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 CO2-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 2 http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=15561
- ↑ http://www.homeenergy.org/article_preview.php?id=314&article_title=Anatomy_of_a_Home_Performance_Retrofit
- ↑ http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/RECOVERY/programs/GREEN
- 1 2 http://greenhomeguide.com/know-how/article/green-retrofit-checklist
- ↑ http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=19324
- ↑ 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).
External links
- Residential Sector: Designing a prescriptive whole house retrofit program, Michael Wheeler, California Public Utilities Commission
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