Brad Berton
April Issue: Sustainability—Decentralization Nation
Grid reforms focus on ‘distributed energy resources’ networks.
Solar Installations: Achieving Grid Parity
Installation of solar photovoltaic arrays is on the rise among commercial real estate properties. Falling prices and growing incentives are even helping solar achieve price parity with utility-supplied electricity.
JULY ISSUE: Greening Walgreens
Walgreens has opened a prototype net-zero energy retail store – the first such store in the nation. Here’s a close look at what went into the Evanston, Ill., property, and what they’re getting out of it.
Branding Benefits: Walgreen’s Sustainability Efforts vs. the Competition
In a cut-throat, thin-margin consumer marketplace, Walgreen Co.’s portfolio sustainability endeavors help differentiate the brand from the competition.
Replicating Success: The Nuts & Bolts of Walgreen’s Net-Zero Model
In designing its retail store in Evanston, Ill., Walgreen Co. management tasked the facilities team with engineering a net-zero store that can be replicated across the country on a large-scale basis.
Projects Compared: Decoupling Strategies for Improved Ventilation
Decoupling ventilation from temperature control is improving energy efficiency while improving indoor air quality. A look at how three of North America’s most energy-efficient sizable office buildings are approaching this strategy.
Cost Analysis: Making Hybrid Systems Pencil
The expectation going forward is that as PV and storage costs fall further and performance improves over the next several years, and as developers further enhance system software, solar-plus-battery investments will pencil in more states, and likewise for a broader roster of corporate and multi-tenant property types, configurations and locations.
Newfangled Financing: Funding Options for Small Wind Turbine Installations
While use of small wind turbines is expanding into more property sectors, funding and installation costs remain near-term issues.
The Lineup
A number of states have developed green banks as a means to bridge the gap in financing for clean energy retrofit projects, while others are considering it. Following are details on what’s been established so far.