Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Renovating and retrofitting aging public buildings
Reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions for residents and local stakeholders
From Warsaw, Poland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this intervention helps cities conserve energy and reduce emissions. It begins with assessing public housing or buildings. Cities then retrofit those that are aging with modern improvements including LED lights, solar panels, geothermal energy, cold-climate heat pumps, water-saving showerheads, and induction stoves. In Paris, France, where retrofits have been completed in 12% of public housing, energy use has decreased by 54% and greenhouse gas emissions have been lowered by 56%—reducing energy bills for those households by €400 annually.
The Impact:
- In Paris, where retrofits have been completed in 12% of its public housing, energy use has decreased by 54% and greenhouse gas emissions have lowered by 56%—reducing energy bills for those households by €400 annually.
- Cape Town, South Africa’s low income housing is being retrofitted with insulated ceilings. These improvements reduce the fuel needed to heat homes during winter by up to 74%, which will eliminate 7,400 tons of CO2 produced each year.
- Warsaw, Poland reduced the number of coal stoves in public housing by 90% since 2018, which decreased household energy costs by 27%.
- Similar programs can be found in more than 15 cities, including Philadelphia, London, and New York City.
What you can do with this idea:
- Assess public housing to identify opportunities to save energy and reduce emissions
- Engage residents and local stakeholders on the value of energy efficiency improvements.
- Retrofit aging public buildings with modern energy-saving features like LED lights, solar panels, geothermal energy, cold-climate heat pumps, water-saving showerheads, and induction stoves
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