Skip to content

building performance standards

Joint Letter from DOE, EPA, and HUD requesting utility data for multifamily properties

On January 25th, 2024, the Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a joint statement asking utility companies to come to the table and make energy and water usage data available for multifamily properties. The essence of the statement was their joint commitment to “championing the availability of whole-building utility data access.”

What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advancement of Building Performance Standards

What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advancement of Building Performance Standards (BEPS) This blog is an update to Calico’s original blog post titled “What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advent of Building Performance Standards (BEPS)” from August of  2020. We have woven our 2023 update in italics along with our original 2020 text.  Then: If you’re in the utility world, or the energy policy world, or the building management world… Read More »What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advancement of Building Performance Standards

Balance one to many.

Yes, Carbon Matters. But…

If we narrow our focus too much as we try to move the right needles as quickly as possible, we oversimplify to the point of unsustainability.

keys in lock

Time for utilities to take leadership in the data access world.

The energy landscape is changing. In some jurisdictions, gas utilities are facing moratoria on new customer connections. Electricity companies are seeing initiatives to engage customers with behind the meter solutions. New dynamics in the market also run the gamut, from aggregators allowing customers direct participation in demand response, capacity, and ancillary services to solar and storage solution deployments helping customers avoid volumetric charges and optimizing for certain rates. Utilities are impacted by it all.

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part Three – The Possibilities

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: The Problems, Processes and Possibilities (A Series) Part Three: The Possibilities Building energy consumption remains an unsolved problem at scale – it takes baselines across all building types and sizes to drive meaningful change. Utility data is the key, but easy, consistent access has stalled progress for years. This series explores barriers, practical approaches, and stakeholder benefits around utility-enabled whole building data access. Making it… Read More »Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part Three – The Possibilities

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part Two – The Processes

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: The Problems, Processes and Possibilities (A Series) Part Two: The Processes Building energy consumption is an unsolved problem at scale because it takes baseline data to drive meaningful change in a building. Leveraging utility data is the key, but easy, consistent access has stalled progress for years. This blog series explores the barriers, approaches, and benefits to utility-enabled whole building data access. The Barriers to… Read More »Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part Two – The Processes

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part One – The Problems

Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: The Problems, Processes and Possibilities (A Series) Part One: The Problems Building energy consumption remains an unsolved problem at scale – it takes baselines across all building types and sizes to drive meaningful change. Utility data is the key, but easy, consistent access has stalled progress for years. This blog series explores barriers, practical approaches, and stakeholder benefits around utility-enabled whole building data access. Building… Read More »Utility-Enabled Whole Building Data Access: Part One – The Problems

meter grid

Calico Conversations: Tammy McLeod, Ph.D.

Calico Conversations: Tammy McLeod, Ph.D.​ Utilities and Building Level Data by Colleen Morris & Tammy McLeod, Ph.D In 2022 Calico is starting up a “Conversations” series, and we’re excited and honored to share our first of those – a piece cowritten with Tammy McLeod, Ph.D. Tammy is currently the President & CEO of the Flinn Foundation after 20 years with Arizona Public Service (APS). During her time at APS she held many titles, including… Read More »Calico Conversations: Tammy McLeod, Ph.D.

Energy Equity

Extending DEI to Energy Equity and Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Extending DEI to Energy Equity and Energy Efficiency in Buildings Part One Energy Efficiency is Key to Energy Equity BIPOC1, low-income and other marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.2 Additionally, these groups are more likely to suffer from energy insecurity and burden – spending more of their income on energy and/or struggling with access entirely.3 Numerous organizations across the nation and the globe are calling attention to… Read More »Extending DEI to Energy Equity and Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Carbon Emissions Are Rising, but Whole Building Utility Data Can Help

Carbon Emissions Are Rising, but Whole Building Utility Data Can Help

Carbon Emissions are Rising, but Whole Building Utility Data Can Help This blog post was originally published on utilitydive.com.  Approximately 395 GtCO2. According to late 2019 estimates from the IPCC and CONSTRAIN project, 395 GtCO2 is our total remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance to limit warming to 1.5°C. The risks associated with climbing above 2°C are alarming, and we’re not doing enough to reduce consumption. Take buildings: with the immense markets surrounding energy efficiency and… Read More »Carbon Emissions Are Rising, but Whole Building Utility Data Can Help