CIRRUS Low Carbon: ESG Financing

Lower financing rates for lower carbon buildings

Now available: the ONLY private financial product in the country with a differentiated cost of capital for low carbon buildings.

Our CIRRUS™ Low Carbon product charts a practical and actionable course to a low carbon future. We offer a CIRRUS Low Carbon building design specification and a lower cost of capital. When the specification is met, you get the rate reduction and your building gets classified as a CIRRUS Low Carbon building.

The program is powered by PACE Equity financing and verified by the New Buildings Institute, creating a unique program that achieves the status and benefits of a green building matched with financial benefits of non-recourse, non-mezz financing from PACE Equity.

Benefits of the CIRRUS Low Carbon program

  • Substantial rate reduction from PACE Equity
  • Reduced energy consumption and a reduced operating cost
  • Low Carbon Support Team (at no cost to you) who help you identify implementation costs if needed
  • Improved property value for a green building
  • Improved occupancy & rental rates when you market your CIRRUS Low Carbon Verification
  • Marketing Package for project promotion and improved occupancy and rental rates

NO capital sources offer lower rates for greener buildings. Until now.

CIRRUS.
Lower rates
for lower carbon.

Keeping it Simple

The CIRRUS Low Carbon program is based on ASHRAE 90.1 – 2019 standards (8% above 2016 standards). For new construction projects, we’ll evaluate your design from the list of Mandatory Measures and Additional Efficiency Options. We also offer a Redevelopment/Major Renovation program with 2 Mandatory Measures and 1 Additional Efficiency Option. Ask us about it.

Mandatory Measures (ALL REQUIRED)

  • ASHRAE 90.1-2016 Baseline
  • Building Envelope Improvement
  • HVAC Improvement
  • Efficient Water Heating Equipment and Plumbing Fixtures (WaterSense®)
  • Efficient Interior Lighting and Controls
  • Efficient Exterior Lighting and Controls
  • Efficient Appliances (EnergyStar®)
  • Solar Readiness

Additional Efficiency Options (PICK 2)

  • High Performance Envelope
  • High Performance Fenestration
  • Reduced Window to Wall Ratio
  • Reduced Thermal Bridging
  • Air Barrier Continuity
  • High Performance HVAC
  • High Performance Hot Water Heating
  • Enhanced Interior Lighting Control
  • Advanced Metering and Energy Monitoring

Low Carbon buildings are more valuable

  • 49% of building owners are willing to pay more for buildings that have a positive impact on health
  • “A sales premium of 11.5% for properties that demonstrate climate-resilient features in energy and environmental improvements.” (JLL research)
  • 10-31% property value premium over non-certified buildings (DOE data)
  • 7-17% higher occupancy and rental rate premiums over similar non-certified buildings (DOE data)

Solar Only Installation?

Our CIRRUS Low Carbon low-cost financing can extend to ‘solar only’ projects that are eligible for C-PACE financing. We can use C-PACE financing along with your tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. Give us your details on our Get Started page.

Get Started
Get in Touch

CIRRUS Low Carbon Marketing Toolkit

CIRRUS Low Carbon badge

Improve occupancy and rental rates as a CIRRUS building

How does CIRRUS Low Carbon compare to LEED®?

LEED is the most well established certification found around the world. Its early and progressive start set the stage for other certifications that followed.

CIRRUS Low Carbon, however, is focused on REDUCING CARBON. We believe that when we focus on the root cause of climate change, we make the greatest impact and our customers come out ahead.

Key wins from CIRRUS Low Carbon:

  • Significant rate reduction from PACE Equity plus reduced construction period interest
  • No cost to participate (skip the high price tag associated with other green building programs)
  • Third party verification when the building design is finalized (rather than when construction and commissioning is complete) which means you have the marketing kit for critical promotion.

Ready to learn more about CIRRUS Low Carbon and its lower cost of capital?

Fill out this form and we’ll send more information about this C-PACE funding option or click here to schedule a meeting.

Buildings account for 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
40%
Buildings account for 76 percent of U.S. electrical consumption.
76%

We used to have to decide between being green and being cost conscious. But today we have options. Sustainability in our daily lives is easier and when it comes to commercial buildings, more cost-effective solutions are introduced every day. Building technology such as IoT solutions and highly-efficient HVAC equipment are widely available, making energy efficiency more affordable and more impactful than ever before.

Verified by New Buildings Institute (NBI)

Celebrated as a member of NBI's Leaders Circle and recognized at the Getting to Zero Forum

NBI is a non-profit organization driving improved energy performance in buildings to make them better for people and the environment. Projects verified by NBI through the CIRRUS Low Carbon program will be featured on the Getting to Zero website.

NBI’s Getting to Zero Market Development and Leadership Program represents one of the most extensive portfolios of expertise and resources on net zero energy and carbon neutral buildings in the world.