(H08) The Path to Net Zero: Setting up Your CRE Portfolio for Long-term Success

Globally, the Race to Net Zero is here. Public and private corporations as well as governments are in a position such that energy performance and net zero are not just a nice to have, they’re a must have.

While energy performance remains an important factor, it’s clear that achieving these net zero targets will require far more than business-as-usual, incremental energy savings. In particular, a dramatic reduction – or in some cases the complete elimination – of natural gas consumption will be needed. These significant reductions in carbon will require big measures and projects, necessitating a big picture look into assets and equipment from the perspectives of capital planning, asset renewal, and building operations.

Across the world: portfolio and asset managers are faced with challenge: How do we get there? Where do we start?

Additionally: what is the value to stakeholders and investors? Are these efforts purely philanthropic? What benefits, if any, can investors expect to their bottom lines?

This session will focus on a ‘made by the CRE, for the CRE’ solution to help owners and managers plan for and execute on the ‘big moves’ needed in their portfolios to realize tangible change to target net zero.

Through the example of a major CRE firm, Epic Investments, we will examine a world class solution that has been deployed and saved over $4 Million in operating costs in counting. Through this example, we will work to answer the following top of mind questions in the industry:
- How do I plan for decarbonizing my CRE portfolio?
- What are the key steps that are needed to be taken at the asset and portfolio level? What are the key milestones and decisions that need to be considered?
- How do I use these tools and planning to inform the deployment of capital while maximizing my results and minimizing risk?
- How do I balance energy performance with decarbonization and where can I make the biggest impact?
- How do I engage the stakeholders and decisions makers inside and outside of my organization to put in place the processes and workflows needed to make this happen?
- What are the prerequisites for success and what are the stumbling blocks that can be expected or pre-empted?
- What is the value of planning for energy performance improvement and decarbonization to stakeholders and investors? Why does this matter and who is asking about it?

Starting with Epic’s journey to drive down energy performance at the asset and portfolio level, to planning for larger scale decarbonization, we will use real examples to speak to the challenges and opportunities faced by the leaders in the CRE and provide insight into how to overcome them.

Whether you’re a firm just starting out on your energy performance and decarbonization journey, or a firm with established best practices, this presentation will provide insight into the future of decarbonization in the CRE as well as the tools and decision making processes that will be central to success.