Buildings: A Critical Component for Colorado's Carbon and Cost-Cutting Future

The July 10, 2023 McKinsey article "Colorado's Path to Net-Zero Greenhouse-Gas Emissions by 2050" by Madeleine Carnemark, Kevin Neher, and Julia Silvis discusses Colorado's plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, identifying the key sectors that must take action to achieve this goal. These sectors include agriculture, buildings, industry, power, and transport. The article also emphasizes the importance of removing existing carbon, which can be accomplished through direct air capture (DAC) technologies or natural solutions such as planting trees and implementing agricultural practices that sequester carbon in the soil.

However, an earlier article by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, referencing the U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia.gov), focuses specifically on buildings as a critical component of Colorado's decarbonization strategy. The article notes that buildings account for almost 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, presenting significant opportunities for energy savings and emissions reductions. The authors suggest that designing and constructing energy-efficient buildings can lead to large reductions in energy consumption and highlight various products and innovative financial mechanisms that can support building owners in achieving these goals.

Both articles stress the importance of decarbonization and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but they focus on different aspects of the problem. The first article takes a broader view, identifying key sectors and technologies required for Colorado to reach its decarbonization goals, while the second article focuses specifically on buildings as a critical component of this effort.

Regardless, lowering your building energy bills, improving building performance and implementing state-required benchmarking and performance standards to track, optimize and maintain building energy and infrastructure will be crucial for Colorado’s conscientious and competitive building owners and property managers, now and in the future. Take advantage of a free consultation from Sparkz Contracting LLC to discover and improve your Energy Star Energy Use Intensity (EUI) while providing efficient, comfortable buildings for your happy, loyal tenants and productive employees.

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