Schneider Electric has introduced its new Building Decarbonization Calculator, designed to help building owners and operators test and explore a range of energy and carbon conservation measures (ECCMs). This tool is aimed at addressing the significant greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which account for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of energy-related emissions in the EU, according to the European Commission. Given the long-term nature of buildings, reducing their emissions poses a substantial challenge, further complicated by increasing pressure from regulators and stakeholders. The calculator is based on data from nearly 500,000 building performance models and provides recommendations for best practices in construction, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. It helps buildings comply with regulations, such as New York City’s Local Law 97, which will start imposing fines in 2025 on buildings over 25,000 square feet that exceed emissions limits. The tool also addresses decarbonization standards in other cities like Boston, San Francisco, and Austin, as well as the European Union’s requirement for new buildings to be net-zero by 2030.
Compliance with global standards like CREEM is also supported. In addition to regulatory compliance, the tool helps building owners optimize for return on investment (ROI) by analyzing options that could result in energy savings and operational cost reductions. Mike Kazmierczak, Schneider Electric’s Global Vice President of Digital Energy, emphasized the importance of the calculator in meeting tightening regulations and accelerating retrofit actions for buildings. Schneider Electric highlighted a successful case study in Boston, where the tool was used to estimate $3.7 million in energy savings and $1 million in avoided fines over ten years for a large office retrofit project. The project included modernizing building management systems, upgrading to LED lighting, improving power factor correction, and integrating photovoltaic systems with battery energy storage and microgrid technology. This resulted in a seven-year return on investment. The calculator allows users to run preset scenarios for various levels of retrofitting, from light interventions to deep renovations, offering tailored options for specific buildings or portfolios. It provides support across different sectors, including retail, healthcare, and office spaces. Developed in collaboration with real estate management company JLL and carbon data analytics firm C.scale, this tool is expected to scale up climate action efforts, helping building owners reduce emissions more effectively and efficiently.