Maximizing a building’s energy efficiency often involves coordination of multiple incentive programs and multiple decision-makers, a task which is exceptionally challenging in the commercial real estate market. Launched in 2012, ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Business (SIFYB) Building Performance with Energy Star Commercial Real Estate program was designed specifically to overcome the multiple barriers to energy efficiency present in multi-tenant commercial real estate (CRE) buildings. CRE buildings often have complicated and frequently changing ownership structures. There may be dozens of individual businesses leasing space in a building, each with their own decision-makers. In addition, the terms of leasing arrangements between tenants and building ownership significantly impact both parties’ motivation to pursue energy efficiency. These factors can make it very difficult to drive commitment to efficiency projects not only in the base building (common areas, structures, and systems that serve all building spaces) but in individual tenant spaces as well. The SIFYB team engaged a prominent local property ownership and management firm to help build relationships with individuals in decision-making roles at CRE properties, such as building portfolio managers, energy managers, and sustainability directors. In turn, the team worked with those individuals to educate their tenants on available energy efficiency programs; for example, many CRE tenants are eligible for ComEd incentives designed for small business customers. To speed market penetration, a temporary incentive was created for building managers, offering bonuses for whole-building energy savings that include savings in tenant spaces. The team also offers energy benchmarking and planning assistance, helping building managers and tenants identify and schedule projects in a sequence that will fit within budgets and capital plans while achieving the greatest possible energy savings.
展开▼
