Rocky Mountain Institute and Urban Land Institute release report on how to cost-effectively transform existing building portfolios to net-zero energy

RMI and ULI outline a zero-over-time approach to set commercial building portfolios on a financially viable path to achieve net zero energy.

Boulder, Colorado – Sept. 12, 2018 Net-zero energy (NZE) buildings are gaining interest from building owners, tenants and landlords alike due to increased rent rates, net operating income, and resale value for landlords, along with healthier, more productive, and more enticing workspace environments for tenants. Rocky Mountain Institute and Urban Land Institute’s latest action guide, Best Practices for Achieving Zero Energy Over Time for Building Portfolios, provides a roadmap for portfolio owners and managers to achieve cost-effective deep energy retrofits that lead to zero-energy status for their entire portfolio while increasing revenues.

The zero-over-time (ZOT) approach focuses on cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy by prioritizing projects that pay back quickly in the short term, while aligning larger energy efficiency projects with major building life-cycle events, like equipment upgrades. Major life-cycle events can serve as trigger events for energy upgrades, as incremental costs for these upgrades will be lowest.

“This analysis clears the path for achieving NZE at this scale—it makes financial sense for portfolios with different holding periods and portfolio milestones. With common excuses out of the way, every portfolio should achieve NZE,” said Cara Carmichael, principal in RMI’s buildings practice.

The action guide includes a case study portfolio in Denver that illustrates that taking the ZOT approach can achieve net zero energy over a 20-year period by making only net present value positive investments and a 5% internal rate of return.  

“ULI is pleased to see such an actionable report published in the market which highlights a thoughtful and reasonable approach for the built environment to reach net zero energy over time,” said Billy Grayson, Executive Director, Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance at the Urban Land Institute. “It’s no longer an idea for the distant future, it’s an opportunity for the market to begin acting on now. The report presents a business case for a fiscally viable process to achieve NZE over time in commercial buildings, with case studies from real estate leaders across the country proving out best practices for success.”  

Zero over time is a straightforward and actionable plan that can drive a commercial building portfolio toward zero cost, energy, and potentially carbon over a 20-year period while also delivering revenue positive projects for short- and long-hold property owners and net-present-value positive operation over the 20-year period it takes to get to net zero energy. RMI hopes that this action guide will help portfolio managers transform their commercial portfolios while driving toward zero.

Media Inquiries please contact:

Nick Steel, Senior Associate – Media Relations, T: +1 347.574.0887, E:nsteel@rmi.org

Notes to Editors

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)—an independent nonprofit founded in 1982—transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI [i1] has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

More information on RMI can be found at www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst

About Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute is a global, member-driven organization comprising more than 40,000 real estate and urban development professionals dedicated to advancing the Institute’s mission of providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. ULI’s interdisciplinary membership represents all aspects of the industry, including developers, property owners, investors, architects, urban planners, public officials, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, and academics. Established in 1936, the Institute has a presence in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions, with members in 76 countries.

More information on ULI can be found at www.uli.org or follow us on Twitter @UrbanLandInst