According to new research conducted by Schneider Electric, retrofitting buildings using a digital-first approach is the most effective pathway to decarbonization, Invest-Gate reports.

Buildings currently account for approximately 37% of global carbon emissions, and since many of today’s buildings will still be in use by 2050, it is crucial to reduce their operational carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency.

The findings of the research indicate that implementing Schneider Electric’s digital building and power management solutions in existing office buildings could reduce operational carbon emissions by up to 42%, with a payback period of less than three years.

Furthermore, if fossil fuel-powered heating technologies are replaced with electric-powered alternatives and a microgrid with local renewable energy sources is installed, all-electric, all-digital buildings can achieve an additional 28% reduction in operational carbon emissions, leading to a total reduction of up to 70%.

Mike Kazmierczak, Vice President of the Digital Energy Decarbonization Office at Schneider Electric, emphasized the importance of addressing operational emissions as the primary lever for decarbonizing existing buildings at scale and achieving net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

He further stated that transforming the existing building stock into energy-efficient, fully-electrified, and digitized assets can result in a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

The research was conducted in collaboration with global design firm WSP and involved modeling the energy performance and carbon emissions of a large office building constructed in the early 2000s across various climate zones in the United States.

However, the digital approach to building renovations is applicable to buildings of all types and climates, making it a highly effective strategy for building decarbonization that provides rapid results and minimizes upfront carbon emissions.