Retrofit works for decarbonization of commercial and multi-family buildings (English translation)

Decarbonizing buildings is the reduction of carbon emissions by converting existing equipment and systems that include fossil fuel combustion processes to efficient equipment and systems that use low-carbon or carbon-free fuels.

This guide, dedicated to retrofitting existing commercial and multifamily buildings for decarbonization, aims to provide a resource for decarbonization planning and implementation processes and provide high-level technical guidance on decarbonization strategies and technological availability.

There are two types of carbon in existing buildings: operational carbon and embodied carbon. Embodied carbon comes from extracted material, manufacturing processes, transportation, refrigerant leaks and waste processing, while operational carbon is generated as the building uses energy and water during its operations.

The main benefits of implementing decarbonization in existing buildings are reduced operating costs, mitigating the impact of climate change, improving occupant health and well-being, and economic benefits for communities.