High-Rise Office Building

Business Activity: Real Estate
Location: Chicago
Project: Energy Strategy Development

Sieben Energy Associates, as a sub to an architectural firm, was hired to perform a Sustainable Strategies Assessment for building ownership and management. The owners wanted to evaluate how the building's past, current and future performance could help it establish a modern reputation as a profitable, productive and environmentally responsible place to work.

Energy-related systems at the 36 year-old building were upgraded continuously between 1987 and 2006, which produced energy consumption reductions of approximately 35 percent over 19 years. Because these measures were already integrated into building operations, our experts set out to identify improvements that were more difficult to detect. After a close examination of facility operations, we developed improvement strategies to help the owner realize their sustainability goals. We also helped identify strategies to encourage the active, efficient management of energy, water, material resources and waste, thereby enhancing occupant health and productivity through improved indoor environmental quality.

Through improved integrated energy management strategies, the client was given a roadmap reducing energy costs as well as reducing their carbon footprint — a critical component of decision-making for rented commercial office space. Ultimately, the client wanted to pass their philosophy of sustainability on to their tenants through reduced energy costs and lower carbon emissions and further strengthen the value of their real estate.