Green retrofit

Green retrofit, home energy retrofit, home retrofit,[1] Deep energy retrofit and home performance retrofit[2] are terms with overlapping meaning for retrofits that ensure the maintenance and preservation of buildings and the continued operation and maintenance of energy efficiency technologies.[3] The meaning ranges from steps home owners can do themselves[4] to buying up distressed properties and making them certifiably green.[5] In the United States, the DOE issued a solicitation for $390 million for a "Retrofit Ramp-Up" program.[1]

Simple steps

Steps home owners can do include the following:[4]

  • Insulation, primarily roof/ceiling/attic and secondary walls and floor
  • Retrofitting heating equipments in older houses, results in household savings of 30–80% due to cut in energy-use and a reduction of CO
    2    -outlets by 30–100%.[6]
  • Thermostats in all rooms
  • New windows.
  • Plugging air leaks.
  • Tuning up heating and cooling (HVAC) systems.
  • Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and/or LED light bulbs
  • Choosing appliances with low energy consumption. In the United States, this is certified by the Energy Star.
  • Reducing water use by installing aerators and low-flow showerheads
  • Switching to green power, including solar energy and renewables such as heating-pellets and bio-gas
  • Using low-VOC products to improve indoor air quality
  • Planting native plants and other appropriate landscaping measures.

See also

References
  1. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=15561
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-03-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2010-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Green Retrofit Checklist | Green Home Guide".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. 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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