Integrating Sustainabilityintointo 

Business DecisionsEdwin Lim

Senior Vice PresidentS t i bilit & B ildi S iSustainability & Building Sciences

My Sustainability JourneyMy Sustainability Journey

– CareerCareer• 16+ Years in Intelligent Building Technology & Energy Efficiency

• 5 Years as a Sustainability Executive with large Real Estate Operator

• Sustainability & Building Performance• Sustainability & Building Performance Consulting

– VolunteerismVolunteerism

Climate Change ScienceClimate Change Science

Real Impacts of Climate ChangeReal Impacts of Climate Change

l Gl iHelm Glacier, Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia

1929 2002

Photos: BC Archives, J. Koch; Peter Corbyn

Climate Change impact on HumansClimate Change impact on Humans

Human Impact on Climate ChangeHuman Impact on Climate Change

So what have I learned?So what have I learned?

Source: NASA

People want to do the right thing!People want to do the right thing!

The Majority of us agree that we should leave the planet j y g pin better conditions for future generations and we should not eat, breathe or drink the stuff!

So why isn’t it happening?So why isn t it happening?

Source: NASA

People have been programmed to k hmake environment a charity?

In order to make Sustainability truly Sustainable we must integrate it intoSustainable we must integrate it into 

our every day decision making.

Price Signal h lithru Policy

Current  State:

Electricity Pricing is not differentiated based on Generation Source and Environmental Impacts are treated as 

lan externality.

Desired State: 

Environmental Impact of Generation Source is integrated into Electricity Pricing to drive migration to greener source and reduce usage of dirtiersource and reduce usage of dirtier sources.

Savings driven i CBusiness Case

Even without any Policy Change there are enough opportunities to integrate Sustainability Initiatives into enterprise projects and initiatives:

l1. Operational Improvement

2. Capital Replacement

3. Enterprise Marketing

4. Enterprise Risk Planning

5. Enterprise Strategy

Example:Integrating Sustainability intoIntegrating Sustainability into Operational Improvement

Challenge:

• Building appears to operate based on Complaint‐o‐meter!

• Uncertain of Building  Sustainability Performance.

• Increasing Tenant demand for Sustainability .

Solution:

• Have Building Optimized as part of a Re/Retro‐Commissioning Initiatives

• Benchmark Building Performance against peer buildings.

Example:Integrating SustainabilityIntegrating Sustainability into Capital Replacement

Challenge:

• Building Asset near end of life.• New Technology shows savings with 

10 Year Payback.• Critical Failure would drive like for 

like replacement.

Solution:

• Treat replacement cost of end of life Asset as a sunk cost.

• Integrating Sustainability produces new options for driving additional savings.

• Improve payback to 6 years net or a single year payback incrementally.

Example:Integrating SustainabilityIntegrating Sustainability into Enterprise Marketing

Problem:

• Exterior Signage based on standard T12 Fluorescent Technology

• Business Case for Replacement was economically viable but competitioneconomically viable but competition for capital resources was challenging.

Integrating :

• Integrate Sustainability into other Product/Brand Launch initiative.

• Integrate new look of LED signage into desired Brand Image.g

• Balance carbon impact of extended operating hours with carbon reduction from higher efficiency signage.

Example:Integrating Sustainability intoIntegrating Sustainability into Enterprise Risk Planning

Challenge:

• Aging Information Technology Infrastructure in high carbon electrical jurisdiction.

• Upgrades complicated by mission critical nature of Infrastructure 

Solution:

• Integrate Sustainability into long term planning.

• Develop new facilities in new low carbon electrical jurisdictioncarbon electrical jurisdiction.

• Utilize high efficiency IT technology in new facilities.

• Consider On Site Renewable Energy Generation

Will you integrate Sustainability into ’ lyour organization’s Daily Decisions?

Source: NASA

S kWhat can you do?Speak UpWhat can you do?

• Get strategic and innovative align yourselfGet strategic and innovative, align yourself with Corporate Strategy & potential Allies.

• Win the conversation, don’t let denial or the h ll d!status quo go unchallenged!

• Learn from others, and celebrate and share your SUCCESS!!!!y

The Time for Action IsBecause even thoughThe Time for Action Is...Because, even though...

It isn’tIt isn t

ThiThis one

Source: NASA

This one is theonly Earth wewill ever have,,

Source: NASA

or love or touchor love, or touch, 

or  tend  for  our 

childrenchildren 

Source: NASA

and their children.and their children.