Pittsburgh’s buildings are reducing carbon emissions, but more can be done

Pittsburgh District 2030, a collaborative effort to make Pittsburgh’s buildings greener, has released its latest annual report May 22. Participating facilities reported a combined 48% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.

Buildings located in downtown Pittsburgh, as well as in Oakland, the Strip District and the North Side, have voluntarily joined the collaboration to reduce the environmental impact of their properties, with a total of 87.1 million square feet involved in the project.

District 2030 in Pittsburgh is a founding member of a network of 24 districts in North America that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50-65% by 2030 and ultimately achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040.

The environmental nonprofit Green Building Alliance is overseeing the Pittsburgh project. It advises buildings on how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, water and energy consumption, and improve indoor air quality. According to a 2023 report, the Pittsburgh District’s collaborative efforts saved $75 million in utility costs.

Photo courtesy of Green Building Alliance.

Increased renewable energy

District 2030’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2022–2023 was primarily due to partners producing and purchasing more renewable energy, which produced a total of 243,000 carbon-free megawatt-hours. According to the report, renewable energy sources contributed to an 11 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Chris Cieslak, chief operating officer of Green Building Alliance, said choosing renewable energy is important to maintaining Pennsylvania’s long-term position in energy production while also keeping it clean.

“When people buy renewable energy, it signals to the market that there is a demand for renewable energy,” she said. “(It) will encourage small businesses and manufacturers to invest in renewable energy projects, which will bring jobs to the region.”

Cieślak would like to see more investments in energy efficiency in buildings to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

“The technologies that exist today to decarbonize buildings or make them more energy efficient are low-risk, very practical, (and) make a lot of sense,” she said. “It’s something you would do as part of the normal building renovation process.”

Cieslak said such updates include replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDs, selecting energy-efficient HVAC systems and ensuring air leaks are sealed and properly insulated.

The Green Building Alliance also urges Pennsylvania to adopt operational standards for both new and existing buildings. These updated regulations would require existing buildings to meet energy efficiency and emissions targets.

Cieslak said the Pittsburgh 2030 District is encouraging more facilities to join the effort. “(Green Building Alliance) the vision is that every building in every community is sustainable so that everyone can thrive.”