A Marketplace for Equitable Building Retrofits

This report by RMI discusses the challenges of decarbonizing existing buildings and outlines efforts in Massachusetts to create a viable regional market for equitable energy retrofits, specifically focusing on affordable housing and 'lighthouse projects' to serve as scalable models.

• Decarbonizing existing buildings is essential for climate strategies because most buildings that will exist in 2050 are already constructed. However, the retrofitting process is currently hindered by high costs, fragmented financing, administrative burdens, and conflicting guidance, which creates uncertainty for owners and service providers.
• RMI has implemented 'lighthouse projects' for affordable housing in Massachusetts to catalyze a regional decarbonization market. These projects aim to eliminate on-site fossil fuels, maximize efficiency, and improve health and comfort for low- and middle-income residents, while identifying barriers such as financial hurdles and difficulties with decarbonization assessments.
• To scale building decarbonization, RMI suggests paradigm shifts including the integration of standardized frameworks and the adoption of holistic building design approaches to create a landscape that benefits low-income households.

APA

RMI (2024). A Marketplace for Equitable Building Retrofits. https://rmi.org/resources/a-marketplace-for-equitable-building-retrofits/

Chicago

RMI. A Marketplace for Equitable Building Retrofits. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/a-marketplace-for-equitable-building-retrofits/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=A Marketplace for Equitable Building Retrofits |date=21 August 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/a-marketplace-for-equitable-building-retrofits/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024marketplace, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{A Marketplace for Equitable Building Retrofits}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/a-marketplace-for-equitable-building-retrofits/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }