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Scope 1  ·  2.3.1

Heating, Cooling & Air Handling

Reducing energy required for heating, cooling, and ventilation within a commercial environment through efficiency efforts and fuel switching from gas or oil to electric or steam — shifting emissions from Scope 1 to Scope 2, which may require further consideration around energy supply, procurement, or on-site generation.

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Self-Assessment

Select where your organization currently operates and where you want to get to. There is no obligation to reach "Leading Org." — choose the target that is right for your business context and investment capacity.

📍 Current Level
🎯 Target Level
Select your current and target levels above to map your assessment on this initiative.
Fundamental
Market Standard
Above Average
Leading Org.

Technology

  • Basic weatherization insulation
  • Smart devices / thermostats

Process

  • Identifying engineering, permitting, and installation best practices
  • Assessing ways to shift load to periods of lower-priced power
  • Overseeing system boundaries to control HVAC to designated areas
  • Assessing required space and evaluating insulation, leakage of ducts, wall, ceiling, and floor areas
  • Avoid oversizing units for desired space

Financing

  • Capitalized via internal investment, often targeting a payback period of 3–5 years per individual project
  • Incentives accessed through federal, state & utility level programs

Technology

  • Fundamental technologies +
  • Specialized commercial heat pumps (VRF, etc.)
  • Integrated security systems
  • More specialized foam and re-skinning insulation practices
  • Variable air valves
  • Steam / district heating

Process

  • Evaluating potential penalties or effect on real estate valuation from not decarbonizing
  • Assessing night setback provisions and personnel movement to lower comfort conditions when space is unoccupied
  • Identifying retrofitting opportunities that re-use waste material from other projects

Financing

  • Capitalized via internal investment, often targeting a payback period of 3–5 years per individual project
  • Incentives accessed through federal, state & utility level programs

Technology

  • Market standard technologies +
  • Variable speed drives at the HVAC
  • Triple-sealed doors and windows
  • Smart devices used to assess equipment and potential leakage concerns
  • Ice / solar thermal storage
  • Hydrogen / solar thermal / renewable gas and other alternatives

Process

  • Examining how operations may be shifted to downsize space required and create longer periods of unoccupied time, matched to electricity price signals
  • Evaluate emerging technology feasibility in meeting air conditioning needs

Financing

  • Capitalized via third-party financing on a performance basis, shifting CAPEX to OPEX and extending payback period to 12–15 years
  • Incentives managed through the third-party

Technology

  • Above average technologies +
  • Integrated batteries / microgrid technologies

Process

  • Evaluating how smart devices, storage, and integrated systems can be optimized across the building for emissions and locational impact criteria — not just via price signals

Financing

  • Third-party financing as in "Above Average," but often bundled with other decarbonization pathways, including Scope 1 reductions, power supply, and others

Related Pathways

← All Pathways 1.3.2 Building Envelope coming soon 1.3.3 Smart Building Management coming soon 1.3.4 Solar Thermal coming soon