Existing buildings, especially older ones that generally are energy-inefficient, are posing major challenges to energy-conscious building owners who rely on designers and builders for solutions to improve building enclosure and building systems performance. Excessive and wasteful energy use affects not only costs of building operation and future energy costs but also the rate of energy consumption and depletion nationwide.

 

Building owners and managers must be familiar with the benefits derived from efficient energy use. Utility program managers must understand energy demand and distribution issues. Designers and builders must have a clear understanding of energy technology and possess skills in its implementation.

While addressing energy-use issues in new construction can be dealt with in a relatively straightforward manner, improving energy use in existing buildings can be highly challenging. Due to the many existing buildings, however, responding to this challenge can result in the most
significant gains in energy use and conservation.

Understanding the Physics of Retrofits—Factors Dominating Retrofit Strategies for Institutional, Residential, and Commercial Buildings• Significant increases in thermal resistance
• A reduction in vapor permeability of external and internal linings
• An increase in the water and mold sensitivity of materials
• An order of magnitude reduction in the hygric buffer capacity of enclosures
• The presence of complex three-dimensional airflow networks that couple building enclosures to the breathing zone of conditioned spaces
• The presence of complex three-dimensional airflow networks that couple building enclosures to the breathing zone of conditioned spaces

Mass Wall Retrofits—Internal Retrofits and External Retrofits
• Understanding changes to the energy and moisture balance
• Addressing osmosis and freeze-thaw concerns
• Possible implementation approaches