Because buildings account for 37% of global CO2 emissions and 37% of all U.S. primary energy use, addressing the way we operate and maintain our buildings matters. The Pittsburgh 2030 District was formed to convene regional property managers and sustainability professionals and help them reduce energy demand, emissions, and water use. Implementing the best practices to achieve these goals has also reduced utility costs, improved indoor air quality, and attracted businesses and families to Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.

Properties that join the 2030 District make a nonbinding, good-faith pledge to work toward a 50%-65% reduction in emissions by 2030, with a further goal of zero emissions by 2040. In doing so, they join a community of like-minded local building owners and operators and gain access to GBA technical expertise, one-on-one expert guidance, and curated education sessions.

Leveraging Expertise: Building Performance Analysis, Technical Assistance & Education Sessions

As part of the 2030 District program, GBA staff provide individual building performance reports for each pledged property. These reports detail each building’s carbon emissions, energy consumption, and water use, and provide comparisons to national benchmarks and similar local buildings. Each year, property partners have the opportunity to review this data on a one-on-one basis with GBA staff, receiving personalized recommendations for projects, financing opportunities, and connections with service providers.

Throughout the year, GBA curates educational programming with content geared towards 2030 District property partners. This programming includes educational sessions, case studies, and building tours on these topics and more:

• Energy efficiency technologies and strategies
• Beneficial electrification and transitioning to a cleaner grid
• Producing or purchasing renewable energy
• Project financing opportunities, including guaranteed energy savings/performance-based contracts, and IRA tax credits
• Adding on-site renewable energy sources such as solar
• Embodied carbon of building materials
• Refrigerants
• Adaptive reuse of buildings and materials in new construction and existing building renovations
• Thermal storage
• Energy purchasing agreements and demand management programs

Joining the Pittsburgh 2030 District also places you in a transformative movement that is uniting leading organizations in the region’s high-growth industries and creating unprecedented collaboration between sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, higher education, and technology. This movement has expanded, with the establishment of the Erie 2030 District in 2019 and New Kensington, Pa., joining the 2030 District program in 2024.

Interested in learning more? Contact a member of the Pittsburgh 2030 District team. 

Initiative Staff