Decarbonization That Works
From Targets to Results
A practical field manual for executives, operators, investors, and sustainability leaders responsible for turning climate commitments into operational reality.
The book provides a clear framework for understanding emissions, prioritizing action, executing projects, verifying outcomes, and scaling what works across facilities, portfolios, supply chains, and capital programs.
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The operating system for decarbonization.
Decarbonization That Works is written for the people accountable for results, not slogans.
The book bridges the gap between climate ambition and operational delivery by showing how organizations can move from targets to execution across Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, infrastructure, energy, materials, buildings, operations, and carbon markets.
It is not a reporting manual. It is a decision framework for leaders who need to understand tradeoffs, allocate capital, manage operational risk, and create measurable value.
The central premise is simple: decarbonization is an opportunity for better infrastructure, smarter energy decisions, and capital that works harder. Results depend on how organizations understand their reality, prioritize what matters, execute projects, verify performance, and scale what works.
Understand. Prioritize. Execute. Verify. Scale.
- 01
Understand
Build a clear picture of emissions, infrastructure, operations, constraints, risks, and business drivers.
- 02
Prioritize
Identify the initiatives that create the greatest operational, financial, and climate value.
- 03
Execute
Translate strategy into governance, ownership, projects, and measurable action.
- 04
Verify
Measure outcomes, validate performance, and create confidence in decision making.
- 05
Scale
Expand successful approaches across assets, portfolios, business units, and supply chains.
The framework is designed to meet organizations where they are. It recognizes that every portfolio, operating model, energy system, and capital constraint is different. The goal is not perfection. The goal is disciplined progress that creates measurable value.
Written for the people actually delivering the transition.
- Chief Sustainability Officers and VP/Director of Sustainability
- COOs, CFOs, and executive teams
- Facilities, energy, and operations leaders
- Infrastructure developers and asset owners
- Private equity, infrastructure funds, and climate finance teams
- ESG analysts and climate risk officers
- Consultants, engineers, and program managers
- Government climate and infrastructure leaders
- Graduate and executive education programs
Sixteen chapters. Three parts. One operating system for decarbonization.
Every chapter pairs a decision-grade framework with field experience from corporate, government, infrastructure, and environmental markets.
Foundations
Understanding the decision context.
- 01Why Decarbonization Now
- 02Forces Shaping Decarbonization Decisions
- 03Carbon Accounting Fundamentals
- 04MRV, Data Systems & Digital Infrastructure
- 05The First 90 Days
- 06Financial Decision Framework & Capital Planning
Systems & Scopes
Where emissions originate and how they are reduced.
- 07Electricity Procurement, Scope 2
- 08Decarbonizing Fuels & Thermal Systems, Scope 1
- 09Materials and Supply Chain Emissions, Scope 3
- 10Emergency Power & Backup Systems
- 11Building Operations: HVAC, Controls, Retrofits, Water, Waste
- 12Refrigerants
- 13Embodied Carbon
- 14Carbon Markets
Implementation
Making decarbonization durable and scalable.
- 15Leading the Transition
- 16Scaling What Works
Built from field experience, not theory.
The book reflects more than two decades of work across infrastructure, construction, corporate sustainability, energy systems, public-sector programs, and carbon markets.
It is written for leaders who need to make practical decisions in imperfect conditions, where capital is limited, infrastructure is constrained, energy markets are changing, and organizational readiness matters.
The most successful organizations do not treat decarbonization as a side initiative. They integrate it into infrastructure planning, energy strategy, operational excellence, risk management, and capital allocation.
Renew & Sustain
2014 · Amazon #1 Best Seller in Green Business
Mike's first book made the practical case for buildings and communities moving toward zero energy, water, and waste.
Decarbonization That Works extends that practitioner lens from individual projects to enterprise-scale execution across energy, infrastructure, operations, and carbon markets.
Bring the framework into your organization.
Pair the book with an executive workshop to translate the framework into your assets, your operating model, and your decisions.