An agent-based framework for prioritizing building retrofits

As the urgency to address climate change grows, municipalities face the challenge of lowering carbon emissions from buildings, which account for a large portion of total emissions. However, many cities lack the tools and data required to develop effective policies. This study proposes a practical framework for solving this by creating a user-friendly dashboard tailored to the needs of decision-makers in municipalities. The framework analyses current energy consumption, carbon emissions and building characteristics by leveraging existing datasets such as energy assessment databases and the property tax databases. Decision-makers can visualize the potential impact of various retrofit alternatives using scenario analysis and policy simulation, anticipate future construction rates and analyze the embodied carbon impact. The framework provides insights into the current carbon status and targets and enables municipalities to effectively identify and prioritize climate solutions. This paper applies the framework to single-family houses in the City of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, however its flexibility enables adaption to other contexts around the world. This study adds to the expanding discussion about municipal climate action by proposing a practical, comprehensive approach to inform policy decisions and expedite progress towards carbon reduction targets. • A data-driven framework for municipal carbon reduction strategies. • Combines building assessment and property tax data for detailed emissions analysis. • Uses agent-based modeling to simulate real-world retrofitting behaviors. • Features a dashboard for policymakers to model retrofit scenarios interactively. • Prioritizes retrofits by actual energy-saving potential for tailored interventions.