A facelift for your city with retrofit solutions that provide enjoyable, energy-efficient places for generations to come.
Retrofitting and reshaping assets
The property sector accounts for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions, so getting the right, sustainable energy mix will only work if the primary users – buildings – are energy efficient. Energy reduction should be a core target, made possible by use of carbon free materials. Circularity in materials, for example, reusing or retrofitting ageing, underutilized infrastructure like gas pipelines as energy storage hubs can prove valuable. Many cities like France and New York have also put regulations in place for new buildings to use low carbon materials.
This should also go hand-in-hand with alternate low carbon energy sources being used. Citizens are increasingly demanding housing and commercial establishments that have green energy labels. However, real estate developers and housing corporations face challenges in the cost of investment to retrofit ageing assets in favor of greener energy sources. Municipalities and utilities too face cost challenges in reshaping energy assets, for example, expanding grids.
Matching demand is key to both. By investing in district heating solutions, for instance, cities get enough clients to hook up to grids to finance new infrastructure and real estate developers can de-carbonize their stock. So, by connecting the players in the right way, we can create win-wins.
A key factor in carbon reduction is prioritizing the use of what’s readily available in the local area and/or the re-use of existing materials. We should also consider the entire lifecycle of the building, from design to demolition. Sometimes this involves taking risks on materials. Carbon innovation can be simple but asks for creativity and braveness! Nature itself can provide inspiration for design challenges – we call this ‘biomimicry’ – which results in stunningly elegant and simple solutions
What’s critical to ensure buildings and property assets stay on-track with their decarbonization goals, is to look at not just the planning and development stages, but the entire asset lifecycle. As part of our asset management, we consider direct emissions from materials and construction, but also indirect elements like greener energy sources, optimal heating solutions and how far down the supply chain is access provided. As an example, energy consumption of a building nowadays represents more than 70 years of the energy consumption of the materials needed to build it
Key steps to support your journey:
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Assets should be looked at with a multi-year maintenance program and budget in place. As part of this, matching demand between real estate developers, municipalities and utilities will be key to decarbonize stock
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Energy reduction should be a primary target for asset management and operations maintenance for infrastructure and real estate assets. Consider circularity of materials in retrofitting, and low carbon materials
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Low carbon energy sources that further support decarbonization goals and meet citizen demands (cost and social benefits) should be part of the overall asset management program
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Innovative tools and technologies can help measure best scenarios to retrofit and/or reshape assets, with periodic assurance & compliance audits being essential in ensuring assets continue to remain energy efficient in line with goals and legislation
Projects
Discover how Arcadis has supported major municipalities and organizations plan and implement sustainable energy systems.
How Arcadis can help
Arcadis has the experience and expertise to partner with you from strategic planning to implementation in your move to carbon-neutrality. Learn more about key solutions we offer as you navigate this stage of your journey.
