Buildings and construction are responsible for nearly 40% of global energy-related emissions. In 2022, operating buildings produced almost 10 billion tonnes of carbon, and construction added another 2.5 billion. Retrofitting is a double mission: we must upgrade existing buildings to use less energy, and we must make adaptive reuse (instead of demolition) the norm to meet new demands while staying within resource limits.
This global retrofitting movement not only addresses carbon reduction but also offers a chance to rethink urban living, making cities healthier, happier, and more resilient, while tackling issues like biodiversity loss, the housing crisis, and social inequities.
WSP’s Retrofitting+ series connects the dots, taking a broader view of sustainability and optimising multiple aspects at once. As we retrofit to achieve net zero, what opportunities arise to tackle biodiversity loss, the housing crisis, or social health determinants? How can we rejuvenate our cities without exceeding our carbon budget by rethinking urban planning, design, and construction?
Discover perspectives from WSP’s global teams on how to shape the buildings we have into the cities we want. This interactive pdf is split out into five core areas of opportunities:
- circular cities;
- revitalised neighbourhoods;
- urban experience;
- equity and;
- critical systems
