The Energy Improvement of the Urban Existing Building Stock: A Proposal for Action Arising from Best Practice Examples

Improving energy efficiency in existing buildings presents an opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Numerous measures meant to increase efficiency and decrease emissions have been implemented in cities across Europe and the United States. Standing out from the rest is New York City, a remarkable example of commitment to the fight against climate change. The city has urged its authorities to take important measures in order to eliminate (or at least diminish) the adverse effects resulting from its special characteristics, great urban density, and large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions coming from an aged building stock. Yet there is always room for improvement. Thus, this comparative study of some of the most successful measures developed in selected cities aims at providing legal professionals with best practices for greening the existing building stock of New York City and, eventually, of any city in the world