ClimateJune 16, 2026

retrofit

/ˈrɛtrəˌfɪt/

Definition

To add new, more efficient technology or components to existing industrial equipment or systems to improve performance and reduce environmental impact.

Etymology

The word combines the Latin prefix 'retro-', meaning 'backward' or 'behind,' and the English verb 'fit.' It originally emerged in the 20th century to describe the act of adding features to an object that were not available at the time of its initial manufacturing.

In the news

In the article, the NDRC mandates that steel, cement, and other energy-intensive industries update their older, inefficient machinery to modern green standards. This process of retrofitting is essential for meeting China's national carbon emission reduction targets.

NDRC launches 3-year energy-saving, carbon-reduction retrofit campaign for nine key industries

Read the full article ↗

Global Times

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