Chapter 1: The Need for Retrofitting in a Sustainable Future

It’s impossible to overstate the urgent need for sustainability today. As the realities of climate change become increasingly apparent, society is moving towards more sustainable practices. And for a good reason: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that we have a limited window to significantly reduce our carbon emissions if we are to prevent catastrophic global warming.

While various sectors contribute to carbon emissions, the building sector is among the most significant contributors. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world. Out of these, operational emissions, i.e., the energy used to heat, cool, and light buildings, account for 28%.

Newly constructed buildings increasingly adhere to green standards, a commendable stride forward. However, given the significant carbon footprint of existing buildings, we cannot solely rely on constructing new green buildings to achieve our sustainability goals. We must address the current building stock and retrofit these structures to reduce their environmental impact. This is why retrofitting isn’t a choice – it’s necessary for a sustainable future.

Retrofitting offers the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption of a building, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. A well-executed retrofit can improve energy efficiency by anywhere from 20% to 50%, substantially reducing carbon emissions.

But the benefits of retrofitting extend beyond just environmental impact. As we will explore in the following chapters, retrofitting benefits the planet and the wallet. It increases a property’s value and reduces operational costs, making it a win-win solution for building owners, occupants, and the environment.

In the next chapter, we’ll dive into the financial benefits of retrofitting, highlighting the business case for sustainable building practices.

Further information to explore:

  1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report: https://www.ipcc.ch
  2. World Green Building Council report on building emissions: https://worldgbc.org/article/new-report-the-building-and-construction-sector-can-reach-net-zero-carbon-emissions-by-2050/
  3. Examples of green building standards: https://wbdg.org/resources/green-building-standards-and-certification-systems

Greg Totten
CGC 1529916  ·  LEED AP BD+C
(727)-386-9480

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