ROCKWOOL and C40 to collaborate on urban building renovation

April 20, 2018

Joint research effort will demonstrate climate and other benefits of building renovation

ROCKWOOL Group and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group have formed a 14-month joint research effort to demonstrate the climate and other benefits that building renovations can generate and to assist cities in making cost-efficient investment decisions. 

Buildings today account for about 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and global energy consumption.  In C40 cities, buildings account for an even higher percentage of greenhouse gas emissions – up to 60 percent – and thus represent a significant opportunity for cities to reduce their climate impact while improving their citizens’ health, wellbeing, safety and even their productivity.  

A key focus of the research collaboration will be to develop an assessment methodology to assist cities in measuring this broader range of benefits that energy and related building renovations can generate. 

Mirella Vitale, ROCKWOOL Group Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs comments, “As urban populations continue growing with unprecedented speed, cities find themselves at the confluence of multiple pressures and challenges, particularly on energy consumption and climate impacts.  Energy renovation of buildings can dramatically reduce both while positively affecting occupants’ health and wellbeing”.

ROCKWOOL CEO Jens Birgersson adds, “What’s more, there’s a growing recognition that energy, acoustic, water management, and aesthetic renovations can also increase building values and generate additional socio-economic benefits.  The collaboration between ROCKWOOL and C40 will help cities better understand these multiple and mutually reinforcing benefits and to make cost-efficient investment decisions to create the greatest positive value for their communities”.

Kevin Austin, C40 Deputy Executive Director, said, "C40’s research has shown precisely what the world’s great cities need to do in the years ahead if there is any hope of delivering on the Paris Agreement and preventing the worst effects of climate change. Cutting the greenhouse gas emissions generated by buildings is absolutely crucial and quantifying the economic, social and health benefits of these efforts will make it easier for C40 mayors to deliver on the bold climate action needed.”

About the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

C40 Cities connects 96 of the world’s greatest cities, representing 650+ million people and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens.

The current chair of the C40 is Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo; and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40’s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Realdania. 

To learn more about the work of C40 visit www.c40.org

Logo of collaborator C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group