KPF host a launch event for “District-Scale Building Electrification,” a ground-breaking research paper, on September 24, 2026, during NYC Climate Week.
Are district-scale thermal energy networks a solution for decarbonizing the built environment without overburdening the energy grid? These systems, where nearby buildings with complementary load profiles share energy between them, are more energy efficient, grid friendly, and resilient than typical building-by-building electrification.
“District-Scale Building Electrification,” authored by Carbon Signal and published by the Urban Land Institute’s Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate with support from KPF, aims to make these systems more accessible to commercial real estate (CRE) developers. The paper offers a framework to determine whether a district scale solution is feasible, or advantageous, for their own buildings or portfolios. The research translates the complexity of district-scale thermal networks into clear, actionable steps, allowing developers to make early assessments based on limited and publicly available data. The report then applies that framework to three clusters of buildings in New York City: the Penn District, Chelsea-Meatpacking, and Bryant Park.
Join KPF, ULI, Carbon Signal, and leaders from the realms of real estate, climate, and policy on Thursday, September 24, in the firm’s New York City office for an engaging discussion of the research and its implications for New York City’s climate journey.
