Aligning All Facilities Departments with Decarbonization Goals Requires a Collaborative Approach to Standards & Priorities

 

As facilities departments grapple with the urgent need to decarbonize buildings—a sector responsible for 37% of global CO2 emissions—the convergence of digital technology and strategic retrofitting emerges as a pivotal pathway. Integrating Schneider Electric’s technology-first approach with ASHRAE’s latest ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2024 for existing buildings underscores a holistic strategy to meet science-based climate targets. Schneider Electric’s emphasis on digital and power management solutions for retrofitting existing buildings promises substantial operational carbon emissions reduction, with potential paybacks in less than three years, aligning with the podcast’s focus on cross-departmental and industry-wide synergy for decarbonization.

Meanwhile, ASHRAE’s standard introduces rigorous carbon emissions performance requirements, fostering a sustainable built environment through improved energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprints. This dual approach not only addresses the immediate efficiency upgrades and long-term community-scale decarbonization efforts but also sets a foundation for facilities management departments to navigate their roles in achieving net-zero emissions, ensuring buildings meet not only current sustainability standards but also remain viable and valuable assets in a greener economy.

Experts Talk, presented by MarketScale, explores the critical question: How can facilities management departments synergize their efforts to achieve ambitious decarbonization goals?

Hosted by Daniel J. Litwin, the Voice of B2B, this roundtable brings together Dr. Eric Woodell, a Mission-Critical Facilities Analyst & Auditor from Amerruss LLC; Omar Tabba, Chief Product Officer at BrainBox AI; and Jeff Pawlak, Vice President of Sales at ENTOUCH Controls. The discussion examines the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in aligning each layer of the facilities management ecosystem towards a unified decarbonization mission, highlighting the roles of technology, policy, and industry collaboration in this endeavor.

Key discussion points include:

  • The current misalignment within facilities management departments and the broader industry on decarbonization strategies
  • The critical role of digital technology and AI in optimizing building operations for energy efficiency and reduced emissions
  • Strategies for fostering cross-departmental and industry-wide collaboration to achieve comprehensive decarbonization goals

Dr. Eric Woodell brings a wealth of experience as a Mission-Critical Facilities Analyst & Auditor, focusing on ensuring the reliability and efficiency of facilities crucial to organizational operations. His expertise spans evaluating and improving operational practices to meet stringent sustainability and efficiency standards.

As Chief Product Officer at BrainBox AI, Omar Tabba provides innovative contributions to AI in building management. His work centers on harnessing artificial intelligence to optimize building operations, reduce energy consumption, and significantly lower carbon footprints, pushing the envelope in smart building technologies.

Jeff Pawlak has made significant strides in energy management solutions as Vice President of Sales at ENTOUCH Controls. His role involves leading the charge in providing cutting-edge, integrated solutions to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial buildings.

Article written by James Kent.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

influencer partnerships
Moving Beyond Social Media Buzz: How Authentic Content & Long-Term Influencer Partnerships Can Drive Hotel ROI
July 30, 2025

Influencer marketing is rapidly changing, and many hotels are still figuring out how to tap into its full potential. As travelers demand more authentic and relatable content, the pressure is on for hotels to adapt their marketing strategies. But with skepticism around the true ROI of influencer partnerships, it’s more important than ever for brands…

Read More
workforce
Building a Future-Ready Workforce: With Traditional Training Models Failing, It’s Time for Employers and Educators to Build Solutions Together
July 30, 2025

In an era where the average job tenure in the U.S. hovers under four years and industries are evolving faster than academic curricula can keep up, the need for a new approach to workforce development has never been more urgent. Companies like Amazon and McDonald’s are responding by investing in “education as a benefit”…

Read More
belief
Learning Out Loud with Belief, Courage, and the Power of Yes
July 30, 2025

In a world where workplace disengagement is on the rise, with global employee engagement falling to just 21% in 2024, leaders and teams are increasingly seeking meaning, connection, and growth in their work. Amid this shift, professionals are asking deeper questions about purpose and fulfillment, both individually and collectively. That’s exactly where Paul Plamondon’s…

Read More
professional advancement
The Measured Mindset: How Mentorship, Curiosity, and Listening Drive Professional Advancement and Growth
July 29, 2025

Not every path into analytics starts with code and spreadsheets. For some, it begins with curiosity, adaptability, mentorship, and a willingness to learn something entirely new. That’s the case for Mayank Malviya, whose journey from a humanities education in India to a career in U.S.-based market research reveals how initiative and mentorship can accelerate…

Read More