This vignette is piece of a multi-part series that will highlight the work being done surrounding Washington State Executive Order 20-01. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been working closely with Washington State for nearly two years to support agencies in their development of Zero Energy projects. ILFI has developed a toolkit of resources for project teams in the state to help them understand definitions around Zero Energy, build powerful teams, and set appropriate targets in order to make designing and building to Zero Energy a feasible goal. Each vignette will shine a light on a project, meeting, or event wherein Zero Energy work was the forefront of the conversation as teams work diligently to implement the Executive Order and achieve their Zero Energy goals.

Project Name: Campus Loop Training

Program: Zero Energy (+ Zero Carbon)

Event: Low Carbon Campus “Brownbag”, Zoom, 4/20/20

Keywords: decarbonization, campus, electrification

Highlights: State agencies came together to collaborate on how to usher campuses into a low-carbon future. Representatives discussed a 2050 end state where district systems are combustion-free; the goal is for these systems to be cost-effective, operationally efficient, and offer long term benefits for both building operators and users. Attendees discussed a four-part, 30-year strategy to get to this vision: (1) Reduce total heat demand; (2) Reduce peak demands; (3) Convert steam to hot water; and (4) Electrify heating systems. Concerns were voiced around handoff from design to operation teams, coordination of maintenance, replacement, and phase-out schedules, and financing of these capital projects. 

Next Steps: Attendees were encouraged to use strategies such as: using lifecycle cost analysis to show the benefit of these systems over time; identifying key intervention points where it can be rolled into already-planned upgrades; and vocalizing these wants into budgeting and planning conversations in order to continue the awareness of this as a pressing need for the State to take active measures in working towards a sustainable future.  

Written By

ILFI Staff

The International Living Future Institute’s mission is to lead the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.