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building performance standards

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

grid-interactive efficient buildings

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: Scalable Approaches Depend on Utility Engagement

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: Scalable Approaches Depend On Utility Data and Engagement This blog post was originally published on utilitydive.com.  Back in 2001, research sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uncovered a startling figure: respondents of the human activity pattern survey reported spending on average 87% of their day in enclosed buildings. Two decades later, that number is undoubtedly higher – elevated further with Coronavirus safety measures. Long story short: We spend a lot… Read More »Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: Scalable Approaches Depend on Utility Engagement

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

What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advent of Building Performance Standards (BEPS) If you’re in the utility world, or the energy policy world, or the building management world (or, or, OR), you know about building benchmarking. Typically when required, owners measure and submit their building’s energy consumption for comparison and analyses, most often by the EPA. For a while, these policies proliferated across the nation, providing low-cost, low-risk resource conservation… Read More »What’s Your Baseline? Benchmarking and the Advent of Building Performance Standards