Decarbonizing the Built Environment One Building at a Time

Summary

In 2024, The Plant committed to complete the development of its self-titled, case study building – a physical embodiment of what can be accomplished in zero carbon, 100 percent renewable energy,and fossil fuel free decarbonization. Located in a former coal-burning power plant in Yonkers, New York, the Plant will become a model for the built environment community, demonstrating decarbonization efforts and innovations in the redevelopment of the historic building. In close collaboration with local government and nonprofits, the Plant also committed to build a workforce development program that focuses on hard and soft skill training for low- to moderate-income communities and the creation of more than 540 high-quality, green construction jobs and over 740 ongoing, sustainable operations jobs. Further, in partnership with the United Nations, the Plant is building a powerful platform to convene important policymaking and policy-influencing constituencies with private industry from both the Global North and Global South under one roof to encourage adoption of best practices and uniformity in regulatory approaches.

Approach

The Plant commits to complete the development of its self-titled, case study building – a physical embodiment of what can be accomplished in building decarbonization, creating zero carbon, 100% renewable energy, and fossil fuel free spaces. Grounded in a former coal burning power plant, the Plant will become a model and showcase to the built environment community, demonstrating decarbonization efforts on the ground and innovations in the redevelopment of the historic building. The Plant will also nurture and catalyze a dynamic community with a focus on local environmental justice initiatives. In collaboration with local government and non-profits, the Plant commits to build a workforce development program that focuses on hard and soft skill training for low- to moderate-income communities and the creation of at least 540 high-quality, green construction jobs as well as at least 740 ongoing, sustainable operations jobs.

Further, convening important policymaking and policy-influencing constituencies, along with private industry from both the global north and global south under one roof to encourage adoption of best practices and uniformity in regulatory approach. In partnership with the United Nations, the Plant will build a powerful platform to affect real change in the industry and can make critical connections between historically siloed members of the built environment that will accelerate the net zero transition, serving as a place for industry leaders to streamline, communicate, connect, convene, build bridges, and break down barriers. The Plant will encourage both horizontal and vertical collaboration among members of the built environment value chain to create demand for green technologies, increase cost competitiveness through scale, and enable investment. With The Plant as a demonstration project, owners, developers, contractors, engineers, and architects will have a tangible example of the integration of green technologies in redeveloped buildings that they can walk though, convene in, and innovate in, allowing for easier adoption in their portfolios.

Action Plan

Q2 2024: Engage industry leaders for participation in two events: a first-of-its kind symposium at The Plant on Leveraging National Climate Funding and Public-Private Partnerships to Scale Built Environment Decarbonization co-hosted with CGI and a High-Level Roundtable to Decarbonize the Built Environment to be co-hosted with UN-Habitat.

Q3 to Q4 2024: Finish design and begin construction, while simultaneously creating a blueprint for decarbonization of existing building stock.

Participate alongside UN-Habitat at COP 29 to further engage with partners and facilitate the adoption of best practices in decarbonization.

Q1 2025 to Q3 2027: Finalize development of the Plant building, which entails ongoing construction and redevelopment of The Plant site. Throughout construction, we will be working with materials and systems providers to ensure their innovations are patently highlighted in a replicable way.

Q4 2027: Provide a real-world showcase of, and physical home for, the decarbonization effort in the built environment. As a permanent symbol to advancing decarbonization, The Plant will gather diverse audiences in productive dialogues that will continue to progress the industry thereafter.

Background

The built environment is the single largest contributor to the ongoing climate crisis. It is estimated that approximately 40% of all global CO2 emissions and 35% of all global energy usage results from the built environment, according to multiple sources. Whether it is materials companies, which represent embodied carbon (ie. steel, cement, glass, insulation) , equipment companies, which represent operational carbon (ie. heating, cooling, electricity, lighting) , developers, engineers, architects, contractors, or financial institutions, all participants across the built environment value chain have a crucial role to play in protecting our global planetary ecosystem.

The built environment is fragmented and siloed, leading to challenges in the industrialization and implementation of decarbonizing solutions. Policy within the built environment varies by jurisdiction; the industry is regulated on a local level and lacks uniformity in standards, building codes, and decision makers. This leads to an unwillingness to implement or adopt universal solutions. Decarbonizing solutions within the built environment are expensive and the industry is notoriously slow to adopt new technologies.

The wider real estate industry needs more examples of how both existing and new green technologies can be leveraged to transform existing and aging building stock and address environmental justice issues in historically overlooked and underinvested-in communities across the United States.

Progress Update

Partnership Opportunities

The Plant is seeking like-minded partners in the effort to decarbonize the built environment. We are building out a global community of partners. Building on our partnership with The UN and the event we co-hosted with CGI, we will achieve our collective goal to decarbonize the built environment., The Plant is offering a forum to showcase private industry-led decarbonization efforts, the opportunity to share best practice information, the ability to gain access to cutting-edge technologies in decarbonization, and the creation of a “green marketplace” lowering the green premium associated with employing green building technologies.