To effectively retrofit buildings, large amounts of information must be scrutinized. And, as no two buildings are the same, each property needs its own approach. This is where the speed of AI and large language models (LLMs) comes into play. For instance, going through construction documents and maintenance records can help limit the need for new equipment and materials, thereby reducing waste. And, examining engineering systems can help identify easy solutions, such as whether a simple sensor add-on could solve the problem, as opposed to a bigger overhaul.

Project planning and monitoring construction sites in real-time are also areas where AI can add huge value. AI can use photos to generate 3D models of sites and layer it into a construction plan, helping developers build faster and with less risk by tracking project progress and optimizing construction schedules. Combining existing site data and images with generative AI capabilities can also be particularly helpful for visualizing how new structures will fit into existing surroundings.

Then, there’s supply chain tracking. Real estate must take into account supply chain carbon emissions, which are notoriously hard to track. This is where AI can help assess the pros and cons of different retrofitting options, rapidly analyzing the entire supply chain impact and total carbon involved, while standardizing reporting and documentation.

To be sure, there are still major challenges ahead. Retrofitting processes are complicated and AI can’t solve it overnight. In many cases, we’re also talking about old buildings, where less data may be readily available to feed into AI models, thereby requiring more human investigation and effort before AI can be of real use.

Yet, while AI doesn’t necessarily simplify the entire process, it can certainly help complete each task more efficiently, delivering better outcomes in the process. We have a long way to go if we’re to reach net zero carbon in real estate, but with more tools emerging all the time, we now have solutions available to get us started on the path.