Office to Residential Conversions: The Carbon Impact
Overview:
The report "Office to Residential Conversions: The Carbon Story" by Arup, funded by Urban Green Council CEO John Mandyck, explores the environmental benefits of repurposing New York City's excess office space into residential units. The focus is on the potential carbon savings from converting existing office buildings into homes, comparing this approach to constructing new residential developments.
Key Findings:
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Research Aim: The study aims to quantify the carbon savings that could be achieved by 2050 through expanding the eligibility of office buildings for conversion to residential use, addressing the urgent need to reduce housing shortages while minimizing environmental impact.
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Methodology:
- Data Source: Utilized the New York City Office Adaptive Reuse Study (January 2023), which predicts 20,000 additional homes could be created over the next decade.
- Analysis: Applied a whole-life carbon approach, considering both embodied carbon (material and construction processes) and operational carbon (energy use).
- Typological Approach: Developed a framework categorizing 222 buildings by decade, floor plate depth, and window type to assess conversion impacts accurately.
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Carbon Savings Potential:
- By converting existing office buildings to residential, there is the potential for a 54% reduction in whole-life carbon emissions by 2050 compared to a business-as-usual scenario where buildings remain unconverted and new residential constructions proceed as usual.
- The cumulative savings amount to the annual emissions of approximately 2.3 million passenger vehicles.
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Local Law 97 Compliance:
- The report highlights that without conversion, 10 out of 12 typological office buildings would exceed the 2030 Local Law 97 emissions intensity limits for offices.
- Conversion to residential ensures compliance with LL97 limits, showcasing the dual benefit of housing creation and decarbonization.
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Implications for Developers and Property Owners:
- Expanded flexibility for office to residential conversions could incentivize developers and property owners to undertake necessary retrofits to meet LL97 standards, aligning economic incentives with environmental goals.
Conclusion:
The report underscores the significant environmental benefits of converting underutilized office space into residential dwellings in New York City. By doing so, it not only addresses the housing crisis but also contributes significantly to reducing carbon emissions, offering a win-win solution for urban development and sustainability.
