• Study quantifies impact of technology upgrades on energy performance and carbon reduction in office buildings
• Research finds retrofitting buildings using a digital-first approach is best pathway to decarbonization

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Retrofitting buildings using a digital-first approach is the best pathway to decarbonization, according to new research from Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation.

Buildings represent an estimated 37 per cent of global carbon emissionsⁱ, and as about half of today’s buildings are still likely to be in use in 2050ⁱⁱ, the sector must urgently reduce operational carbon emissions, by making buildings more energy efficient.

The research findings show that deploying Schneider Electric’s digital building and power management solutionsⁱⁱⁱ in existing office buildings could reduce their operational carbon emissions by up to 42 per cent with a payback period of less than three years. If fossil fuel-powered heating technologies are replaced with electric-powered alternatives, and a microgrid with local renewable energy sources is installed, all-electric, all-digital buildings will see an additional 28 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions resulting in a total reduction of up to 70 per cent.

Mike Kazmierczak, Vice President of the Digital Energy Decarbonization Office, the team leading the science-based research and product innovation to accelerate the energy transition within Schneider Electric’s Digital Energy division, explained that, “Tackling operational emissions is the number-one lever to decarbonize existing buildings at scale and achieve net-zero emissions targets by 2050. This breakthrough research reveals that reducing carbon emissions by up to 70 per cent is feasible if we transform our existing building stock into energy-efficient, fully-electrified and digitized assets.”

The research, carried out with the global design firm WSP, is based on modeling the energy performance and carbon emissions of a large office building built in the early 2000s across various U.S. Climate Zones^iv. This digital approach to building renovations is, however, applicable to all building types and climates, and is, therefore, the most effective building decarbonization strategy, yielding fast results with lower ‘upfront carbon’^v.

Renovating through the deployment of digital technologies is not only less disruptive to daily operations, but also more effective from a lifecycle carbon perspective. Failing to rapidly decarbonize buildings could also result in stranded assets that lose value and are unattractive to both investors and tenants.

Furthermore, recent research from the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability and the Schneider Electric Sustainability Research Institute estimates that there is a sizable potential to create new jobs through the transition to low-carbon buildings.

Schneider Electric is widely recognized as an impact company and a leader in decarbonization. Its connected products, software and sustainability services help drive operational efficiency, eliminate energy waste, and provide strategies for carbon reduction in buildings, factories, data centers, infrastructure, and homes. Schneider Electric’s research and decarbonization scenarios offer immediate, practical solutions to help organizations navigate the complexities of the energy transition.

To learn more about the findings of Schneider’s research and three step process (strategize, digitize, decarbonize) to accelerate the path to net-zero buildings, visit here.

Related resources:

• Decarbonize the Office: Unleash the Power of Digital Solutions for Building Renovations
• A structured methodology for planning commercial real estate portfolio decarbonization
• The Path to Net-Zero Buildings: A 3-step guide to turn sustainability ambitions into actions
• Back to 2050: a major report on how 1.5°C is more feasible than many think

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

www.se.com/ca

Discover Life Is On     Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights.

Hashtags: #ClimateWeekNYC #CREtechNewYork2023 #Buildings of the Future

_______________________

ⁱ Tracking Clean Energy Progress (International Energy Agency 2022). 

ⁱⁱ Energy Technology Perspectives (International Energy Agency 2020). 

ⁱⁱⁱ Schneider Electric solutions include EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Advisor, Connected Room Solutions, Accusine power factor correction and harmonic filtering, PowerLogic submetering 

^iv Using the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) 90.1-2004 baseline for large offices (12-stories, 46728 m2). 

^v Upfront carbon refers to the emissions primarily related to the extraction and production of building products and materials

Contacts

Media Relations – Edelman on behalf of Schneider Electric

Juan Pablo Guerrero, Phone: +1 416 875 7173, Email: juan.guerrero@edelman.com

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DREAM IMPACT TRUST (TSX: MPCT.UN) (“Dream Impact” or the “Trust”) today announced its September 2023 monthly distribution in the amount of 5.333 cents per Unit (64 cents annualized). The September distribution will be payable on October 13, 2023 to unitholders of record as at September 29, 2023.

About Dream Impact Trust

Dream Impact Trust is an open-ended trust dedicated to impact investing. Dream Impact’s underlying portfolio is comprised of exceptional real estate assets reported under two operating segments: development and investing holdings, and recurring income, that would not be otherwise available in a public and fully transparent vehicle, managed by an experienced team with a successful track record in these areas. The objectives of Dream Impact are to create positive and lasting impacts for our stakeholders through our three impact verticals: environmental sustainability and resilience, attainable and affordable housing, and inclusive communities; while generating attractive returns for investors. For more information, please visit: www.dreamimpacttrust.ca.

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

DREAM IMPACT TRUST

Meaghan Peloso

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 365-6322

mpeloso@dream.ca

Kimberly Lefever

Director, Investor Relations

(416) 365-6339

klefever@dream.ca

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DREAM INDUSTRIAL REIT (TSX: DIR.UN) (the “Trust”) announced today its September 2023 monthly distribution in the amount of 5.833 cents per Unit (70 cents annualized). The September distribution will be payable on October 13, 2023 to unitholders of record as at September 29, 2023.

Dream Industrial REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. As at June 30, 2023, Dream Industrial REIT owns, manages and operates a portfolio of 321 assets totalling approximately 70.3 million square feet of gross leasable area in key markets across Canada, Europe, and the U.S. Dream Industrial REIT’s goal is to deliver strong total returns to its unitholders through secure cash flows underpinned by its high-quality portfolio and an investment grade balance sheet as well as driving growth in its net asset value and cash flow per unit. For more information, please visit our website at www.dreamindustrialreit.ca.

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

DREAM INDUSTRIAL REIT

Brian Pauls

Chief Executive Officer

(416) 365-2365

bpauls@dream.ca

Lenis Quan

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 365-2353

lquan@dream.ca

Alexander Sannikov

President & Chief Operating Officer

(416) 365-4106

asannikov@dream.ca

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DREAM RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (TSX: DRR.U and TSX: DRR.UN) (“Dream Residential REIT” or the “REIT”) today announced its September 2023 monthly distribution in the amount of US$0.035 per unit (US$0.42 annualized). The September distribution will be payable on October 13, 2023 to unitholders of record as at September 29, 2023.

About Dream Residential REIT

Dream Residential REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario. The REIT owns an initial portfolio of 16 garden-style multi-residential properties, consisting of 3,432 units primarily located in three markets across the Sunbelt and Midwest regions of the United States. For more information, please visit www.dreamresidentialreit.ca.

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Dream Residential REIT

Brian Pauls
Chief Executive Officer

(416) 365-2365

bpauls@dream.ca

Derrick Lau
Chief Financial Officer

(416) 365-2364

dlau@dream.ca

Scott Schoeman
Chief Operating Officer

(303) 519-3020

sschoeman@dream.ca

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DREAM OFFICE REIT (TSX: D.UN) (“Dream Office” or the “Trust”) today announced its September 2023 monthly distribution of 8.333 cents per REIT Unit, Series A ($1.00 annualized). The September distribution will be payable on October 13, 2023 to unitholders of record as at September 29, 2023.

Dream Office REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. Dream Office REIT is a premier office landlord in downtown Toronto with over 3.5 million square feet owned and managed. We have carefully curated an investment portfolio of high-quality assets in irreplaceable locations in one of the finest office markets in the world. For more information, please visit our website at www.dreamofficereit.ca.

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Michael J. Cooper

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(416) 365-5145

mcooper@dream.ca

Jay Jiang

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 365-6638

jjiang@dream.ca