Ready or Not: Renewables are Coming to Commercial Buildings

Join ULI San Francisco on April 12th for a panel discussion that will explore policy drivers and business cases for implementing all-renewable energy strategies in urban commercial developments.

This program resulted from a simple question: How can commercial building owners in dense urban environments navigate on-site constraints for solar and other “green” energy, to achieve state-wide Zero Net Energy goals and legislated Clean Energy goals? There are a host of data sources confirming that market-based forces, like LEED and Energy Star certification, are causing owners to shift toward green building strategies. Yet, thus far, it appears that owners have been hesitant to pursue Zero Net Energy Buildings, as only 17 state verified projects totaling over 250,000 square feet have been achieved through 2016. However, signs of changing building strategies and lower implementation barriers are evident, as an additional 90-plus buildings or districts in the state, totaling over 10 million square feet, have made public commitments toward Zero Net Energy goals.

The discussion will cover some of following questions regarding demand and implementation.

• How are California’s recent policies stoking the demand for commercial building owners to source 100% of their buildings’ energy from renewable sources?
• What are the market-forces that could lead to wide-spread Zero Net Energy adoption?
• What are the strengths and weakness of the go-to implementation solutions, like Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), community choice aggregation, and virtual Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?
• Please stick around after the panel to enjoy appetizers, drinks, and further discussion.