From Building Decarbonization to Campus Decarbonization: Lessons, Pitfalls, Results

To meet their Climate Action Goals, campuses are moving beyond individual net-zero buildings to portfolio decarbonization. An owner–architect–engineer panel shares planning-stage lessons and pitfalls: integrating decarbonization goals throughout the planning and capital budget process, integrating carbon-neutral systems in all new work, electrification as the prerequisite to decarbonization, and coordinating early with the utility to expand capacity. We will explore cost-effective sequencing that pairs load reduction with disconnecting selected buildings from steam, incorporating heat recovery and limited-space solutions. We will also address capital scale, end-of-life-driven phasing, and near-term actions, including all-electric guidelines and utility negotiations.