REALIZE

REALIZE aims to catalyze the zero carbon residential revolution. Together, we’ll make better performing, safer, and more comfortable homes for all American families while spurring wealth and job creation in communities across the country, especially those that have been economically left behind.

What Is REALIZE?

REALIZE is a market facilitation platform that seeks to establish high volume net zero carbon retrofit delivery programs across the US. Market facilitation activities include aggregating retrofit demand while coordinating the supply chain to deploy high-quality, prefabricated retrofit packages that are easy to install and are financed through utility cost savings.

Our vision is a future where buildings are heated, cooled, and powered using renewable, non-greenhouse gas emitting resources and where historically disenfranchised communities are fully included in the benefits and can take part in the new workforce it will take to get there.

Why It Matters

Buildings are the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions globally. Building construction and operations are responsible for 40 percent of emissions, totaling 14 gigatons of CO2 per year. At the same time, buildings are the number one source of air-pollution-related premature deaths in the United States.

In order to reverse both these trends we must eliminate 50 percent of building-related emissions by 2030. Retrofits are an important part of the solution!

Inspiration

REALIZE is inspired by Energiesprong, an innovative model from the Netherlands. A public-private partnership, Energiesprong has implemented zero-energy retrofits to the tune of almost 5,000 units of multifamily housing over the past five years, with another 100,000 planned across Europe.

Our Work

Advanced Building Construction Collaborative

REALIZE is a member of the Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Collaborative. REALIZE supports the ABC Collaborative’s mission to coordinate various market actors to accelerate the research and development and deployment of high-performance building systems into the U.S. construction sector for new buildings and retrofits.

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Inclusive Economy

REALIZE supports partners such as the Emerald Cities Collaborative to recruit and train people of color and women contractors, connecting them to project opportunities and readying them for taking on bigger and more complex projects.

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Regional Programs

REALIZE-CA

Learn more about REALIZE's California program.

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REALIZE-MA

Learn more about REALIZE's Massachusetts's program.

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Resources

ABC Collaborative Report: Market Opportunities and Challenges for Decarbonizing US Buildings

This report provides a synthesis of technologies and approaches that can help to implement new construction and building retrofits.

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Prefabricated Zero Energy Retrofit Technologies

A Market Assessment

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Zero Over Time Brochure

REALIZE: Catalyzing a Zero-Carbon Residential Revolution

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Energiesprong Monitoring and Performance Webinar

Factory Zero tells us more about their monitoring systems and performance monitoring to manage maintenance needs, tenant behavior, and to ensure savings in retrofit buildings.

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Energiesprong Dutch Field Trip Webinar

REALIZE observations from an August 2018 field trip to Energiesprong projects in the Netherlands

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MEP Insight Brief

Sizing the market for integrated, all-electric mechanical systems, 2018

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Feasibility Resource

Techno Economic Study: How To Guide

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Blogs, Videos and Articles

How Multi-Family Affordable Housing Retrofits Can Leverage New Rebates & Tax Credits

RMI Webinar

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The challenge of retrofitting millions of aging homes to battle global warming

PBS Newshour

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Entire Buildings Can Be Wrapped in Jackets to Save Energy

Scientific American

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Strategic Tax Credits to Decarbonize Buildings

RMI 2021

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The Many-Armed Reach of REALIZE

Passive House Accelerator 2021

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Northeast Multifamily Retrofit

Passive House Accelerator 2021

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REALIZE-CA: Retrofit Solutions in California

Passive House Accelerator 2021

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New York’s Real Climate Challenge: Its Aging Buildings

The New York Times

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Prefab Needs to be Fixed Before It Can Save Housing

Forbes

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Social Equity, Affordable Housing, and the Net-Zero Energy Opportunity

RMI 2018

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Getting to Net-Zero Carbon in Multifamily Homes

RMI 2016

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Energiesprong Scaling in Europe

The Guardian

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Partners

Department of Energy

Partner

California Energy Commission

Partner

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Partner

Energiesprong

Partner

Passive House Institute US

Partner

Emerald Cities Collaborative

Partner

The Levy Partnership

Partner

Re:Vision Architecture

Partner

Staengl Engineering

Partner

Association for Energy Affordability

Partner

University of California Davis

Partner

San Francisco Department of Environment

Partner

Prospect Silicon Valley

Partner

Integral Group

Partner

David Baker Architects

Partner

Stone Energy Associates

Partner

Our Team

James Mandel

Martha Campbell
Principal

Maura Mooney

Maura Mooney
Senior Associate

Amy Egerter

Amy Egerter

lucas toffoli headshot

Lucas Toffoli
Principal

Brett Webster
Manager

Adam Parker
REALIZE Market Consultant

Maggie Huang
Senior Associate

Get Involved

We are seeking partners interested in bringing the clean industrial revolution to U.S. homes. Is that you?

Join the ABC Collaborative

 

Request for Proposals

Submit a proposal today.

Contact Us

Send us an email.