Ithaca Uses “Digital Twin” Technology to Lead the Charge in Green Energy

• Proeksa Meas
• 27 March 2026
• Construction Focus
• 899 Views

Ithaca, a town in New York, is using a “digital twin” to transform itself into a carbon-neutral smart city by 2030. To reach this ambitious goal, the city is undergoing a massive transformation to replace fossil fuel-burning heaters and stoves in all 5,500 of its buildings with electric alternatives.

Developed by researchers at Cornell University and the Rocky Mountain Institute, with support from software leader Bentley Systems, this digital model uses AI and laser-scanning technology to map every street and building.

The tool is so precise that it can identify which specific windows are leaking heat. By simulating energy use across the town, officials can prioritize retrofits for low-income neighborhoods and older buildings, ensuring the transition to green energy is both fair and affordable.

One of the project’s biggest breakthroughs is its ability to find “hidden” savings. For example, while switching to electric heat pumps can be expensive, the digital twin showed that pairing them with better insulation and solar panels can save homeowners thousands of dollars over time.

It also helped researchers discover that certain multi-family homes in lower-income areas actually offer the best “bang for the buck” in reducing carbon emissions, a finding that surprised the team and shifted their strategy.

The success in Ithaca is already drawing attention from major cities and policymakers worldwide. Experts believe this digital approach can be scaled up to manage the energy needs of massive metropolitan areas like New York City or even power-hungry data centers.

By using AI to solve the complex puzzle of sustainability and cost, Ithaca is providing a practical blueprint for how the rest of the world can modernize its infrastructure for a cleaner future.

• Bentley
• Digital Twin
• AI
• Bentley Systems