BDaaS Solutions
Building Decarbonization as a Service
Building Decarbonization as a Service (BDaaS) is how PowerOptions guides its Members to decarbonize large building portfolios and achieve energy savings.
Decarbonize your portfolio with zero up-front capital
Building Decarbonization as a Service (BDaaS) is PowerOptions' answer to the single biggest barrier our Members face: capital. Through BDaaS, Members achieve meaningful decarbonization outcomes with little or no upfront cost.
Energy savings are leveraged to help pay for implementation, ongoing operations and maintenance, and performance verification over a 10–20-year term — with a goal of cash-flow-neutral or cash-flow-positive projects. BDaaS is particularly well-suited to large portfolios, complex projects, and Members whose capital budgets, debt capacity, or organizational constraints would otherwise keep decarbonization out of reach.
How BDaaS works
BDaaS is a full turnkey model. Your PowerOptions-selected vendor handles financing, design, build, installation, operations and maintenance, and measurement and verification — all under a single, pre-negotiated contract. Decarbonization projects through BDaaS have timelines of months to years, depending on project complexity.
1. Qualification
We help confirm the feasibility of decarbonization projects and match you with the vendor that best suits your needs.
2. Project Development Audit
Your vendor conducts a rigorous audit to identify and validates savings opportunities. Audit costs are built into the project under a break-fee agreement — so you're under no obligation to proceed if meaningful savings aren't found.
3. Turnkey Proposal
You receive a complete package covering financing, grants, incentives, cash buy-downs, design, build, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
4. Contract Execution
You sign a pre-negotiated contract with financial and performance guarantees.
5. Vendor-Secured Financing
With PowerOptions, the vendor is responsible for securing financing options; no capital raise or bond issuance is required on your end, so you can focus on executing your broader mission and preparing your organization to meet its sustainability goals.
6. Installation and ongoing service
Your vendor delivers, operates, and verifies the project throughout the contract term.
Our BDaaS Vendor Bench
Through a competitive RFP, PowerOptions selected four vendors — segmented by Member type so you're matched a vendor specializing in your sector. All four were evaluated on experience, pricing, performance guarantees, DEI commitments, and willingness to agree to PowerOptions' negotiated terms. Whichever vendor you're matched with, you'll receive the same pre-negotiated pricing, open-book terms, profit caps, and turnkey delivery.
.png)
What’s included
Vetted vendors
PowerOptions Members have access to our bench of competitively selected vendors.
Project development audit
Your facilities undergo a comprehensive audit to identify potential savings. You are not committed to anything if no savings are found.
Zero capital up front
All our BDaaS projects are vendor-financed, meaning there are no upfront capital obligations for your organization.
Grants & incentives support
PowerOptions Members receive support in finding grants & incentives to help finance your decarbonization project.
Turnkey projects
With PowerOptions, we will help you design, build and install what you need to decarbonize your facilities.
Pre-negotiated pricing
Our pre-negotiated contracts ensure competitive pricing and metric based performance terms.
Transparent pricing
We offer open-book pricing with profit caps on every vendor, ensuring you maximize savings.
Ongoing Support
PowerOptions and vendors provide ongoing operational and maintenance support to ensure decarbonization.
Expert Guidance
Our clean energy experts help you at every step of your decarbonization journey.
Who it's for
BDaaS is designed for non-profits and public entities that want to make a significant decarbonization investment without tying up their own capital.
Large portfolio owners
and Members with multiple facilities to address.
Campus settings
with a central utility plant and that has multiple buildings.
Complex projects
or projects with a scope of roughly $500K or greater.
Medium-to-large buildings
(typically 10,000+ sq. ft.) with high annual energy spend.
Capital-constrained organizations
who want a credible path from ambition to action.
BDaaS vs. Traditional Performance Contracting
BDaaSis not an energy service company (ESCO)/energy, procurement, and construction (EPC) deal. A few of the key differences:
Financing is secured by the provider
not the building owner.
Guarantees are outcome- and KPI-based
not limited to energy savings.
Key performance obligations are included
such as operation and maintenance as well as metrics and verification.
Cash flow goals are neutral or positive
with flexible equipment ownership structures.
Protective contracts
vetted by PowerOptions reduce risk to Members.
Why procure through PowerOptions
Vetted vendors
Our vendors are selected through a rigorous competitive RFP and segmented by Member type.
Negotiated turnkey contracts
BDaaS arms our Members with transparent, open-book pricing and profit caps.
No cost or commitment
You are not committed to pay for the audit forward unless savings are found and you choose to move forward.
Independent guidance
PowerOptions doesn't sell equipment and doesn't take vendor commissions so you can rest assured that we are working with your interests in mind.
A seamless path from planning
If you've completed a PowerOptions roadmap, your BDaaS engagement builds directly on that work.
%20(1).avif)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Building Decarbonization as a Service?
What is the difference between BDaaS and ESCO/EPC deals or traditional performance contracting?
Who is Building Decarbonization as a Service best for?
What’s included in the project scopes for these services?
What do Members' relationships look like with energy suppliers through PowerOptions?
Does PowerOptions support mixed ownership models for building decarbonization?
Who does PowerOptions partner with as vendors for BDaaS?
Why PowerOptions?
Address
129 South Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Phone
(617) 865-5233
Follow us
Our Vendor
Through our competitive RFP process, PowerOptions selected World Energy Services to deliver Owner-financed Building Decarbonization projects for our membership. World Energy Services was selected for their technical depth, pricing methodology, willingness to agree to PowerOptions' negotiated contract terms, and commitment to delivering high-quality, turnkey projects across the range of building types our members own and operate.