Towards carbon neutrality: mapping mass retrofit opportunities in Cambridge, UK

This study proposes a methodology and a proof of concept to target and prioritize mass retrofitting of residential buildings in the UK using open building datasets that combine fabric energy efficiency and fuel poverty to meet the net-zero targets. The methodological framework uses a series of multi-variate statistical and geospatial methods that consider urban, socio-economic and physical attributes. In addition, thermal imaging is implemented to provide insights at the building scale. We define a hard-to-decarbonize (HtD) metric to enable the clustering of different residential types to establish retrofitting priorities. Using Cambridge, UK, as a case study, five neighbourhoods were identified and characterized to help determine decarbonization intervention priorities. We found that one of five clusters of neighbourhoods is HtD and requires more policy support from government for the implementation of retrofit strategies. The achieved framework has the potential to inform policy and decision making. Of relevance, it is applicable to different urban contexts.