Rousseau, L. S. A.; Amini, S.; Akin, S. and Hertwich, E. G. (2026) Retrofitting Norwegian residential buildings: An archetype-based dynamic stock model. Buildings & Cities, 7(1), pp. 757-774. ISSN 2632-6655
Abstract
The retrofit of buildings is essential to reduce their energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, the resource use and energy performance of various retrofit options for Norway's residential buildings up to 2050 were quantified. A comprehensive analysis of the stock, encompassing all municipalities and using an archetype-based dynamic stock model, was developed. It was estimated that about 80% of Norway's buildings existing in 2023 will still be standing in 2050. If half of these buildings undertake a full retrofit of windows, roof and external walls and adoption of heat pumps, up to 101 TWh of energy and 13 MtCO2-eq could be saved, which includes the GHG emissions expended from material production used for these retrofits. However, achieving such retrofit rates will require strong incentives, which would require tackling current economic challenges and energy policy debates.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building cohorts; building stock models; decarbonisation; industrial ecology; insulation; life-cycle assessment; mitigation; Norway; retrofit |
| Index terms: | archetype, option, retrofitting, window, stock model, energy performance, heat pump, ecology, greenhouse gas, building stock, mitigation, municipality, insulation, Norway, energy consumption, residential building, roof, energy policy |
| Subjects: | renovation and retrofit, architectural elements, asset management, public policy, Geography, building materials, energy systems, decision analysis, modelling and simulation, environmental science, construction type, economic analysis, climate science, financial risk, administrative law, design practice |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Risk Management, Design Practice, Cost Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here