Model RFPs with sustainability language?

One of the best I've seen recently was from Toronto. It included the code and regulatory requirements, including embodied carbon cap and analysis, energy use target requirements, and a few other elements. As you suggest, I'm unsure whether I can share any RFPs, but perhaps we can suggest or quote language from the best ones. Often they include LEED requirements, team requirements for WMDBE, and compliance with custom OPR or other documents that the owner has created. They could include subconsultant language for ASHRAE 209 cycles, levels of embodied carbon analysis and reductions across different scopes, goals for Mass Timber (I've seen that one), or other aspirations and certifications. I've seen a few with stated fossil fuel free or electrification goals, or a requirement that included peak cooling loads to reduce strain on a central plant. Lots of flowery language as well as these more explicit requirements, but we can’t really tell much from that...the worst I’ve seen are ones where you can tell a sustainability consultant wrote the sustainability section of the RFP without talking to anyone who leads projects at the company or institution. One was even written in a different font (copy-pasted without being read, likely)! There is likely no buy-in and anything written there is likely to be viewed with skepticism by the actual client decision makers. -Kjell Fro

I can share some resources from what we've put together for owners, and we recently completed an "Owners Toolkit" for BE+, from a grant to them from MassCEC - which should be public soon! I'll catch up w Kira later today too!' (It would be worth BG doing a 'reprise' for modern/carbon times! hint hint...)
 

Thanks Barbra. The High Performance Building Toolkit went live today! Check it out here. https://builtenvironmentplus.org/hptoolkit/ It includes sample RFQ and RFP language along with Questions to ask. Thanks to Barbra for all her hard work on this project. -Meredith Meredith Elbaum, AIA, LEED AP Executive Director Built Environment Plus: *accelerating change in the built environment* meredith@builtenvironmentplus.org | 617-752-2422 (p) | https://www.builtenvironmentplus.org On Wed, Jun 7, 2023 at 11:59 AM Barbra BatShalom wrote:

One final thought: I would love to see ASHRAE 228 required in an RFP. https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-analysis/yay-your-building-net-zero-meaning-what-exactly -Kjell