Carbon Credits FAQ Part 1: What They Are & Why They Matter for Net Zero
So, you’re looking to buy carbon credits, but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Carbon credits as an emissions mitigation tool and investment opportunity are of increasing interest to the corporate world. In this two-part FAQ, we break down some of the most common carbon credit questions to help enable organizations to effectively explore carbon markets in pursuit of decarbonization goals. Part 1 covers the basics: what are carbon credits and why do they matter?
GreenFin 23: 8 Takeaways for Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing
Last month’s GreenFin 23 brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and innovators to discuss the future of sustainable finance and investing. As a civil engineer, sustainable finance master’s student, and sustainable building practitioner, here are my top takeaways on what’s shaping the investment landscape.
Benefits of a Dedicated Energy Modeler
What’s the best way to optimize building energy performance, life-cycle costs, and carbon emissions reductions? While building owners and architects often default to their mechanical engineer to answer this question, a dedicated energy modeler can provide enhanced value when engaged to collaborate with the design team to optimize energy, costs, and carbon emissions.
Integrating Climate Risk into Your ESG Program
In Greenbuild’s recent webinar on “Integrating Climate Risk into Your ESG Program: How to Tackle Portfolio Assessment, Risk Mitigation, and TCFD Reporting,” I had the pleasure of moderating a panel of climate experts in the commercial real estate industry as we dove into the climate toolbox to review best practices for developing and integrating a comprehensive climate change resilience program into an organization’s ESG program, overall business, and risk strategy. ICYMI, here’s a recap!
Is Your Lease An Obstacle To Building Performance Requirements and ESG Goals?
Building Performance Standards (BPS) – which set performance or emissions standards that buildings must meet over time – have completely changed the regulatory context for existing buildings. Colliding with this new regulatory framework is the steadily increasing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics and reporting frameworks. In this new landscape, lease language should be a key part of every risk management, compliance, and ESG strategy.
Electrification: A New Value-Add Approach to Avoid Common Costly Pitfalls
As businesses strive for ambitious emissions reductions, electrification has become crucial in supporting corporate climate efforts and helping companies adhere to tightening mandates. For the building sector, this means replacing traditional fossil fuel-burning equipment with electric alternatives, which offers an effective means to reduce operational carbon emissions.
Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction 179D: What Owners Need to Know
The energy efficient commercial building tax deduction (IRS 179D) is a simple way for building owners to make the most of their investment in high-performance real estate. Here, we review what the 179D tax deduction is, what the application process entails, and how to get started.
Stok Makes Inc. Magazine’s 2023 Best Workplaces List
Stok has been named to Inc. magazine’s annual Best Workplaces list! The list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical, virtual, or hybrid capacity.
M&V, MBCx, WTF: Building Performance Monitoring as a Means to Achieve Decarbonization Goals
We’re all too familiar with the headlines from states, countries, and corporations announcing their zero carbon targets; however, there’s confusion and vagueness surrounding what the target means and how it will be achieved. As building owners and occupiers adopt zero commitments and find their properties subject to energy performance and emissions regulations, the question becomes, ‘how can we achieve these ambitious reduction targets?’
Accounting For Methane: A Look at the Evolving Greenhouse Gas Emissions Landscape
Mitigating emissions and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere have long been the focus of climate action efforts; however, little attention has been paid to another greenhouse gas with an immediate and potent impact on climate change: methane (CH4). Discussion around the climate change contribution of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, and the importance of prioritizing SLCPs in decarbonization efforts has become an increasing topic of discussion among climate scientists and companies alike.