Energy Efficiency Targeted in Houston Buildings

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD) launched an action plan to improve the energy efficiency of Houston’s building stock.

The action plan is based on the recommendations of the Houston Energy Efficiency in Buildings Laboratory (EEB Lab) held jointly by the WBCSD and the US BCSD in October 2014.

The action plan is grouped into four themes, and actions are targeted primarily at Class B and C building owners who have less history of making energy efficiency investments. Implementation will be driven by a team of local public and private sector leaders across the following areas:

1. Raising awareness of the multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) – Targeted communications to emphasize the benefits of energy efficiency will be used with the aim of motivating regional real estate professionals to take action.
2. Financing EEB Solutions – All financial tools, such as utility on-bill financing, energy service agreements, and Keeping PACE in Texas, will be presented under an energy efficiency financing umbrella.
3. Building Capacity to deliver EEB Solutions – EEB training resources will be allocated to scale up energy efficiency projects in Houston.
4. Increasing Houston’s real estate market competitiveness with EEB Solutions - The implementation team will serve as a sounding board for proposed policy and regulatory action.

WBCSD member companies Schneider Electric and United Technologies (co-project leaders), AGC, Lafarge and Siemens have supported the Houston Lab and will help drive implementation.