonization of Tall Buildings conference

As we work toward a more sustainable future, ASHRAE’s Decarbonization of Tall Buildings conference highlighted both the strides the industry is making and the complexities still ahead. The path to decarbonization is far from straightforward—there’s no universal approach or quick fix.

Each building, community, and organization has its unique journey. Every day at the conference offered valuable insights, and we wanted to share some of the ideas that resonated with us.

Decarbonization and resource allocation

New York City’s Chief Climate Officer Rohit Aggarwala’s keynote underscored the disparity between NYC’s large buildings—about 6.5% of the city’s total structures—and the smaller buildings that often lack the resources to meet decarbonization standards. While major buildings may have the means to “figure it out,” the remaining 93.5% rely on outdated systems and limited support.

Aggarwala emphasized the high cost and complexity of decarbonization solutions and suggested exploring AI and other software-driven methods to perform “outside-in” audits. Qualified support—from energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis to engineering, architecture, and finance—is essential, and yet accessible, scalable solutions remain challenging to implement.

Aggarwala also highlighted NYC’s proposed J51 property tax credit, which could cover up to 80% of upgrade costs over 15 years. It remains to be seen whether Boston will introduce similar incentives.

ASHRAE standards in decarbonization

ASHRAE’s toolsets provide a foundation for standardized decarbonization approaches. Appendix H in Section 211, for example, offers guidelines for decarbonization assessments, though these tools are still evolving. One presenter even suggested omitting “long-term planning” due to the complexity of integrating stakeholders from fields such as finance and construction.

ASHRAE’s 242P offers guidelines for standardizing reporting of operational carbon, though it remains a complex process. This standard could potentially support organizations in developing a consistent method for greenhouse gas emissions inventorying.

Lastly, the Department of Energy (DOE) publishes an audit template tool, which is likely to be updated with decarbonization standards. GreenerU is developing a similar reporting tool—stay tuned for more updates!

Resource-efficient decarbonization

In a panel with commercial real estate leaders, the high initial costs of decarbonization were highlighted as a major barrier, often steering decision-makers toward the familiar “replace in kind” approach; however, Lauren Moss from Vornado stressed the importance of having a decarbonization plan in place before the next boiler or HVAC system fails. Without a plan, organizations risk being tied to outdated solutions for another 15 years.

Decarbonization playbooks

One of the conference’s most valuable takeaways was retrofitplaybook.org, a repository of large-building case studies developed by NYSERDA, RMI, the Building Energy Exchange, and the Urban Land Institute. In collaboration with Turner Construction, this team developed a decarbonization cost index. The framework of the playbook closely aligns with GreenerU’s best practices: assessing existing conditions, implementing efficiency measures, improving building envelopes, pursuing partial electrification, and ultimately achieving full electrification—all while taking into account occupant comfort, cost effectiveness, and active users of the spaces in which we work.

(Incidentally, GreenerU is also part of a team working with NYSERDA on a decarbonization playbook for higher education institutions. This is expected to become available to the public in spring 2025.)

There’s always more to learn, though. The panel emphasized that, in hindsight, more focus should be given to energy recycling techniques, especially in large buildings where simultaneous heating and cooling may occur. This is a concept we’re keen to explore further.

Reflecting on these insights, we at GreenerU are excited to explore how we can apply them to our work with clients that are looking for bold decarbonization and electrification solutions.

Want to talk about decarbonization solutions for your building? Contact us today.

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