Center for Environmental Building + Design [CEBD] is dedicated to improving the environmental future of buildings, institutions, and cities. We seek ways to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings by employing design-based methods to provide indoor thermal comfort and air quality. We research adaptive architectural technologies and construction materials that can reduce the energy consumption of buildings’ heating and cooling systems as well as their embodied carbon footprint. Services are contracted through our low overhead, non-profit engagement unit.
For more information, contact us at brahamw@design.upenn.edu
Climate Action Planning
Climate Action Plans are comprehensive roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From local non-profits to state agencies, climate action plans are a critical tool for advancing institutional climate goals. At the Center for Environmental Building + Design [CEBD], we work with your teams and stakeholders to chart an actionable and efficient path toward decarbonization uniquely tailored to your organization’s goals and operations. We specialize in non-profit and educational institutions with complex operations such as research labs, multi-acre campuses or medical facilities. Carbon action plans are not one size fits all.
Services include:
Measure
- Data Collection + Processing
Working with your team, all relevant energy and emissions data will be collected, organized, and processed.
- Emissions Profile
The emissions profile is the foundation for planning and action. Your institution’s emissions profile will include carbon footprints for individual buildings up to entire regional portfolios, emissions sources and intensity of sources.
Plan
- Emissions Reductions Strategy + Goal Setting
Considering system and operations of existing and future assets, we identify efficient strategies and achievable goals.
- Ongoing Data Gathering + Analysis Protocol to Track Emissions Reduction Progress
Benchmarking progress is key to achieving climate goals. CEBD partners with clients on an ongoing basis to keep everything up to date.
Act
- Stakeholder Engagement + Implementation Planning
Advocating for the plan set forth, we prepare reports, presentations, and facilitate discussions with key decision makers.
- Dashboarding Tools + Climate Brand Assets
Communicating progress is key for buy in and brand development. We develop visual and written assets that help you share your climate goals.
Recent projects include:
University of Pennsylvania Main Campus, Climate Action Plan 2009, 2014, 2019
George Nakashima Woodworkers, Climate Action Plan, 2022
New Bolton Center, Emissions Profile, 2015, 2020
Morris Arboretum ,Emissions Profile, 2015, 2022
University of Pennsylvania Health System, Emissions Profile, 2023
Energy and Environmental Sensing and Monitoring
Remote real-time sensing of environmental parameters in buildings
IoT sensor network for long term indoor environmental quality and energy monitoring
Air quality monitoring
Distributed sensors connected to a blockchain network for performance-based rewards
Building Energy Management Plans
Develop actionable insights for building energyreduction from available energy and temperature data
Building energy consumption benchmarking using national and regional data
“Auto-benchmarking” of buildings using machine learning techniques to evaluate building performance against a base year. Useful for evaluating improvements or to detect performance degradation
Low-order simulation models used to evaluate alternative renovation scenarios