4.1 Multi-Criteria Decision Matrix for Sequencing Building Retrofits
Developing a phased implementation plan for campus heating electrification demands a structured evaluation framework that reconciles immediate capital limitations with long-term carbon abatement trajectories. When establishing deployment priorities, facilities planners must evaluate building thermal load profiles, hydronic emitter compatibility, and the availability of decentralized or ambient thermal sources [1], [2]. Implementing centralized ground-source or wastewater ambient loops provides substantial energy savings across building clusters, yet the physical disruption of extensive groundworks necessitates prioritizing facilities with immediate boiler replacement deadlines and adjacent open parcels [1], [3]. Conversely, standalone air-to-water heat pump retrofits offer rapid, modular deployment for detached structures exhibiting modern building envelope standards, making them primary candidates for early capital intervention phases [2]. By establishing a dynamic decision matrix that weights envelope readiness, carbon reduction yield, and spatial network feasibility, institutions can avoid premature high-temperature boiler replacements while methodically establishing shared ambient loop infrastructure across denser campus zones [1], [3]. This phased rollout sequencing ensures that initial investments generate substantial operational savings and technical validation, thereby establishing financial momentum and institutional confidence for more complex subsequent retrofit stages.