Green retrofit

A green retrofit is any refurbishment of an existing building that aims to reduce the carbon emissions and environmental impact of that building. This includes, but is not limited to improving the energy efficiency of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and other mechanical systems, increasing the quality of insulation in the building envelope, and aiming to improve occupant comfort and health.

Green retrofits have come to prominence recently with their inclusion in a number of popular building rating systems, such as the USGBC’s LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance,[1] Passive House EnerPHit,[2] and Green Globes for Existing Buildings.[3] Numerous government agencies, chiefly the EU, emphasize and help fund green retrofits in both residential and commercial buildings, as existing buildings have been identified as a large and growing area of consideration in the fight against climate change.[4]

Overview

Most retrofits can be considered somewhat “green” because rather than constructing a new building an existing one is improved.[5] This saves a great deal of embodied energy intensive material resources that would otherwise need to be used to build the structure in the first place. When the alternative is an entirely new building, any retrofit will reduce the carbon impact of that project. A green retrofit additionally considers the environmental impacts of the design decisions made, and aims to leverage each design decision to incorporate energy saving and sustainability.

Retrofitting any building inherently carries the constraints of the current building and site. In many cases this may force project teams to consider less than ideal solutions with relation to the stated project goals. For example, the orientation of a building with regard to the sun has a great impact on its energy performance, but once a building is constructed it is generally not within the scope of a retrofit to rotate it. Budgetary constraints also often impact the energy conservation measures proposed. Until recently, green retrofits have generally been considered as one-off projects for specific buildings or clients, but given the increased emphasis on improving the energy efficiency of existing building stock in the face of climate change, they are beginning to be reviewed systematically and at scale.[5][6] The main challenge this presents for governments and interested advocacy groups is that “the existing building stock is characterized by different uses, with buildings located in disparate climatic areas, and with many different construction traditions and system technologies”.[7] It is difficult, then, to characterize strategies for all buildings, when each building is so different from the last.

Another reason that green retrofits have recently garnered a considerable amount of research attention is government emphasis on retrofitting old building stock to fight climate change. It is estimated that up to a half of building stock is always over 40 years old.[8] These buildings have significantly worse energy performance than their modern counterparts due to design shortcomings, deterioration in mechanical system efficiency and increase in envelope permeability. The energy use intensity of houses in the US dropped 9% from 1985 to 2004 due simply to improvements in end use energy efficiency and code improvements.[9] Unfortunately this is offset by the overall increase in number of houses total. This goes to emphasize the importance of retrofitting existing building stock with relation to stated climate goals; older infrastructure performs worse.

Components of a Green Retrofit

Integrated Design

As with any sustainable building practice, green retrofits utilize an integrated design strategy.[10] This is in opposition to the traditional waterfall design strategy, in which architects, engineers, and contractors operate independently from one another. In an integrated design strategy, these teams work together to leverage their individual areas of expertise and solve design problems while considering all aspects of the building at once. This is imperative for a green retrofit, where the design solutions are often constrained by the existing site. This could relate to the orientation and geometry of the existing building form, the size of the site, or the installation requirements of the existing and proposed mechanical systems. Because these constraints affect all aspects of building design the only way sustainable, effective, and cost-efficient solutions can be synthesized is when project teams consider all these aspects from project start.

Occupant Behavior

Many sustainable building practices are passive and can be automated, like insulation or light controls for example. Many others depend on the behavior of the occupants of the building to realize their fully increased energy efficiency potential. An energy efficient heating system does very little good if the windows are left open midwinter. Per Ascione et al, “…the first lever of energy efficiency is a proper energy-education of users”.[11] Green retrofits can involve training building occupants in sustainable practices and installed building systems that they’ll interact with, which helps to ensure that any energy conservation measures used will reach their full design potential. Training can be handled by system manufacturers or the project design team.

LED bulbs are a popular and effective choice for green lighting retrofits

Lighting Retrofits

One of the most common forms of a green retrofit is a full or partial lighting retrofit. In general, a lighting retrofit consists of replacing all or some of the lightbulbs in a building with newer, more efficient models.[12] This can also include changing light fixtures, ballasts, and drivers where necessary, and may also apply to outdoor lighting solutions. In most cases, LED bulbs are the preferred choice in a green lighting retrofit because of their greatly increased efficiency compared to incandescent bulbs, but compact fluorescent and other types of bulbs like metal halides may be used as well.

Lighting retrofits are such a popular form of green retrofit because compared to other methods of improving energy efficiency, lighting retrofits are relatively straightforward to plan and execute, and the energy savings often provide a quick return on investment.[13] Most modern LED bulbs are designed to work with existing building light fixtures and rarely involve any additional work than removing and screwing in a new lightbulb. The same applies to compact fluorescent bulbs. There is very little occupant downtime associated with a lighting retrofit, as the installation is relatively quick compared to more invasive energy conservation measures.

Lighting retrofits often also consist of implementing new lighting controls like occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, and timers. In addition to more energy efficient lamps, these controls, when correctly implemented, can reduce the demand for lighting. However due to the complicated nature of lighting controls, there is debate as to whether or not they are an effective energy conserving measure. This is mainly due to the prevalence of over-optimistic energy usage reduction estimates and the difficulty in predicting the actions of human occupants.[14] They can, however, contribute to increased occupant satisfaction.[15]

HVAC Retrofits

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for around 50% of a building’s operating energy consumption.[16] Reducing this consumption can provide both energy and cost savings as part of the retrofit process, and is therefore another focus of many green retrofits. The heating system, the cooling system, the air handling systems, and any humidification systems installed in the building are often considered. Part of this evaluation also includes the ductwork, if there is any, to ensure its airtightness.[17] Any leaks in ductwork will result in a loss of conditioned air commensurate to the size of the leak, and are generally addressed in a green retrofit. Oftentimes a newer, more efficient model of the same type as the existing system will be a cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency, such as replacing an old boiler with an entirely new one to feed a hydronic heating system. There are other times when a larger system overhaul is merited, for example changing that old boiler for a newer ground- or air-source heat pump system. This will depend largely on the project specifics.

A blower door test can locate leaks in a building envelope.

Building Envelope Retrofits

Insulation and building envelope performance are key to the overall energy performance in any building.[18] Many older and existing buildings are not insulated up to current standards, let alone up to the standards recommended in many green building rating systems. The net result of this is that many of these buildings spend energy and money heating, cooling, or conditioning the air inside them, only to see it seep out through leaks in the building envelope or through poorly insulating windows. This is as bad for building energy performance as it is for the bottom line of the building owner.

During many green retrofits, the first step towards improving the building’s envelope is to evaluate its current shortcomings. There are a number of methods for doing this but a popular choice is a blower door test, which can locate leaks within the building envelope. Action is then assessed based on the results of this test.

Window Retrofits

Windows are the weakest point of insulation in a building’s envelope by far, and so contribute greatly to how thermally effective that envelope is.[19]  It is because of this that windows are another common area of focus for a green retrofit. Similar to a lighting retrofit, windows are a relatively straightforward aspect of a building to retrofit, with easy to calculate payback periods. Modern, efficient windows are generally sized for existing window openings, and so can usually be installed without much additional work on the building envelope.

There are many types of windows, and their uses are as varied as the number of types there are. Most green retrofits will replace older single-pane windows with newer double- or triple-paned varieties. These windows have greater R-values (or lower U-values), so can help insulate a space far better than single-pane windows. Others use low-e coatings to control the solar heat gain coefficient. Each type of glazing has a different use that should be evaluated based on the context of the project, and with respect to the building orientation and shading.

Green Roof Retrofits
The Chicago City Hall retrofitted a semi-intensive green roof in 2001 [20]

Green roofs, also called ecoroofs, have a number of major benefits, including reducing stormwater runoff and urban heat island effect, increasing roof insulation, improve building acoustics,[21] and providing for biodiversity.[22] It is for these reasons amongst others that the addition of a green roof is often considered for a green retrofit.

There are a number of factors to account for when considering a green roof for a green retrofit. Firstly, the type of green roof, extensive or intensive must be decided. Extensive green roofs use a thin substrate layer for the often shorter vegetation that needs less room for roots to grow. Intensive green roofs use a thicker growing substrate to accommodate larger plant species that require more room for their roots. Semi-intensive green roofs fall somewhere in between the two. Then the strength of the existing structure must be considered; many existing structures were not designed for an intensive green roof, which can carry a considerable structural load. Whether or not the existing roof needs to be stripped or re-waterproofed. Some roofs can simply be lain over with sedum mats, while others require additional work to prepare, which can come with more costs. A peaked or sloped roof does not preclude the installation of a green roofing system, but can influence the installation costs and product choices available.

In general, older buildings with lower existing insulation values benefit the most from green roof retrofits, and where there are no modifications necessary to install one, green roofs have been shown to have many benefits.[23][24]

Costs & Benefits

The scope and therefore impacts of a green retrofit vary as widely as the buildings that undertake them. They can involve specific building systems, like the lighting, or full renovations of all non-

components. Because of this variation, the benefits and drawbacks of a green retrofit are commensurate to the scope of the work planned. A simple lighting retrofit is straightforward to execute and relatively unobtrusive to current building occupants, but won’t generally carry as much of a benefit or cost as a larger insulation retrofit, for example. When weighing the benefits and costs of a green retrofit, like any retrofit, each of these components must be considered to summarize the project as a total.

One of the most cited drawbacks of a green retrofit is financial cost. While it is true that green retrofits can result in increased financial cost, even from a lifecycle perspective, this depends on a large number of factors.[25] It is also important to note that a primary driver for most green retrofits is environmental cost in addition to financial cost. Many incentive programs condition grants based on environmental performance of the project, so both need to be considered simultaneously. The economic feasibility of a green retrofit depends on the state an installed systems of the existing building, the proposed design, the energy costs of the local utility grid, and the climatic conditions of the site. The costs incurred can be further complicated by the various stakeholders involved with the project, from building owners, developers, government agencies and consultants, as well as when these costs are incurred and how they are accounted for. Any economic incentives will depend on what country or state the project is in. These incentives will differ regionally and will affect the total project feasibility. In Ireland, for example, “shallow” green retrofits have been found to be economically feasible, though “deep” retrofits are not without government grant aid to offset initial capital costs of retrofit.[26]

Green retrofits can carry many benefits such as the re-use of existing building materials. Concrete and steel have some of the highest embodied energy impacts of any building material, and can account for up to 60% of the carbon used in the construction of a building.[27][28] They are also primarily used in the structure of a building, which usually remains untouched in most retrofits. By avoiding the largest carbon impact in new building construction, green retrofits can incur great environmental benefit. At scale, the EU has found that implementing green retrofit programs comes with the benefit of “energy security, job creation, fuel poverty alleviation, health and indoor comfort”.[7]

Most types of green retrofit introduce new building materials into the space which can themselves emit harmful indoor air pollutants. The amount, type and exposure to these pollutants will depend on the material itself, what it is used for and how it is installed. Oftentimes green retrofits also call for sealing in leaks in the building envelope to prevent the escape of conditioned air, but if this is not offset by an increase in ventilation can contribute to higher concentrations of indoor air pollutants in the building.[29]

Simple steps

Steps home owners can do include the following:[30]

See also

References
  1. "LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance" (PDF). USGBC. September 2008.
  2. "EnerPHit - the Passive House certification for retrofits". Passipedia.
  3. "Green Globes for Existing Buildings". Green Building Institute.
  4. "Financing Renovations". ec.europe.eu. 11 March 2020.
  5. Najme Hashempour, Roohollah Taherkhani, Mahdi Mahdikhani, Energy performance optimization of existing buildings: A literature review, Sustainable Cities and Society, Volume 54, 2020, 101967, ISSN 2210-6707, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101967
  6. Rehmaashini Jagarajan, Mat Naim Abdullah Mohd Asmoni, Abdul Hakim Mohammed, Mohd Nadzri Jaafar, Janice Lee Yim Mei, Maizan Baba, Green retrofitting – A review of current status, implementations and challenges, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 67, 2017, Pages 1360-1368, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.091
  7. Delia D’Agostino, Paolo Zangheri, and Luca Castellazzi, Towards Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in Europe: A Focus on Retrofit in Non-Residential Buildings, Energies 2017, 10(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/en10010117
  8. Wang, Na & Phelan, Patrick & Gonzalez, Jorge & Harris, Chioke & Henze, Gregor & Hutchinson, Robert & Langevin, Jared & Lazarus, Mary Ann & Nelson, Brent & Pyke, Chris & Roth, Kurt & Rouse, David & Sawyer, Karma & Selkowitz, Steve. (2017). Ten questions concerning future buildings beyond zero energy and carbon neutrality. Building and Environment. 119. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.04.006
  9. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency Trends in Residential and Commercial Buildings, https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/corporate/bt_stateindustry.pdf
  10. Bu, Shanshan & Shen, Geoffrey. (2013). A Critical Review of Green Retrofit Design. 150-158. 10.1061/9780784413135.014.
  11. Fabrizio Ascione, Nicola Bianco, Rosa Francesca De Masi, Margherita Mastellone, Gerardo Maria Mauro, Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, The role of the occupant behavior in affecting the feasibility of energy refurbishment of residential buildings: Typical effective retrofits compromised by typical wrong habits, Energy and Buildings, Volume 223, 2020, 110217, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110217
  12. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/02/f49/forrestal_espc.pdf
  13. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/cs8-lovell-lighting.pdf
  14. Gordon Lowry, Energy saving claims for lighting controls in commercial buildings, Energy and Buildings, Volume 133, 2016, Pages 489-497, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.10.003
  15. P.R. Boyce, J.A. Veitch, G.R. Newsham, C.C. Jones, J. Heerwagen, M. Myer, C.M. Hunter, Occupant use of switching and dimming controls in offices, Light. Res. Technol., 38 (2006), pp. 358-378, 10.1177/1477153506070994
  16. Luis Pérez-Lombard, José Ortiz, Christine Pout, A review on buildings energy consumption information, Energy and Buildings, Volume 40, Issue 3, 2008, Pages 394-398, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.03.007
  17. https://www.smacna.org/docs/default-source/technical-resources/hvac-duct-air-leakage-9-12-19.pdf?sfvrsn=cba0c8a5_0
  18. Suresh B. Sadineni, Srikanth Madala, Robert F. Boehm, Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 15, Issue 8, 2011, Pages 3617-3631, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.014
  19. P.D. Robinson, M G Hutchins, Advanced glazing technology for low energy buildings in the UK, Renewable Energy, Volume 5, Issues 1–4, 1994, Pages 298-309, ISSN 0960-1481, https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-1481(94)90387-5
  20. https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs/chicago-case-study.htm
  21. M. Connelly, M. Hodgson, Experimental investigation of the sound absorption characteristics of vegetated roofs, Building and Environment, Volume 92, 2015, Pages 335-346, ISSN 0360-1323, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.04.023
  22. Umberto Berardi, The outdoor microclimate benefits and energy saving resulting from green roofs retrofits, Energy and Buildings, Volume 121, 2016, Pages 217-229, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.03.021
  23. H.F. Castleton, V. Stovin, S.B.M. Beck, J.B. Davison, Green roofs; building energy savings and the potential for retrofit, Energy and Buildings, Volume 42, Issue 10, 2010, Pages 1582-1591, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.05.004
  24. Renato Castiglia Feitosa, Sara J. Wilkinson, Attenuating heat stress through green roof and green wall retrofit, Building and Environment, Volume 140, 2018, Pages 11-22, ISSN 0360-1323, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.05.034
  25. Tharindu Prabatha, Kasun Hewage, Hirushie Karunathilake, Rehan Sadiq, To retrofit or not? Making energy retrofit decisions through life cycle thinking for Canadian residences, Energy and Buildings, Volume 226, 2020, 110393, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110393
  26. Paul Moran, John O'Connell, Jamie Goggins, Sustainable energy efficiency retrofits as residential buildings move towards nearly zero energy building (NZEB) standards, Energy and Buildings, Volume 211, 2020, 109816, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.109816
  27. Xing Su, Xu Zhang, A detailed analysis of the embodied energy and carbonemissions of steel-construction residential buildings in China, Energy and Buildings, Volume 119, 2016, Pages 323-330, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.03.070
  28. Jamie Goggins, Treasa Keane, Alan Kelly, The assessment of embodied energy in typical reinforced concrete building structures in Ireland, Energy and Buildings, Volume 42, Issue 5, 2010, Pages 735-744, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.11.013
  29. Zhe Liu, Wei Ye, John C. Little, Predicting emissions of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds from building materials: A review, Building and Environment, Volume 64, 2013, Pages 7-25, ISSN 0360-1323, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.02.012
  30. "Green Retrofit Checklist | Green Home Guide".
  31. An old gas-boiler has an energy-efficiency of 65% and a new one 93% resulting in a 30% energy reduction and consequently a 30% CO2-reduction, if installing a wood-chips or pellets boiler the savings will be increased efficiency + cheaper fuel resulting in a total saving of 40–50% and a CO2-reduction of 100% (renewable energy), if installing an efficient heat-pump the savings and the reduction will both be around 80% (100% CO2 reduction if the electricity comes from renewable energy).
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