Tracking performance in 7 billion square feet of space using Arc

An increase of 1.4 billion square feet over the previous year was recorded in August by projects using the Arc tool to measure performance data, which reported a total of 7 billion square feet of space across 138 different nations. The United States has the largest share of projects, followed by Canada and Italy. These projects measure and track actual performance, including carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption, and waste, associated with over 12 million occupants.

Nearly half of Arc projects are pursuing or have achieved LEED certification, and daily performance metrics are aggregated and reported, indicating a clear and consistent positive impact of higher levels of LEED certification. For example, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity per unit floor area drops by 50% between LEED Certified and LEED Platinum.

The Arc tool supports engagement at both the organizational and portfolio level, and it follows a three-step approach: load anything, score everything, and certify the best. Users can load any combination of spaces at no cost, and the tool scores the data against a growing set of performance standards, including LEED, local regulations, and international benchmarks.

After scoring the data, users can apply the scores to celebrate improvement or prioritize the pursuit of LEED certification. The article cites Prada’s record-setting achievement as an example of how the tool can be used to achieve high performance standards.

The use of Arc as a tool for tracking and benchmarking building performance is changing the landscape of benchmarking by providing a practical pathway to decarbonization. This next generation approach to market transformation involves measuring actual performance, data-driven differentiation to inform and prioritize action, and recognition for superior performance and real-world improvement. The achievement of tracking 7 billion square feet of spaces worldwide, which involves the participation of a vast community of the Arc team, colleagues at USGBC and GBCI, Arc users, and Arc partners, is a significant accomplishment in this regard. This success demonstrates the effectiveness of using performance-based metrics to drive sustainable building practices and encourage ongoing improvements in energy efficiency and environmental impact reduction.