Carbon reduction technology pathways for existing buildings in eight cities

Yu Qian Ang; Zachary Michael Berzolla; Samuel Letellier-Duchesne; Christoph F Reinhart

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-37131-6

Carbon reduction technology pathways for existing buildings in eight cities

Nat Commun. 2023 Apr 4;14(1):1689. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37131-6.

Authors

Yu Qian Ang¹, Zachary Michael Berzolla², Samuel Letellier-Duchesne², Christoph F Reinhart²

Affiliations

¹ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. yuqian@mit.edu.
² Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.

Abstract

We work with policymakers in eight cities worldwide to identify technology pathways toward their near- and long-term carbon emissions reduction targets for existing buildings. Based on policymakers' interests, we define city-specific shallow and deep retrofitting packages along with onsite photovoltaic generation potential. Without further grid decarbonization measures, stock-wide implementation of these retrofits in the investigated neighborhoods reduces energy use and carbon emissions by up to 66% and 84%, respectively, helping Braga, Dublin, Florianopolis, Middlebury, and Singapore to meet their 2030 goals. With projected grid decarbonization, Florianopolis and Singapore will reach their 2050 goals. The remaining emissions stem from municipalities not planning to electrify heating and/or domestic hot water use. Different climates and construction practices lead to varying retrofit packages, suggesting that comparable technology pathway analyses should be conducted for municipalities worldwide. Twenty months after the project ended, seven cities have implemented policy measures or expanded the analysis across their building stock.