A complete listing of buildings by operational type and their potential for being subject to the ‘5 Steps to Zero Carbon’ process will need to be established by CREDIT. This will require widespread engagement, particularly with departmental leadership and building managers. One or more example buildings will need to be identified earlier – in FY20.
Step 1: Make data-gathering and analytical capacities more robust
As a starting point, data needs to be carefully examined and incorporated into the decision-making process. This will entail making good use of all energy consumption data, and conducting energy audits in a strategic way. Combined approaches to the five steps then need to be identified – establishing if there are any equipment synergies.
Step 2: Build employee awareness and identify individual(s) that will carry messages about reducing energy consumption and demand in each building
CREDIT cannot deliver this work on its own. The projects to deliver zero carbon futures require that individuals with a working understanding of each building are incorporated into each stage of the project planning. The stakeholder engagement tool should be used to identify who will be involved.
Step 3: Consider compulsory training on energy efficiency and demand reduction for building operators and facility managers
This program could be an updated version of the highly successful UNCC-SIBS Building Re-tuning Training (BRT) program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Building operators and facility managers will
need to go through a compulsory education and awareness program to help them to identify the difference and how their actions can support the transition to a zero carbon future. This is part of a change management activity to change behaviors and understand new procurement requirements.
Step 4: Ensure that procurement processes support cost-efficient approaches to meeting the goal
CREDIT will need to work with procurement teams and identify how to standardize decisions and minimum efficiency standards for new equipment that do not impact operational performance. Individual user requirements will need review, e.g. who requires two monitors for their work, when servers are required to update, etc. An enforcement process needs to be put in place. The total cost of ownership, including the equipment lifespan and financing opportunities, need to be incorporated into the cost projections.