The Influence of Built Environment on Travel Carbon Emissions in Old Communities: A Case Study of Chengdu

Old communities are the foundational units for low-carbon transformation in the background of high-quality urban development and dual carbon goals. However, existing research prioritizes building energy-efficient technologies and macro-level spatial indicators, with limited attention to how community-scale built environments specifically influence residents’ behaviors. This study takes five old communities in Chengdu as its subject and quantitatively measure residents’ perceptions of their built environment. Using multiple regression and subgroup regression analyses, it systematically identifies key built environment factors in old communities that influence low-carbon travel behavior. The results show that: (1) Diversity, accessibility, street connectivity, and aesthetics consistently demonstrated significant negative effects across demographic groups; (2) As people age, the carbon emissions from their travel to tend to decrease. The impact intensity of street connectivity on low-carbon travel varies significantly among different age groups; (3) Compared with woman, men overall have higher travel carbon emissions. All findings indicate that complete spatial functions, clear road networks, and accessible facilities promote low-carbon travel. This offers key insights for upgrading built environments in old communities.