Coming Soon
A Retrofit Toolkit for Passive Cooling and Emissions Reduction in Historic and Older Buildings
Reimagining New York’s awning-lined streets for a more sustainable future.
Using computer energy modeling as an experimental tool for historic preservation, this project tests how awnings can perform for improved energy efficiency and decarbonization of older and historic buildings in NYC.
New case study analyses and visualizations are in progress and coming soon.
Why awnings?
Cooling buildings accounts for about 3% of global carbon emissions, and demand is expected to triple by 2050. For New York’s older and historic buildings, meeting Local Law 97 targets will require retrofit strategies that reduce energy use without compromising character.
Once ubiquitous in the summer months, fabric awnings provided passive cooling well before air conditioning. Positioned outside window glass, they block solar heat before it enters. When combined with air conditioning today, awnings can cut cooling energy loads by roughly 15%.
