Post originally published on the Building Innovation Hub website.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Institute for Market Transformation
Alexandra Laney, alexandra.laney@imt.org, (202) 525-2883 x301
WASHINGTON, DC (November 3, 2021)—The Building Innovation Hub, a project of the Institute for Market Transformation focused on providing critical connections and knowledge to improve buildings in Washington, DC, today was designated an International Centre of Excellence on High Performance Buildings. The designation by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as part of its High Performance Building Initiative signifies the Hub as a leader in advancing high-performing buildings in support of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Bold action to addressing energy use in buildings is critical to addressing climate change. Centres that support local markets in a boots-on-the-ground approach are critical to driving this action. We are pleased to recognize the Building Innovation Hub as an International Centre of Excellence and look forward to cross-center collaboration to scale up decarbonization in Washington DC and beyond,” explained Scott Foster, Director of Sustainable Energy at UNECE.
The Hub joins a network of International Centres of Excellence on High Performance Buildings. The UNECE launched the global network in 2018 with the Building Energy Exchange in New York City as its founding centre. The centres provide implementation-oriented education and assistance to building developers, contractors, architects, and engineers, as well as regulatory and planning officials. They also provide community-centric knowledge development and sharing through activities such as convening discussions among local and international industry leaders, gathering and disseminating knowledge directly, catalyzing tools and training development, and fostering support for best practices. In addition to partnering through the UNECE effort, IMT and Building Energy Exchange are collaborating to launch local support hubs in a number of U.S. jurisdictions, including Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; and St. Louis, MO. Building Energy Exchange was also a partner with IMT in launching the Building Innovation Hub. The Hub is supported by the DC Department of Energy and Environment and its members.
Lindsey Falasca, the Hub’s Director, participated in a virtual signing ceremony this morning.
“We are honored and delighted to be part of this global network of localized programs. We need to fundamentally change how we think about the built environment and the larger role that buildings play in society. Collaboration is the surest way for us to take action at the scale and pace needed to address climate change—and we can take action in ways that contribute meaningfully to reducing emissions and inequities both in the District and globally,” said Falasca.
To learn more about the Hub’s, visit buildinginnovationhub.org and sign up for its monthly newsletter.
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About the Building Innovation Hub
The Building Innovation Hub (Hub) helps building industry professionals in and around Washington, DC create and operate high-performing buildings. It is a project of the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that specializes in driving demand for high-performing buildings.
The Hub connects professionals and provides information and education. The goal of the Hub is to meet the current needs of the building industry while simultaneously pushing it towards the innovative solutions that we will need to build and operate high-performing buildings. Through this work, we help ensure the District remains a highly competitive market and a leader in sustainable and equitable building practices. Follow the Hub on LinkedIn.
About IMT
For more than 25 years, the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) has partnered with government, business, and philanthropy to improve the spaces where we live, work, and play. IMT focuses on innovative and pragmatic solutions that fuel greater investment in high performing, energy-efficient buildings. IMT offers hands-on technical assistance and market research, alongside expertise in policy and program development and deployment and promotion of best practices and knowledge exchange. Our innovations have helped reduce carbon emissions and energy costs across billions of square feet of real estate in major U.S. cities; empowered landlords and tenants to overcome barriers to mutually-beneficial building improvements; and increased overall demand for better buildings. Visit us at www.imt.org and follow us on Twitter @IMT_speaks.