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The paper examines the use of publicly accessible data and computer vision to address the challenge of incomplete building information for energy retrofits in the UK. The authors find that combining data from sources like Google Street View and Energy Performance Certificates with machine learning models can effectively categorize wall construction and architectural styles, providing a viable evidence-gathering resource for early-stage planning. However, a workshop with industry and government stakeholders revealed that inconsistent data formats and limited sharing continue to hinder systematic planning, suggesting that practical application requires better standardization and human oversight.

The briefing critiques Sweden's Social Climate Plan for its limited focus on a single electric vehicle premium, arguing that it ignores 120,000 heating-poor households and fails to address the root causes of transport poverty. Using the Transitional Assistance Framework, the authors categorize the plan as 'adaptive' but 'narrow' because it provides financial aid without addressing structural barriers like charging infrastructure or public transport. The document contrasts Sweden's approach with more comprehensive proposals from Greece, Latvia, and Poland, and recommends that EU member states prioritize structural investments over short-term technology subsidies to ensure a truly just transition.

The document argues that integrating decarbonization into core capital investment decision-making allows real estate investors to move from reactive compliance to proactive value creation. It highlights that sustainable building features are increasingly demanded by occupiers, with LEED-certified buildings in the US seeing rent premiums of 3%–4% and energy-efficient properties outperforming less efficient ones in total returns by 5% since 2021. The paper proposes six key principles for strategic planning: managing energy demand, life-cycle-based expense planning, aligning upgrades with trigger events, phasing in quick wins, using integrated design, and considering risk overlays.

The Healthy Energy Homes Network Directory is a database of resources for Indigenous communities and supporting organizations. It lists Canada-wide initiatives and province- or territory-specific programs focused on affordable housing, energy efficiency retrofits, clean energy transitions, and health-related home improvements such as radon mitigation.

WRI and the Shenzhen government implemented 113 near-zero carbon demonstration projects, including rooftop solar and building retrofits, to address rising household energy demand. These initiatives are projected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 1 million tons and save residents US$ 280 million in energy costs. To ensure scalability and affordability for low-income groups, the city introduced a subsidy policy providing up to 1 million yuan per community.

The 2024 State of Cities Climate Finance report (SCCFR) reveals a significant gap between current urban climate finance flows and the trillions of dollars required for mitigation and adaptation. While 69% of urban climate finance is sourced domestically, international flows from developed to developing economies remain low at USD 12 billion. Mitigation needs are dominated by transport, energy, and buildings, with East Asia and the Pacific having the highest annual requirements. The report advocates for the '4C Urban Climate Finance Agenda'—Commitment, Collaboration, Capacity, and Capital Mobilization—to scale finance and improve data tracking.

Carbon Market Watch calls for the Social Climate Fund to explicitly prohibit any investment in fossil fuel-based technologies, including 'low(er) carbon' alternatives like efficient gas boilers, to avoid locking low-income groups into long-term fossil fuel use and to prevent environmental degradation.

RMI's analysis of US building emissions reveals that building operations account for 23% of annual carbon emissions, with single-family homes (58%) and commercial buildings (37%) being the primary contributors. The report argues that current green capital flows are insufficient and should be redirected from large commercial buildings toward the retrofit of existing buildings, specifically targeting single-family homes and small-to-medium commercial properties to achieve meaningful climate goals.

The Buildings Criteria provide a framework for certifying Use-of-Proceeds instruments, assets, entities, and Sustainability-Linked Debt based on their emissions performance. Eligibility is determined through two primary pathways: an Absolute Performance Threshold (using city-specific trajectories or approved proxies) and a Relative Performance Improvement pathway (requiring 30-50% emissions reductions for retrofits). New buildings constructed after 2023 face stricter requirements, including a total ban on fossil fuels for heating, hot water, and cooking, and mandatory infrastructure for electric mobility. Starting January 1, 2026, new buildings must also report on Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA), with specific emissions thresholds for steel and cement. The criteria also define certification levels for entities and sustainability-linked debt, categorizing them as either 'Aligned' or 'Transition' based on their adherence to low-carbon trajectories.

The Episcopal Southern Ohio Diocese established the Energy Efficiency Grant and Loan Program in July 2021 to fund energy-saving retrofits in its congregations. The program requires participants to conduct ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits and develop reduction plans to qualify for grants of up to $10,000 or low-interest loans of up to $10,000. By June 2023, the program awarded $533,047 through 56 grants and disbursed $121,207 in loans. Case studies of churches in Athens, Circleville, and Washington Court House demonstrate the adoption of LED lighting, high-efficiency furnaces, and ductless mini-split heat pumps to lower carbon emissions and operational costs. The document also notes that the Inflation Reduction Act's "direct pay" incentives may now encourage these nonprofits to pursue solar installations after first improving building efficiency.

The report analyzes 67 of the 129 measures in Canada's Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP), finding that while 44% may reduce poverty, 19% could increase inequality. It highlights that CAD 10 billion in funding is tied to measures that may exacerbate inequality without social safeguards. The analysis suggests that sector-specific risks—such as 'renovictions' from building retrofits or the regressive nature of ZEV subsidies—require complementary policies like public transit expansion and national energy poverty strategies to ensure an equitable transition.

Reclaim Finance argues that the EU's climate targets cannot be met without a massive mobilization of private finance, which currently favors fossil fuels over sustainable energy. The organization proposes four key interventions: mandating a 6:1 clean energy to fossil fuel investment ratio by 2030, requiring robust and audited climate transition plans, applying the "do not significantly harm" principle to all financial services, and implementing preferential ECB refinancing rates for sustainable activities.

The report finds that electrification retrofits for mid-sized commercial office buildings are cost-effective when tailored to regional climate conditions and gas utility rates. By analyzing a prototypical 50,000 square foot building, the study demonstrates that combining heat pump replacements with complementary measures—such as ventilation efficiency, peak demand management, and rooftop solar—can result in positive net present value compared to replacing gas equipment in kind.

RMI advocates for a shift toward demand-side solutions in the buildings sector to address its contribution to nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide pollution. The strategy focuses on electrifying heating and cooking, implementing comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits, and reducing the embodied carbon of construction materials like steel and concrete, while centering benefits for underserved communities.

The document outlines a framework for nonprofits to pursue energy efficiency, emphasizing the importance of goal-setting, the assembly of a dedicated energy team, and the use of benchmarking tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It details the process of conducting energy audits—ranging from basic walk-throughs to detailed capital analyses—and highlights the benefits of whole-building retrofits where bundled measures compound savings. The guide also directs organizations toward financial incentives, including utility rebates, on-bill financing, and resources such as the DSIRE database and the Better Buildings Financing Navigator to offset upfront costs.

Australia has become a global leader in decarbonizing high-end commercial buildings through 'ambition loops'—positive feedback cycles where government regulation, industry collaboration, and market demand reinforce each other. Early leadership from the Victoria state government and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) helped overcome initial knowledge gaps and lack of demand. The implementation of mandatory efficiency codes and transparency tools, such as the Commercial Building Disclosure Program and the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), created a competitive environment where sustainable buildings attract more corporate tenants and investors. This model has since influenced residential and construction sectors in Australia and exported rating systems to New Zealand and the UK.

The Canadian Climate Institute concludes that Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is credible and capable of delivering deep emissions reductions, putting the country on a path to meet its 2026 targets and nearly meeting its 2030 milestone. However, the assessment warns that success depends entirely on the timely execution of a complex policy package, with at least 43 per cent of reductions coming from policies that are announced but not yet developed. Five critical policies—carbon pricing, the oil and gas cap, the Clean Electricity Standard, the Clean Fuel Standard, and land-use reductions—are identified as accounting for 62 per cent of the total reductions needed by 2030.

The briefing introduces an 'energy efficiency cost premium' method to isolate energy efficiency spending from total construction costs in green-certified buildings. Analyzing over 16,000 certifications from 2019-2020, it finds that incremental energy efficiency investments averaged USD 10.5 billion annually, representing only about 5% of the total cost of those buildings. The report highlights that green certifications are inconsistent indicators of energy performance, with over half of tracked assets achieving less than a 30% efficiency gain. It argues that current certifications often fail to align with 1.5°C or 2°C decarbonization pathways and recommends standardized asset-level reporting and a shift toward certifying retrofits in developed economies.

The document argues that the disruption of world trade by COVID-19 necessitates a shift toward digital internationalisation support for green SMEs. It highlights the International Cleantech Network's (ICN) approach, which combines a reciprocal network of 18 clusters, a structured process for maturing business leads into actionable needs statements, and the 'Solved' virtual collaboration platform. Case studies from Helsinki and New York demonstrate how these tools facilitate co-creation and matchmaking when physical travel is restricted. The brief recommends investing in reciprocal partnerships, leveraging virtual tools to lower transaction costs, and using digital platforms to support long-term innovation and R&D collaboration.

The report finds a significant investment gap between Canada's current climate-related fiscal commitments and the funding required to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. While acknowledging positive steps in public transit and building energy efficiency, the authors argue that Canada is being outpaced by international peers, such as the US and EU, in per capita green spending. The analysis identifies critical funding shortfalls across seven sectors, including transportation, clean energy, and nature-based solutions, and calls for Budget 2021 to prioritize uncosted measures and scaled-up investments to ensure an equitable green recovery.