Energy Atlas: A Digital Twin for Decarbonizing Ithaca’s Building Stock
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
One of the 4 Key Sustainability Challenges
Story Highlights
UTILIZED SOFTWARE
Bentley Software
LOCATION
ORGANIZATION/COMPANY
PROJECT SUMMARY
Cornell University’s Environmental Systems Lab, in partnership with the City of Ithaca, created the Energy Atlas Digital Twin to achieve the city’s goal of full carbon neutrality by 2030. The project targets the city’s 5,200+ buildings (responsible for over 300,000 metric tons of CO2 annually) by building a high-fidelity Urban Building Energy Model (UBEM). Using Bentley iTwin Capture for AI-driven 3D reconstruction from drone imagery, the team accurately extracted architectural data, saving an estimated 14,000 work hours in modeling labor. The UBEM platform, built on Cesium, allows stakeholders to prioritize cost-effective retrofits. This digital-first strategy enables pathways for up to 95% operational carbon reduction (or 104,000 metric tons of CO2 annually), establishing a scalable and replicable framework for accelerating energy transition in cities globally.
Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG Goal 1
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
SDG Goal 2
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
SDG Goal 3
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SDG Goal 4
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG Goal 5
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
SDG Goal 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
SDG Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
SDG Goal 8
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment, & decent work for all.
SDG Goal 9
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization & foster innovation.
SDG Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
SDG Goal 11
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
SDG Goal 12
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
SDG Goal 13
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG Goal 14
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
SDG Goal 15
Life on Land
Sustainably manage ecosystems, combat desertification, reverse land degradation, & halt biodiversity loss.
SDG Goal 16
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Foster peaceful & inclusive societies, ensure justice access, & build effective, accountable institutions at all levels.
SDG Goal 17
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation & revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.