Learn how we are working to transform how we use and produce energy.
We are catalyzing the market for superefficient and net-zero buildings and districts that vault NZE from niche to mainstream—demonstrating how going zero can save energy and money, reduce environmental impact, increase resilience, and better improve occupant health, comfort, and productivity.
We are driving early movers in the buildings industry on a path to—or beyond—net zero energy by working with individual buildings, districts, cities, and portfolios to significantly reduce energy use, and powering them with renewable energy sources cost-effectively while also supporting dynamic grid interface. We’re doing this by helping owners “lead by example,” with pioneering demonstration projects that show net zero can be achieved profitably and uncover new sources of value, while also publishing key insights that were learned through these projects so others are inspired and activated to follow suit.
If we are going to make meaningful progress toward global climate targets, we need to fix our buildings. They are the largest end-users of energy, and given the average 30-year lifespan, can be part of the problem or our climate solution for years to come. While demand for NZE buildings has grown 700 percent between 2012 and 2016, NZE buildings still represent a mere fraction of our building stock. Plus, many of these projects are new construction, not retrofits. We need to bridge the gap today between the promise that NZE holds for commercial buildings and districts, and actual market adoption.
We’re working with leading private and government sector partners where we see the greatest opportunity to increase the speed and scale of net-zero energy buildings and districts. We work with large portfolio owners and managers, district-scale developers, and leading federal agencies.
Independent research. Real-world solutions. Supported by donors.
RMI can pursue the highest-impact climate and energy solutions because we’re supported by people who believe change is possible. Every gift helps advance the work needed to make clean energy the default choice worldwide.
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