On September 24, 2025, President Xi Jinping used a UN climate forum to put a new waypoint on China’s decarbonization path: by 2035, China will reduce economy-wide greenhouse-gas emissions by 7–10% below peak levels—with a commitment to “strive to do better.” The announcement also included a major scale-up of clean energy and signals on carbon … Read more
A Strategic Pivot Toward Carbon Leadership In 2025, the Shanghai Municipal Government released a landmark reform plan to reshape its carbon market between 2026 and 2030. The initiative is designed to align with China’s national “dual carbon” goals—peaking emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060—while positioning Shanghai as a global center for carbon … Read more
What is energy, really? Not just kilowatt-hours, or thermal flows through walls—but conceptually? This question might seem abstract, even philosophical. And yet, in the work we do at BAARCH—an engineering consultancy rooted in building decarbonization—it has become increasingly important. We often design for energy efficiency without questioning the nature of energy itself. In this piece, … Read more
There’s a longstanding assumption in engineering that well-designed systems, once deployed, will behave predictably. If the HVAC equipment is efficient, the BMS programmed correctly, and the lighting logic smartly automated, then performance will follow. We are trained to trust this process — to model, simulate, optimize, and refine until the outcome aligns with the specification. … Read more
Every building tells two stories: one written by its systems, and the other by the people who tend them. Too often, we fixate on the first—on fancy controls, AI dashboards, and endless streams of data—while the second remains untold. At BAARCH, we believe true energy performance emerges from the intersection of human curiosity and engineering … Read more
As the pressure mounts to decarbonize buildings, the conversation around heating technologies has grown increasingly polarized. Electrification is often presented as the sole path forward, with heat pumps positioned as the universal solution. While heat pumps are an essential tool in the transition, relying on them exclusively, regardless of context, infrastructure, or building type, risks … Read more
Enhancing Facility Efficiency through Thoughtful Operations and Maintenance Improving energy efficiency in a facility does not always require large capital investments. Instead, a deliberate focus on operations and maintenance can lower energy consumption, reduce operating costs, and extend equipment life. In addition to creating a more comfortable environment, these practices can boost a building’s net … Read more
Energy efficiency in existing buildings is crucial for achieving net-zero carbon emissions. With buildings contributing significantly to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the European Union where over 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient, this sector offers an essential opportunity for sustainable impact. Achieving net-zero targets demands a focus on … Read more
In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, effective energy management in buildings stands at the forefront of environmental conservation and economic efficiency. Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, making them pivotal in the fight against climate change. This article delves into actionable strategies for … Read more