b'CARBON PATHWAYMISSING THIS OPPORTUNITY CAN LOCK HOMEOWNERS INTO A HIGHEREMISSIONS INVESTMENTpropertys current carbon emissions and energy usage and then provide tailored strategies for emission reduction. These strategies are often prioritized based on feasibility, investment level, anticipated impact and timingall while considering a buildings asset renewal schedule. As such, a carbon pathway study gives stakeholders a better idea of how their decarbonization projects can take shape over time and their anticipated costs. An important aspect of carbon pathway studies is that they enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about future investments. Consider, for example, when a home furnace or water heater reaches the end of its lifespan. This is a crucial opportunity to switch to a more efficient and low-carbon option, such as a heat pump or hybrid system. Missing this opportunity can lock homeowners into a higheremissions investment and could be a missed chance for carbon reduction and energy cost savings for the next 20 years or more.A commercial office building, retail plaza or high-rise multi-unit residential building is no different, says Carr. One of the goals is to help building owners understand how to sequence capital investments in a way that aligns the end-of-the-life cycle of their equipment with decarbonization or energy-effi-ciency projects.Ultimately, he continues, the study is a tool to enable more deep retrofits and help building stakeholders make stra-tegic choices that reduce emissions and support Canadas climate goals.AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF OTTAWA13'