In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, organizations are increasingly setting ambitious sustainability targets. However, achieving these goals often proves challenging due to a lack of clear, actionable pathways. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has introduced Perform, a new tool designed to address this gap. Perform aims to help organizations translate their sustainability ambitions into measurable outcomes, particularly in areas such as emissions, energy, water, and waste management.
Key Features and Functionality of Perform
Incremental Improvements Across Assets
Perform is designed to support incremental enhancements across all assets owned, occupied, or managed by an organization. This feature allows organizations to make continuous, small-scale improvements that collectively lead to significant progress over time. By focusing on incremental changes, Perform helps organizations avoid the pitfalls of attempting large-scale transformations all at once, which can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Additionally, this approach promotes a sustainable growth model by encouraging manageable and realistic steps. Organizations can monitor and adjust their strategies more frequently, allowing them to stay on track with their sustainability targets. This not only ensures steady progress but also provides the flexibility needed to address any unforeseen challenges or changes in the regulatory environment. Ultimately, the incremental improvements feature positions Perform as an adaptable and dynamic tool for achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Customized Targets and Strategies
One of the standout features of Perform is its ability to set personalized sustainability targets tailored to an organization’s specific goals. This customization ensures that the targets are relevant and achievable, taking into account the unique characteristics of each building or asset. Additionally, Perform aids in developing and executing strategies to achieve these goals, providing a clear roadmap for organizations to follow. By offering a tailored approach, Perform enables organizations to align their sustainability initiatives with their operational realities and strategic objectives.
Furthermore, the ability to customize targets helps account for the diversity of buildings within an organization’s portfolio. Whether dealing with commercial, residential, or industrial properties, Perform offers the flexibility to develop and implement strategies that are both effective and practical. This personalized approach eliminates the one-size-fits-all mentality, fostering more efficient use of resources and ensuring that sustainability efforts are impactful. Ultimately, tailored strategies make it easier for organizations to stay committed to their sustainability agendas, leading to more meaningful and measurable outcomes.
Progress Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement
Transparency and accountability are crucial in sustainability efforts. Perform enables organizations to report their progress to stakeholders, ensuring that all parties are informed and engaged. This feature not only builds trust but also helps organizations demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, which can be a significant advantage in today’s market. Regular progress reporting keeps stakeholders abreast of developments, fostering an environment of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Moreover, stakeholder engagement is vital for securing the necessary support for sustainability projects. By providing clear, detailed reports, organizations can showcase their accomplishments and address any concerns or suggestions from stakeholders. This dialogue aids in refining strategies and aligning expectations, leading to more robust and effective sustainability initiatives. In essence, Perform’s focus on progress reporting and stakeholder engagement ensures that transparency is maintained throughout the sustainability journey, thereby reinforcing the organization’s reputation and credibility.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Current Standards and Measurement Issues
Existing systems like Energy Star and GRESB are effective but often lack industry-specific standards, leading to inconsistent measurements, benchmarking, and reporting. Perform addresses this issue by providing clearer, more consistent metrics tailored to the building industry. This helps organizations better understand their performance and identify areas for improvement. By offering industry-specific standards, Perform ensures that measurements are more accurate and relevant, making it easier to benchmark progress and set realistic targets.
Furthermore, clear metrics allow for more straightforward comparisons between different assets within an organization’s portfolio. This enables property managers to pinpoint specific areas that need attention and allocate resources more efficiently. The standardized approach taken by Perform helps to eliminate ambiguities that often plague sustainability reporting, providing a more solid foundation for continuous improvement. Ultimately, Perform’s emphasis on clarity and consistency in measurements aids in streamlining the sustainability efforts of organizations, making it easier to achieve their goals.
Unique Challenges in Building Decarbonization
The decarbonization of buildings presents unique challenges, such as disaggregated ownership, long building lifespans, and specific building characteristics like occupancy and usage intensity. Perform takes these factors into account, offering solutions that are practical and applicable to a wide range of building types and ownership structures. This holistic approach ensures that all aspects of building performance are considered in sustainability efforts, leading to more comprehensive and effective strategies.
Additionally, Perform’s nuanced approach helps organizations navigate the complexities of retrofitting older buildings, which often require bespoke solutions. By addressing the distinct challenges posed by various types of buildings, Perform aids property managers in developing tailored strategies that are both feasible and impactful. This ensures that even buildings with unique characteristics or ownership models can contribute meaningfully to decarbonization goals. In this way, Perform facilitates a more inclusive approach to sustainability, encompassing a diverse array of assets and stakeholders.
Industry Trends and the Need for Quality
Rise in Net-Zero Targets
The number of publicly listed companies with net-zero targets has seen a significant increase, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainability. However, many of these commitments lack quality or credibility. Perform aims to fill this void by providing robust guidance and support, helping organizations develop credible and effective sustainability strategies. By offering a comprehensive toolkit, Perform ensures that net-zero commitments are not only ambitious but also grounded in practical, actionable steps.
Moreover, the rise in net-zero targets signifies a broader industry trend toward more responsible corporate behavior. Perform positions organizations to better align with these evolving norms, ensuring their sustainability strategies remain relevant and credible. The tool’s emphasis on high-quality guidance helps bridge the gap between aspirational targets and tangible outcomes, providing a pathway for organizations to substantiate their commitments. As a result, Perform enhances the legitimacy of an organization’s net-zero targets, positioning it as a leader in sustainability within its industry.
Bridging the Quality Gap
Perform offers comprehensive support to organizations, including guidance on developing decarbonization plans, technical support for existing building portfolios, and tools to measure progress accurately. This ensures that sustainability efforts are not only ambitious but also credible and effective, bridging the gap between targets and tangible outcomes. The combination of technical expertise and practical tools makes Perform an invaluable asset for organizations seeking to elevate the quality of their sustainability initiatives.
For instance, the technical support provided by Perform addresses the specific needs of different types of properties, ensuring that strategies are both viable and effective. Tools for accurate measurement allow organizations to track their progress with precision, making it easier to identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes. This multifaceted approach helps bridge the quality gap, transforming ambitious sustainability targets into actionable plans with measurable results. Ultimately, Perform serves as a vital resource for organizations committed to achieving high-quality, credible sustainability outcomes.
Broader Environmental Metrics and Partnerships
Tracking a Broader Set of Metrics
Perform is not limited to traditional sustainability metrics like emissions and energy use. It can also track performance across a broader set of environmental, social, and resilience metrics. This versatility makes Perform a valuable tool for holistic sustainability management, addressing a wide range of organizational goals. By incorporating additional metrics, Perform enables organizations to adopt a more comprehensive approach to sustainability, encompassing various dimensions of environmental and social responsibility.
Furthermore, the ability to track a wider array of metrics ensures that organizations can align their sustainability initiatives with broader industry standards and regulatory requirements. This holistic approach not only helps organizations meet their existing targets but also prepares them for future developments in sustainability reporting. By providing a more complete picture of overall performance, Perform empowers organizations to make informed decisions and implement strategies that contribute to long-term sustainability. In this way, Perform stands out as a versatile and forward-thinking tool in the realm of sustainability management.
Strengthening Partnerships and Data Sharing
Perform is bolstered by partnerships with companies like Schneider Electric, ClimateFirst, Carbonsight, and Kode Labs. These collaborations facilitate data exchange and streamline portfolio-level data management. Additionally, USGBC and GBCI plan to enhance data-sharing capabilities with organizations like Measurabl, GRESB, Nareit, and the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, further strengthening Perform’s impact.
These partnerships are crucial for promoting interoperability and ensuring that data can be easily shared and analyzed across different platforms. By fostering collaborations with key players in the industry, Perform enhances its ability to provide accurate and actionable insights. The strengthened data-sharing capabilities also allow for more efficient benchmarking and performance analysis, helping organizations stay informed and agile in their sustainability efforts. Overall, the emphasis on partnership and data sharing positions Perform as a collaborative and integrative tool, amplifying its potential to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes.
Call to Action for Broader Sustainable Finance
Expanding Sustainable Finance Efforts
The USGBC and other organizations have issued a joint call to action titled “Building Transition: Financing Market Transformation.” This document emphasizes the need to expand sustainable finance and decarbonization efforts beyond top-tier assets. Perform supports this initiative by providing tools and guidance that help all buildings, regardless of their starting point, progress toward sustainability. By democratizing access to sustainability guidance and resources, Perform paves the way for a more inclusive approach to sustainable finance.
Moreover, the expanded focus on sustainable finance underscores the importance of mobilizing capital to support widescale decarbonization. Perform’s tools and guidance are designed to help organizations present compelling cases for investment in sustainability projects, thereby attracting the necessary funds to carry out their initiatives. This approach not only drives progress for individual organizations but also contributes to broader industry transformation, as more buildings gain access to the resources needed to achieve sustainability goals. In this way, Perform aligns with the call to action by facilitating a more equitable and extensive reach of sustainable finance.
Addressing Financial and Non-Financial Barriers
A recent report by JLL highlights the decline in real estate debt issuance linked to sustainability, partly due to insufficient capital allocation for building performance. Perform addresses both financial and non-financial barriers by helping organizations gather building-level data, provide necessary information to lenders, and utilize building management systems for real-time performance tracking. This comprehensive approach ensures that sustainability efforts are well-supported and effective.
The availability of precise and comprehensive data makes it easier for organizations to secure favorable financing terms and garner investor confidence. Additionally, the use of building management systems and smart meters for real-time tracking enables proactive adjustments and maintenance, further enhancing building performance. This dual focus on financial and operational aspects ensures that organizations can effectively navigate the complex landscape of sustainable finance, ultimately driving more comprehensive and impactful sustainability initiatives.
Practical Steps for Building Operators
Gathering and Utilizing Building Data
Building operators play a crucial role in sustainability efforts. Perform encourages operators to work with their teams to collect as much building-level data as possible. This data is essential for tracking performance, identifying areas for improvement, and securing attractive financing rates. By systematically gathering and analyzing data, operators can make informed decisions that support their organization’s sustainability goals.
In addition, the collection of detailed building-level data aids in benchmarking and performance analysis, making it easier to identify best practices and replicate successful strategies across an organization’s portfolio. Real-time data collection and analysis tools provided by Perform enable operators to monitor key performance indicators and make adjustments as needed. This proactive approach ensures that buildings operate at peak efficiency, contributing to the overall sustainability of the organization’s assets. Ultimately, the emphasis on data-driven decision-making positions building operators as key players in the journey toward achieving sustainability targets.
Leveraging Building Management Systems
In today’s fast-moving world, organizations are increasingly setting lofty sustainability goals. Despite their best efforts, these objectives often remain just out of reach. The primary roadblock is the absence of a clear, actionable roadmap to achieve such goals. Recognizing this challenge, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has introduced Perform, an innovative tool designed to fill this void. Perform helps organizations transform their high-level sustainability goals into tangible, measurable outcomes. It provides specific pathways for addressing critical areas, including emissions reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. By using Perform, organizations can systematically track their progress and adjust their strategies to meet their sustainability targets effectively. This new tool represents a significant step forward in helping organizations not only set but also achieve meaningful environmental goals, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
