This week, Energy Analyst Ana Leopold and Principal Grayson Jordan made the trek to Philadelphia for Greenbuild 2024—the world’s largest green building event. There, they presented Towards Affordable Decarbonization: Lowering Utility Costs in Electrified Multifamily Buildings, a research-backed talk that’s been sparking conversations around town, from BuildingEnergy NYC to AIANY’s Committee on the Environment.
The takeaway? Our case study showed a 20% increase in utility costs due to electrification. Knowing that full electrification is coming—and at a premium—it’s essential to identify practical ways to balance these added costs with solutions that can help maintain affordability and sustainability over time.
Big Picture Impact: Benefiting the Bottom Line
Proud to see Ana Leopold representing PCA at Greenbuild 2024.
The presentation raised important questions for developers, builders, and financial planners about leveraging these strategies to keep costs down. As Ana explained:
“Electrification is going to be part of our future. Long-range planning for every building or portfolio will soon require a decarbonization plan, and electrification is central to that. Planning for electrification is ultimately capital planning as well—decarbonization isn’t an opt-in or a nice-to-have any longer.”
Meaningful Engagement and Key Questions
Long conference days didn’t stop attendees from diving into lively discussions. It felt great to share our office conversations with a larger community of people committed to sustainable solutions, and to see so many nodding in agreement when Ana highlighted that reducing peak energy loads isn’t just a financial and environmental goal—it’s an environmental justice imperative, too.
A few standout questions included:
How do you pitch decarbonized, all-electric Passive House buildings to clients? Grayson made the business case: building to Passive House standards doesn’t cost significantly more, especially for larger multifamily developments. Plus, developer-owners benefit from long-term savings and healthier indoor environments, which means fewer tenant complaints.
Which hot water solutions work best in different regions? Attendees compared solar hot water systems, strategies for reducing hot water use, and climate-specific approaches to balance heating and cooling needs, showcasing the variety of localized solutions available.
It was also rewarding to see how receptive owners and property managers were to cost-effective electrification strategies.
Our session room filled with developers, property managers, and financiers—all bringing varied insights and questions on the path to affordable decarbonization.
In Summary
Greenbuild 2024 reminded us of the power of open dialogue to spark momentum, close knowledge gaps, and create new paths toward sustainable, affordable housing.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and took part in these critical conversations. As we continue seeking cost-effective solutions for decarbonization, we’d love to hear from you!
If you’re a developer, how are you addressing the rising costs of electrification? What strategies are you considering or implementing to keep utility expenses in check while staying on target with sustainability goals? Let’s keep the momentum going as we work together to shape a financially viable, sustainable future for multifamily housing.