Understanding Building Decarbonization

Roles & Responsibilities 

A strong building performance plan depends on having the right people involved at the right time. 

Building performance projects involve a range of stakeholders. Bringing together a qualified and well-coordinated team early can help ensure that technical recommendations, financial decisions, regulatory requirements, and occupant needs are considered together.


The project team does not need to be large at the beginning. In many cases, one person or organization may fill multiple roles, especially for smaller buildings or less complex projects. As the work becomes more technical, the team may need to bring in additional professional support.

The roles below may be filled by building owners, property managers, internal staff, consultants, contractors, or other partners depending on the building type, ownership structure, project scope, and available resources.

Owner/ Manager 

Initiates the planning process, makes final decisions, and approves scopes of work, proposals, contracts, budgets, and implementation plans. The owner or manager is ultimately responsible for building performance, financial decision-making, and compliance with relevant requirements. 

Who may fill this role

• Building owner
• Real Estate Developer
• Property Manager
• Condominium Management Committee
• Co-op Board Member
• Homeowner

Operator  

Oversees day-to-day building operations and maintenance. Operators help identify operational issues, support implementation, maintain equipment, and confirm whether systems are working as intended.

Who may fill this role

• Building Operator
• Superintendent
• Facility Manager
• Chief Engineer
• Maintenance Technician

Engineer / Architect

Provides technical expertise to assess existing conditions, evaluate building systems, develop improvement strategies, and support design or implementation of upgrades.

Who may fill this role

• MEP/FP Engineer
• Architect
• Building Engineer
  

Energy / Sustainability Expert

Uses building performance data, energy analysis, emissions analysis, lifecycle cost analysis, and energy modeling to identify pathways for improving performance and reducing emissions.

Who may fill this role

• Energy Consultant
• Sustainability Consultant
• Decarbonization Expert
• Energy Modeler
• Certified Energy Manager
  

Financial Expert

Reviews internal financial capacity and external funding opportunities, including capital and operating budgets, reserves, financing options, grants, rebates, tax credits, and project phasing considerations.

Who may fill this role

• Financial Officer
• Financial Advisor
• Asset Manager
• Financial Risk Manager
• Underwriter
• Lender
• Incentive program representative
  

Contractor

Implements the approved scope of work, including construction, installation, scheduling, budgeting, materials coordination, personnel coordination, and equipment installation. Contractors may also provide early input on cost, constructability, or feasibility.

Who may fill this role

• General Contractor
• Subcontractor
• Project Manager
• Home Builder
• Equipment Installer
• Service Technician
  

Occupant

Uses or inhabits the building and may control or influence energy use, comfort settings, schedules, or equipment within their space. Occupants can provide valuable feedback on comfort, access, disruption, and system performance.

Who may fill this role

• Resident
• Tenant
• Homeowner
• Co-op or Condo Board Member
  

Adjust the Team to Fit the Project

The size and composition of the project team will vary based on the building type, project scope, and complexity of the work. For smaller or simpler projects, one person may fill multiple roles. For example, a homeowner may serve as the owner, operator, and occupant, while a property manager may also coordinate operations.

For larger or more complex projects, responsibilities may be distributed across internal departments, consultants, contractors, and specialized professionals. Additional expertise may be needed when the building has complex systems, multiple funding sources, regulatory requirements, major capital needs, or occupant disruption concerns. The team may also include energy modelers, code consultants, construction trades, expeditors, commissioning providers, or other experts.

Rather than focusing on the number of people involved, focus on whether the team collectively has the skills, knowledge, and authority needed to address key responsibilities and make informed decisions. Identifying role overlaps and gaps early can help clarify responsibilities and reduce confusion as the project moves from assessment to planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Rather than focusing on the number of people involved, focus on whether the team collectively has the skills, knowledge, and authority needed to address key responsibilities and make informed decisions.

Remember the occupant perspective

Occupants can strongly influence how a building performs and how successful improvements are over time. Their schedules, comfort needs, equipment use, access requirements, and feedback can affect planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Engaging occupants early can help building teams understand comfort concerns, plan around disruption, communicate the benefits of improvements, and identify operational issues that may not be visible in utility data alone. More detailed occupant communication should occur during implementation, especially when work may affect access, comfort, or daily operations.