What are the most effective ways to retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency?

1 Assess energy performance

The first step to retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency is to assess the current energy performance of the building and its systems. This involves conducting an energy audit, which is a systematic evaluation of the energy consumption, demand, and losses of the facility. An energy audit can help identify the areas of improvement, prioritize the retrofit measures, and estimate the potential savings and payback periods. An energy audit can also help benchmark the facility against similar buildings and industry standards, and set realistic and achievable energy goals.

2 Upgrade lighting systems

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency is to upgrade the lighting systems. Lighting accounts for a significant portion of the electricity use in most buildings, and can also affect the heating and cooling loads. By replacing outdated and inefficient lamps and fixtures with energy-efficient ones, such as LED, CFL, or T5 fluorescent, you can reduce the lighting energy consumption by up to 75%. You can also install lighting controls, such as dimmers, timers, sensors, or smart systems, that can adjust the lighting levels and schedules according to the occupancy, daylight, or user preferences.

3 Improve HVAC systems

Another major source of energy use and waste in most facilities is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems are responsible for maintaining the indoor thermal comfort and air quality of the building, but they can also consume a lot of energy and generate greenhouse gas emissions. To retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency, you can improve the HVAC systems by performing regular maintenance, cleaning, and tuning; replacing or upgrading old and inefficient equipment, such as boilers, chillers, fans, pumps, or ducts; installing variable speed drives, economizers, heat recovery units, or demand-controlled ventilation; and optimizing the HVAC controls, such as thermostats, sensors, or building automation systems.

6 Monitor and evaluate energy performance

The last but not least way to retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency is to monitor and evaluate the energy performance of the building and its systems after the retrofit measures are implemented. This involves collecting and analyzing the energy data, such as consumption, demand, costs, and savings, and comparing them with the baseline and the goals. Monitoring and evaluating the energy performance can help verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the retrofit measures, identify the gaps and opportunities for further improvement, and provide feedback and recommendations for future actions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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