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energy efficiency goals . I like being able to create value for our clients ,” Deb enthuses . “ I am big on education . I get to do a lot of curriculum development and conference work with industry trade associations . “ The second aspect I particularly enjoy is helping Blackstone , our majority shareholder , to form Legence ’ s strategy . Over the last few years , we ’ ve completed 14 acquisitions to help build out our vision . The market is currently very siloed . To be able to do the work that ’ s needed to design and construct new buildings or renovate existing ones , we need numerous skill sets . So , we ’ ve been bringing together the best of each of these industry segments . As such , we offer an advisory service , we perform design work , carry out construction and maintenance , and provide financing support . It has been rewarding to think about what the market needs to resolve today ’ s industry challenges .”
Ramped up regulation
Looking at those challenges in greater detail , Deb continues : “ There are far more policies and regulations today that require organizations to do things differently . Here in the United States , we have a patchwork of regulations , particularly building performance standards , that set caps or thresholds for emissions . If a building exceeds that cap , a fine is issued . This drives the urgency to assess a building ’ s efficiency and invest in it accordingly .
“ Not only are minimum standards for building codes ramping up ,” explains Deb , “ I think the capital markets have also entered this space in a meaningful and different way , imposing greater expectations on those organizations looking to raise capital . Firms need to be committed to net zero by a certain date or improve and consider the carbon associated with their activities and there has been an obvious shift towards and focus on performance reporting .
“ Certification has also been evolving and standards are being rewritten . What it means to be a class A office space today is very different to previous years . Corporate leaseholders are demanding more of these prestigious buildings and so too , are the employees who will occupy them ; to the extent that sustainability credentials can constitute recruitment and retention drivers .”
Orchestrated approach
Indeed , sustainability concerns are increasingly extending throughout the built environment , as Deb goes on to highlight . “ Designing a new building requires specialty skill sets . Understanding embodied carbon , for example , in terms of construction products is a skill set that didn ’ t exist before . Equally , we now appreciate the benefits of an integrated design approach that brings different stakeholders to the table during the design process . Engineers , architects , contractors , and subcontractors must stitch together in a much more orchestrated fashion , from both a build and procurement perspective and integrating these different kinds of service providers into one is most certainly a new challenge . “ If we want to be able to construct net zero buildings and fully integrate renewables into a project , it requires a greater level of orchestration at the beginning of the project . To move at speed and scale requires organizational cooperation and end-toend rather than siloed solutions . We need to push for a change in mindset . Falling back into old ways of doing things isn ’ t an appropriate approach . However , the market ’ s current state of flux doesn ’ t fully support new methodologies either . It can be a challenge to get the information out there . Case studies can help people to understand new processes . The first time you do something , it usually costs time and money . Yet , as you get better at it , it ’ s easier to control those elements and expand and push the limits further .”
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