Retrofitting Old Cities for Sustainability

Explore strategies for retrofitting old cities to enhance sustainability while preserving historical integrity and managing logistical challenges.

3 minute read

December 15, 2024, 5:00 AM PST

By Devin Partida


Aerial view of harbor with modern buildings in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Aerial Film Studio / Adobe Stock

The effects of climate change are imminent, and cities are responsible for changing how they operate to improve their carbon footprints. However, city planners often face challenges in designing and executing sustainable retrofits while preserving their heritage.

Challenges in retrofitting old cities 

Retrofitting initiatives often present challenges in cities.

Economic viability

Due to the complexity of the technologies, retrofitting a historic urban environment could be expensive. For example, to retrofit a permeable pavement, the original material will be removed, which means the city pays for the removal and installation costs. This is economically unattractive, especially since green methods mostly only show long-term cost-effectiveness and are subjective to the users.

Even with renewable energy retrofit in buildings, cost savings depend on residents' actions. A person setting the air conditioner temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit might see reduced energy bills faster than someone who sets it at 60 degrees F.

Heritage values

Many old cities are rife with buildings with historical and cultural significance. Retrofitting these could change their classic features, which many may consider disrespectful. For example, installing green windows may mean removing stained glass.

Implementing sustainable technology without compromising historical integrity requires awareness, expertise and efficiency. However, heritage quality and sustainability can sometimes be mutually exclusive, so planners might need to let go of one to prioritize the other.

Lack of awareness

Many still need to learn about modern sustainable technology. For example, in the U.K., almost 33.3% of people think gas is a form of green heating and 70% don’t know what heat pumps are.

This also contributes to a need for more experts in designing and implementing comprehensive and efficient urban retrofitting projects. In the U.S., 47 cities list green jobs without relevant strategies in their climate action plan. Some even omit the need for these jobs.

Another consequence of the lack of awareness is inadequate resources to execute these projects. Stakeholders generally don’t invest in these technologies because they don’t see the purpose and don’t engage in overcoming the hurdles of retrofitting old cities.

Effective ways to retrofit historic urban settings

Reimagining old cities for environmental sustainability may be complex, but it’s possible when done effectively. Here are some multi-pronged strategies to plan a historic urban retrofit.

Engage with stakeholders

Urban planners must ensure stakeholders are committed to improving the city’s sustainability. Educating them on the benefits of retrofitting to improve public health is necessary. For example, air pollution — a consequence of global warming — causes 7 million premature deaths yearly. Education could also lead to hiring more experts and investing in relevant technologies.

Research on suitable green technologies

Innovations are expanding in urban sustainability, and planners should research and choose the right technologies to match a city’s build and potential.  These technologies should also not compromise the area's aesthetics and heritage value. One example is the automatic waste collection system, which reduces garbage trucks’ carbon footprint and keeps the building visually untouched.

Optimize costs

Retrofitting projects are costly, so planners must widen their options by researching financial opportunities such as green bonds, tax exemptions and government incentives like pollution-reduction subsidies in the U.S. Planners can also have investor talks to improve their risk perception and explain the long-term cost-effectiveness, like how energy efficiency contributes to a 12%-17% decrease in operating expenses.

Success stories of sustainable heritage cities

Many cities are moving toward a sustainable approach in their operations. An example is Copenhagen, Denmark — one of the world's most sustainable cities.

It has many retrofit projects, such as redesigning the Copenhagen Harbour into swimming pools and the district heating network in 2014. In addition, Tokyo, Japan, also prioritizes urban sustainability with a pledge to implement renewable power in buildings and use hydrogen produced by these energy sources for urban development.

Sustainability is the way forward for historic cities

Sustainability is crucial for cities to operate efficiently. To this end, stakeholders and urban planners must work together to balance heritage and green efforts.


Devin Partida

Devin Partida writes about current events, technology, and science. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com.

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Downtown Los Angeles skyline viewed from a distance with freeway and trees in foreground.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods

A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

1 hour ago - USC Dornsife

Aerial view of Claifornia aqueduct with green orchard on one side.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy

California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

2 hours ago - Turlock Journal

Close-up of older woman's hands resting on white modern heating radiator mounted on wall indoors.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program

The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.

3 hours ago - The New York Times