Expert Columns

Since the inception of its Go Green program in 2007, Lockheed Martin has implemented and refined its energy management program to meet the various iterations of company goals. In this column from Better Buildings, learn how challenges posed by energy and water efficiency accounting and renewable energy opportunities were overcome with the creation of the Lockheed Martin Energy Playbook (EPB).

Walmart's Project Gigaton called for the retailer's suppliers to reduce, avoid or sequester 1 gigaton — that’s 1 billion metric tons — of GHG emissions in product value chains by 2030. In this column, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Kathleen McLaughlin explains how this goal was reached six years early.

From reducing packaging and food waste to powering fulfillment operations more efficiently, Amazon has been innovating with AI and ML for decades. Here are some of the latest ways the company is leveraging AI to reach its Climate Pledge commitment of net-zero carbon by 2040 and become a more sustainable business.

It’s gearing up to be another banner year for energy codes across the U.S. The Institute for Market Transformation's (IMT) Cherylyn Kelley covers recent developments and where energy codes may go next.

Real estate actors, certifiers, advocates, and policymakers are increasingly using the term “net zero emissions building.” But, what precisely makes a building net zero emissions? As the U.S. Department of Energy looks for input, this column from IMT (Institute for Market Transformation) explores what you need to know about the proposed definition - and what is missing.

Congratulations to 2023 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achievers Allegheny College, Community College of Allegheny County, Morehouse College, and University of Virginia on achieving their portfolio-wide energy savings goals. These four partners manage a combined portfolio of more than 19 million square feet and serve over 42,000 students. Learn more about the measures that these institutions took to achieve their goals in this column.  

Part 1 of IMT's "Unintended Consequences & Potential Solutions of Building Decarbonization" uncovered the effects of these efforts on community-based organizations and local governments. In Part 2 of this series, Giulianna Di Lauro explores potential solutions to these unintended harms. Spoiler alert: community leadership is the key!

Not all carbon offsets are created equal, and we need to evaluate them for credibility. Some ways to describe the value that high-quality offsets bring include additionality, permanence, and risk of leakage. In this blog, NRG dives further into how offset projects are evaluated as a credible tool in a company’s ongoing efforts to reduce, avoid, and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change has become increasingly front of mind, with many organizations looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and limit their impact on the environment. This blog from NRG explores one "tool in the toolkit" - the purchase and use of carbon offsets, which allow organizations to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by supporting a variety of sustainable projects.