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ULI Net Zero Compendium

Developing a path to net zero carbon has become a priority for investors, tenants, cities, and the real estate industry. Through work across many facets of ULI – Mission Priorities, our Greenprint Center for Building Performance, District/National Councils, Advisory Services, ULI Learning, and beyond – we have developed a wide range of resources to help ULI members and the broader real estate and land use community better understand the business case for a path to net zero, and tools to help them operationalize it in their projects and portfolios. 

What is net zero and why is it important?

Net-zero in the built environment describes a building portfolio that is highly energy efficient and fully powered by on- and off-site renewables and offsets. More on ULI’s definition of net zero and our net zero goal is available here.

ULI’s mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, and net zero is a crucial building block to help us achieve this. According to the AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis Report, achieving global net zero GHG emissions is a requirement for stabilizing CO2-induced global surface temperature warming. Real estate has a tremendous responsibility and opportunity in this realm to act and ensure a future where we are minimizing our environmental impacts and advancing pathways to mitigating climate change. There is also a clear and present business case opportunity for real estate to take leadership on decarbonization.

Ways to get involved

  • Engage in the Net Zero Imperative by submitting a Statement of Interest to participate in the program or offering services as a subject matter expert on a Net Zero Imperative Technical Assistance Panel (TAP)
  • Join ULI Greenprint if your firm owns or develops buildings
  • Consider applying to join a Product Council related to sustainability: ULI Americas — SDC, RPIC, and RRC; ULI Europe — Sustainability Council; ULI Asia Pacific — Resilient Cities Council
  • Take the Net Zero Real Estate: Renovating and Building for Profitability ULI Learning course
  • Apply learnings from Case Studies, Research Reports, and Webinars
  • Share Urban Land articles
  • Apply for the ULI Low-carbon Development award
  • Have a net zero project you would like to share with us to feature on the ULI Case Studies website? Share it with us through the submission box at the bottom of the page.

Learn more about ULI’s programs on net zero

  • ULI Net Zero Imperative
  • ULI Greenprint Net Zero Goal
  • ULI Europe C Change Programme

Research Reports

Resource Author & Year
Working Towards Net Zero: Tenant Engagement Best Practices and Examples ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2023)
Off-Site Renewable Energy Buyers Guide for Real Estate ULI Greenprint and Transparent Energy (2022)
Renewable Energy Strategies for Real Estate ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2022)
Electrify: The Movement to All-Electric Real Estate ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2021)
The ULI Blueprint for Green Real Estate ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2020)
Decarbonizing the Built Environment: 10 Principles for Climate Mitigation Policies ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2020)
Embodied Carbon in Building Materials for Real Estate ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2019)
Science Based Targets:  The Next Level of Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Goals in Real Estate Retrofits Over Time ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2019)
D.C. Vision 2050: An Effective Strategy and Plan for Real Estate Owners to Achieve D.C.'s Sustainability Goals ULI Advisory Services (2019)
Best Practices for Achieving Zero Over Time For Building Portfolios Rocky Mountain Institute and ULI (2018)

Case Studies

Resource Author & Year
Deal Profile: Entegrity Energy Partners’ NetWork Building ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2022)
State of Green, ULI Greenprint Annual Performance Report Vol 12 – NEO Meets Net Zero Goal Through Green Power Procurement ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2021)
ULI Greenprint Annual Performance Report Vol 10 – Net-Zero Energy: Morgan Creek Ventures ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2019)
The ULI Blueprint For Green Real Estate – Setting Net-Zero Goals: Hudson Pacific Properties ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2020)
Tenant Energy Optimization Program Case Study: Rocky Mountain Institute ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance (2020)
Maceo May — San Francisco, CA ULI Urban Resilience (2020)
Sun Crest Heights — Coral Hills, Maryland ULI Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate (2018)
The Brock Environmental Center — Virgina Beach, VA ULI Urban Resilience (2015)
The Rose — Minneapolis, MN Sam Newburg (2015)
Bullit Center — Seattle, WA Jason Scully (2015)

Webinars & Videos

Resource Type of Content & Year
Working Toward Net Zero Best Practices and Examples to Engage Tenants in Sustainability Webinar (2022)
ULI Beijing: Net Zero Imperative Initiative Decarbonizing Beijing's CBD (Part 3) Webinar (2022)
ULI Beijing: Net Zero Imperative Initiative (Part 2) Webinar (2022)
ULI Beijing: Net Zero Imperative: An Introduction to the ULI Net Zero Imperative + Climate Policies/Trends in US Cities (Part 1) Webinar (2022)
2021 ULI Asia Pacific REImagine: Decarbonization ULI Asia Pacific REImagine Session Recording (2021)
Operationalizing Net Zero for Real Estate: From Goals to Action ULI Fall Meeting Session Recording (2021)
Net Zero Imperative: Cities & Real Estate Accelerating Decarbonization in the Built Environment Webinar (2021)
ULI Colorado: Getting to Net Zero Energy Webinar (2021)
ULI Middle East: Towards Net Zero Carbon: A New Frontier of ESG Webinar (2021)
5 Technologies Enabling Buildings to Reach Net Zero ULI Virtual Spring Meeting On Demand Session Recording (2021)
ULI Austin: Net Zero. What is It? What Does it Matter? How Do We Get There? Webinar (2021)
Net Zero Carbon Buildings ULI Singapore Conference Panel Discussion Recording (2021)
Carbon Neutrality in Investment Real Estate Webinar (2020)
Future of Decarbonization in the Built Environment ULI Virtual Fall Meeting Session Recording (2020)
Net-Zero Buildings: A Master Class Webinar (2020)

ULI Learning

Resource Type of Content
Introduction to ESG in Real Estate Live (Virtual)
Decarbonising the Built Environment: Making the Financial Case Executive Series
Net Zero Real Estate: Renovating and Building for Profitability On Demand

Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) and Advisory Services Panels (ASPs)

Resource Type of Content
ULI Austin NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
ULI Beijing NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
ULI Greater Bay Area NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
ULI Kansas City NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
ULI Los Angeles NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
ULI Minnesota NZI TAP Technical Assistance Panel Report (2022)
San José California: Building Electrification and Renewable Energy ULI Advisory Services (2022)

Urban Land Online Articles

Resource Author & Year
ULI Greenprint Leads the Way to Net Zero in the Real Estate Industry as Five More Members Align to its Net Zero Carbon Operations Goal Ella Fertitta (2022)
Future-Proofing Real Estate Assets for a Net Zero Future Ron Nyren (2022)
Net Zero Aspirations: How Developers Can Help Achieve Citywide Sustainability Goals Sibley Fleming (2022)
Highlighting the Business Case for Net Zero Multifamily Ben Forman (2022)
ResilientHub: A Study in Getting Office Buildings to Net Zero Andrew Gibbs & Richard Peiser (2022)
Path to Net Zero Begins with “Energy Diet” Beth Mattson-Teig (2021)
Momentum Builds for ULI Greenprint Net Zero Carbon Operations Goal as Eight New Real Estate Companies Representing Over 2,400 Buildings Publicly Align Chris Harris (2021)
Larger Buildings Need to Lead the Way to Net Zero Ken Rhee (2021)
How a Real Estate Portfolio Achieves Net Zero Marta Schantz (2021)
Six Real Estate Firms Align with ULI Greenprint Net Zero Carbon Operations Goal Justin Arnold (2021)
Five Cost-Effective Technologies Enabling Buildings to Reach Net Zero August Williams-Eynon (2021)
The Time for a Net-Zero Building Boom Is Now Stacey Hobart & Marta Schantz (2021)
Setting a Net-Zero Carbon Goal for 2050 Justin Arnold (2020)
Net-Zero-Energy Construction Is Becoming More Cost-Effective Mike Sheridan (2018)
Making Multitenant Net Zero Work in Colorado Kathleen McCormick (2018)
How Residential and Office Developers Are Preparing for the Realities of Net Zero Billy Grayson (2018)
A Net-Zero, Manufactured-Housing Concept for the Low-Energy Future Joe Gose (2017)
Net-Zero-Energy Buildings Setting High Bar for Sustainability Patricia Kirk (2015)
Net Zero Becoming a Reality for New and Refurbished Housing Beth Mattson-Teigg (2015)

Share your net zero project with us!

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