Electrification and MEP 2040
by Luke Pfeifer
Electrification represents a transformative shift in how we power our buildings, moving from a reliance on fossil fuel-powered appliances like gas boilers and hot-water heaters to fully electric technologies, like high-efficiency heat pumps and heat-recovery chillers. In striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and ultimately achieve net-zero carbon in commercial spaces, electrification of combustion technology must be a part of the conversation.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in order to stay within the global-warming temperature threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius and extinguish the impacts of climate change, global CO2 emissions will need to be reduced by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2040. The MEP 2040 Challenge is one of the most ambitious initiatives in support of this goal, and Syska is one of the original signatories.
If you haven’t had a chance to read Syska’s Corporate Sustainability Report (CSR) yet, here is a brief overview of the initiative:
Global CO2 emissions will need to be reduced by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
The Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to decarbonizing the built environment, issued the MEP 2040 Challenge in 2021. Signatories commit to advocating for and achieving net-zero carbon in their projects, with deadlines of 2030 for operational carbon and 2040 for embodied carbon.
Electrification is one of the most effective ways to achieve the IPCC and MEP 2040 targets. Buildings with installed mixed-fuel systems obstruct progress toward a zero-emission built environment. Cost, however, is a primary concern for specifying a fully electric commercial space and, therefore, the conversation should start with the timing and phasing of this effort.
Electrification of a building is most cost-effective during the new-construction phase, due to like-to-like cost comparisons of fully electric equipment, such as heat pumps compared to natural gas or other mixed-fuel equipment. Likewise, during electrification cost-analysis for new construction, significant cost savings can be realized by eliminating the need for new natural-gas or steam services with distribution piping and utility hookups.
For existing buildings looking to electrify, the most cost-effective way to attain full electrification takes place during the end-of-life period for the existing mixed-fuel system. It would be a hard sell for a client to retrofit an existing building with electric heat pumps when the current mechanical equipment is only at a mid-life stage.
The reality of achieving net-zero emissions in building operations and embodied carbon of MEP equipment by 2040 relies on an equal effort from all players, not only in the design and construction industry, but also in the utility industry. Multiple paralleling assumptions are being made for such a drastic shift in the built environment. For example, if there is a large push to electrify all commercial spaces to reduce carbon emissions, one would assume that the electricity that is being delivered is clean and carbon-free.
The good news is that the electrical grid is getting cleaner as we speak. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2022 clean energy sources comprised about 41% of electrical generation in the U.S. with a year-over-year rise of 12.6%, which showcases the rapid movement toward cleaner generation. Between 2005 and 2019, total electricity generation in the U.S. increased by about 2%, while CO2-related emissions fell by 33%, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And finally, analysis from Lazard shows that wind and solar PV are now the least expensive form of energy production, falling well below the cost of coal and gas, which is encouraging the push for a cleaner grid.
Between 2005 and 2019, total electricity generation in the U.S. increased by about 2%, while CO2-related emissions fell by 33%.
Building a Greener Tomorrow in Charlotte
Alex Myers, Principal, recently shared his insights on Charlotte’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. With ambitious targets—achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050—Charlotte is committed to a cleaner and greener future. Tune in to hear more.
As these industry partners begin to work to together to reach MEP 2040 goals, there is another player that we are beginning to link hands with – the production and manufacturing industry. The effort to reduce embodied carbon of MEP equipment, as a part of the MEP 2040 movement, will focus heavily on the greenhouse gas emissions produced during the production stage of building materials. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, “the expectation for better products, better systems, and better buildings has created demand for reliable disclosure methods for the health and environmental impacts of building materials.”.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Product Environmental Profiles (PEPs) are the solution, providing transparency when considering a manufacturer’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products. Larger electrical suppliers, like ABB and Schneider Electric, are already helping to position EPDs and PEPs for electrical products, such as circuit breakers, receptacles, and panelboards, as industry standards. Ultimately, the success of electrifying commercial buildings relies on the collective movement towards a sustainable future, demanding efforts across design, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Electrification stands as a pivotal strategy in advancing toward goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and ensuring a low-carbon built environment.