Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has launched the Zero Over Time approach that shows how to achieve cost-effective deep energy retrofits in buildings that lead to zero-energy status for entire portfolios while increasing revenue and can reduce carbon emissions in buildings by nearly half over a 20 year period.
Through six basic steps the zero-over-time (ZOT) approach shows portfolio owners and managers how to prioritize projects that pay back quickly in the short term, while align larger energy efficiency projects with major building life-cycle events, like equipment upgrades.
According to the company existing commercial buildings consume 36% of all electricity in the United States and are responsible for more than $190 billion in energy every year. Today, existing buildings globally are only receiving energy retrofits at a rate of around 1% per year, while a rate of around 3.2% per year is required to avoid irreversible climate change and hit the two degree Celsius increase target by 2040 (as laid out at COP21). The ZOT approach helps portfolio owners and managers right-time deep energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage projects with life-cycle event triggers for investment.
To download the report go to www.rmi.org/insight/zero-over-time-for-building-portfolios