A newly released analysis of the Building Retrofit Industry and Market, released by the Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Bank Climate Change Investment, has indicated that multifamily housing and affordable multifamily housing are good segments to focus future energy-efficiency efforts.
The report found that with regard to the multifamily market (5 or more units):
- 83% of all units are rented and 68% are in 5+ unit buildings, which can range from 5-100+ units
- The segment can be further divided into market-rate and affordable housing; over 10% of 2-4 unit buildings and 15% of 5+ unit buildings are publicly or privately subsidized
- A full retrofit program in this segment could result in energy savings of 347 trillion Btus annually, the creation of 557,000 new jobs, and an annual reduction of 70 million metric tons of greenhouse gases at a cost of at least $33Bn
- Greater potential for energy savings per dollar invested, due to centralized building systems and structural characteristics (e.g., lower surface area to volume ratio) typical of MF buildings
Read the Executive Summary
Read the Report