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April 22, 2025 Powering a Greener Future: Cordia’s Commitment to Decarbonization

Written By Bryan Kleist, Director, Plant and Sustainability Engineering

In celebration of Earth Week, Cordia reaffirms its commitment to sustainability by advancing our decarbonization efforts—one of our three core environmental priorities. Our ownership is fully dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our entire portfolio.

Addressing the root cause of global warming and climate change—excessive GHG emissions, particularly carbon dioxide—is critical to protecting ecosystems and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable planet for future generations. Decarbonization plays a vital role in this effort, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change while supporting a more resilient energy future.

Cordia has set an ambitious long-term goal of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050. In the near term, we are targeting a 30% reduction in our overall Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions intensity. To meet this goal, we are actively developing and implementing a wide range of projects and initiatives.

In 2024, we made meaningful progress, completing several key initiatives:

  • Procurement of renewable electricity at multiple facilities
  • Installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) to reduce electricity use
  • Condensate recovery and reuse projects
  • Chilled water temperature differential (delta T) improvements in Phoenix

Looking ahead, we have a robust pipeline of projects being developed to further reduce emissions and improve efficiency across our operations, such as:

  • San Francisco – Green Steam project to generate carbon-free steam using hydroelectric power
  • Harrisburg – Heating and cooling produced by a geo-exchange borefield and heat pumps
  • Phoenix – A fourth chilled water plant using low global warming potential 1233zd(e) refrigerant and powered by 100% renewable electricity
  • Wexford – Enhanced heat recovery system to capture and reuse waste heat
  • Minneapolis – Implementation of an AI-powered optimization platform to boost system efficiency and cut emissions

As we recognize Earth Week, Cordia remains steadfast in our mission to decarbonize our energy systems. These efforts not only reduce our environmental footprint but also enhance system efficiency, improve service to our customers, mitigate business risk, and contribute to a more sustainable future for all.