Skip to main content

Buildings

Accelerating the deployment of efficiency and other demand-side management opportunities at scale

Decarbonizing the building sector requires a coordinated and multi-pronged approach that taps into opportunities for reducing energy-use, peak management, fuel-switching and deploying distributed generation through a mix of voluntary and regulatory measures.

With extensive experience in building decarbonization, Dunsky employs a blend of deep building science, analytics and strategic insight to guide clients through effective decarbonization solutions, encompassing all technologies, market segments, and energy sources.

Our Services

Investments in energy efficiency are widely recognized as least-cost measures that can mitigate the amount of new power supply needed, reduce emissions and reduce overall system costs, while bringing broader societal and non-energy benefits.

We support clients in accelerating energy efficiency through:

  • Potential assessments: We conduct comprehensive potential studies that assess the technical, economic and achievable potential for energy savings across all fuels and sectors.
  • Program and portfolio design: We design DSM programs and strategies that target every program strategy, sector, end use and technology to help unlock demand-side opportunities.
  • Evaluation: We develop evaluation plans and frameworks, and perform impact (including equity) process and market evaluations to quantify the energy, GHG, economic and related impacts (e.g. rate and bill, non-energy benefits), and identify actions for improvement.
  • Financing: We assess, design and evaluate effective, equitable and practical financing programs that unlock capital and move projects forward. Our efforts have supported projects collectively worth over $2 billion for utilities, all levels of government, program administrators and financial institutions.
  • Codes and standards: We support enhancements to building codes and standards to support decarbonization as well as building and equipment labelling policies, and performance standards.
  • Market transformation: We assess and develop strategies to expand and transform markets, as well as evaluate transformation impacts. We support utilities, governments and industry with market transformation efforts across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Dunsky brings wide-ranging experience helping clients design and evaluate demand response (DR) strategies and flexible load strategies. We bring a deep understanding of related measures, programs and strategies, having supported dozens of utility and program administrators.

Our services include:

  • Potential assessments: We assess the technical, economic and achievable potential for peak reduction strategies, including dynamic rates and DR technologies such as smart thermostats, EV smart charging and storage, and always considering their interactions with other DERs.
  • Pilot programs and program design: We aid in designing DR pilots, including cost-effectiveness analysis, participant selection, strategy development, impact analysis, and program evaluation.
  • Program evaluation: Our team evaluates DR programs’ impact and process efficiency, utilizing our expertise to provide detailed and accurate assessments of various demand-side practices.
  • Demand forecasting: We forecast the impact of growing loads on peak demands, from the system-wide down to spatial, feeder-level granularity, so that grid owners can better plan to meet their customer needs.

Decarbonizing heating is complex, and appropriate solutions are very region-specific. Our assessments include opportunities for electrification, peak management, thermal and chemical storage, dual fuel systems, RNG and combinations of these and other climate-friendly heating solutions.

Our services include:

  • Potential assessments: We provide assessments of building decarbonization opportunities using our proprietary models that consider the nuances of different technology measures, baseline equipment and control strategies; as well as the market, policy and customer drivers that influence their uptake. Our potential assessments offer clients precise, actionable insights.
  • Feasibility studies: We assess the technical and economic merit of building decarbonization technologies and initiatives, offering clients precise, actionable insights that aid decision-making.
  • Decarbonization roadmaps: We develop clear, actionable decarbonization roadmaps that combine policy, technology, and financial measures for effective emission reduction strategies.
  • Program design: We design ambitious yet practical strategies and programs to accelerate electrification and decarbonization projects at scale across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
  • Market evaluations: We help identify barriers, trends and opportunities that impact tbuilding decarbonization and develop strategies that align with market developments.

Trusted by

  • Logo Hydro-Québec

Featured Experts

Lauren McNutt

Managing Consultant

Lauren co-leads Dunsky’s Buildings practice, bringing a keen understanding of consumer behaviour and markets to her work. She has led some of Dunsky’s most high-profile program design and evaluation projects.

Contact Lauren

François Boulanger

Senior Research Lead

François co-leads Dunsky’s Buildings practice, bringing in-depth knowledge of energy efficiency programs and opportunities spanning the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Contact François