Please see the list of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) included in the Preliminary Retrofit Analysis.
Lighting - Replace existing lighting with T8 upgrade (0.7W/sf)
Replace existing lighting to T8 lamps with 7.5 W/m2 [2.38 Btu/h/sf]. T8 lamps use fewer watts, release less heat and produce more lumens compared with older fixtures. A retrofit kit is recommended for converting ballasts. Replacement may improve lighting quality.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Lighting conditions can affect occupant satisfaction and may affect work performance. Lighting upgrades need to provide adequate illumination and accessible control.
Lighting - Replace existing lighting with T5 upgrade (0.67W/sf)
Replace existing lighting to T5 lamps with 7.2 W/m2 [2.28 Btu/h/sf]. T5 lamps use fewer watts, release less heat and produce more lumens compared with older fixtures. A retrofit kit is recommended for converting ballasts. Replacement may improve lighting quality.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Lighting conditions can affect occupant satisfaction and may affect work performance. Lighting upgrades need to provide adequate illumination and accessible control.
Lighting - Replace existing lighting with LED upgrade (0.6W/sf)
Replace existing lighting to LEDs with 6.5 W/m2 [2.38 Btu/h/sf]. LEDs consume less power and last longer than fluorescent lamps. A retrofit kit is recommended for converting ballasts. Replacement may improve lighting quality.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Lighting conditions can affect occupant satisfaction and may affect work performance. Lighting upgrades need to provide adequate illumination and accessible control.
HVAC - Cooling - Single zone rooftop unit efficiency upgrade (SEER 12.5)
Replace rooftop HVAC unit with a higher efficiency single zone rooftop unit (SEER 12.5). This is for cooling only and includes standard controls, curb, and economizer.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Adding an economizer will increase time-average outside air ventilation, often by more than a factor of two. This can improve indoor air quality. In office settings, studies found that more outside air can reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and improve work performance. Similar benefits may also apply to retail and mixed-use buildings.
HVAC - Cooling - Single zone rooftop unit efficiency upgrade (SEER 14)
Replace rooftop HVAC unit with a higher efficiency single zone rooftop unit (SEER 14). This is for cooling only and includes standard controls, curb, and economizer.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Adding an economizer will increase time-average outside air ventilation, often by more than a factor of two. This can improve indoor air quality. In office settings, studies found that more outside air can reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and improve work performance. Similar benefits may also apply to retail and mixed-use buildings.
HVAC - Cooling - Packaged Rooftop VAV Unit Efficiency Upgrade (SEER 12.5)
Replace RTU with higher-efficiency unit with a reheat, SEER 12.5 Cooling only; include standard controls, curb, and economizer.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Adding an economizer will increase time-average outside air ventilation, often by more than a factor of two. This can improve indoor air quality. In office settings, studies found that more outside air can reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and improve work performance. Similar benefits may also apply to retail and mixed-use buildings.
HVAC - Cooling - Packaged Rooftop VAV Unit Efficiency Upgrade (SEER 14)
Replace RTU with higher-efficiency unit with reheat, SEER 14. Cooling only; include standard controls, curb, and economizer.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Adding an economizer will increase time-average outside air ventilation, often by more than a factor of two. This can improve indoor air quality. In office settings, studies found that more outside air can reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and improve work performance. Similar benefits may also apply to retail and mixed-use buildings.
HVAC - Heating - Gas Furnace Efficiency Upgrade (AFUE 92)
Replace existing heating system with high efficiency gas furnace with an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 92 (AFUE 92)
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: If the current gas furnace is located indoors and is natural draft, then changing to a high efficiency equipment with forced exhaust venting will reduce the risk of combustion pollutants leakage to indoors.
HVAC - Heating - Gas Boiler Efficiency Upgrade (AFUE 92)
Replace existing heating system with high efficiency gas boiler with an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 92 (AFUE 92)
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: If the current gas boiler is located indoors and is natural draft, then changing to a high efficiency equipment with forced exhaust venting will reduce the risk of combustion pollutants leakage to indoors.
HVAC - Heating - Gas Furnace Efficiency Upgrade (AFUE 95)
Replace existing heating system with high efficiency gas furnace with an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 95 (AFUE 95)
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: If the current gas furnace is located indoors and is natural draft, then changing to a high efficiency equipment with forced exhaust venting will reduce the risk of combustion pollutants leakage to indoors.
HVAC - Heating - Gas Boiler Efficiency Upgrade (AFUE 95)
Replace existing heating system with high efficiency gas boiler with an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 95 (AFUE 95)
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: If the current gas boiler is located indoors and is natural draft, then changing to a high efficiency equipment with forced exhaust venting will reduce the risk of combustion pollutants leakage to indoors.
HVAC - Economizer - Add Economizer
Install economizer for existing HVAC system (includes temperature sensors, damper motors, motor controls, and dampers). Typically an economizer is a heat exchanger used for preheating.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Adding an economizer will increase time-average outside air ventilation, often by more than a factor of two. This can improve indoor air quality. In office settings, studies found that more outside air can reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, and improve work performance. Similar benefits may also apply to retail and mixed-use buildings.
Envelope - Infiltration - Add Air Sealing to Seal Leaks
Air sealing can reduce cold drafts and help improve thermal comfort in buildings. Air sealing is a weatherization strategy which will change the air exchange rate and IAQ.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Air sealing can improve thermal comfort by reducing cold draft, and reduce occupant exposure to outdoor air pollutants. It is important to make sure that the building has sufficient ventilation after air sealing, otherwise indoor air quality may deteriorate. If spray foam insulation is used to insulate and seal, the building must be vacated to avoid occupant exposure to irritants during and for some period after the application.
Plug Loads - Plug Load Efficiency Upgrade (25% efficient from Baseline)
Eliminate or unplug unnecessary equipment and replace equipment with more energy efficient versions, to reduce the plug-load power density (achieve 25% more efficient from baseline).
Plug Loads - Use Plug Load Controller (30% efficient from Baseline)
Connect plug loads to a smart plug strip with some or all of the following functions: Occupancy sensing, load sensing, timers, remote control.
Envelope - Roof - Reroof and Roof with Insulation
Demolish existing roof, install insulation (R24.83) and reroof to reduced unwanted heat gain/loss. This measure is most applicable to older roofs.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that roof insulation and re-roofing can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. If spray foam insulation is used, the building must be vacated to avoid occupant exposure to irritants during and for some period after the application.
Envelope - Roof - Apply Cool Roof Coating with Reflectivity
Apply a cool roof coating, a monolithic, fully adhered roofing membrane, with a reflectivity (0.4) which can deliver a high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance, commonly associated with a white roof. An existing dark roof is a prerequisite.
Service Hot Water - Efficiency Upgrade of the Gas Storage Water Heater
Replace the existing service hot water heater with more efficient gas storage unit, with better insulation, heat traps and more efficient burners to increase overall efficiency of (0.93).
Envelope - Exterior Wall - Apply Wall Insulation (R15)
Apply blown-fiberglass insulation (R15) to wall cavity will help maintain the thermal comfort. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, taking less energy to heat/cool the space.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that adding insulation can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. Contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to determine if this is a concern.
Envelope - Exterior Wall - Apply Wall Insulation (R19)
Apply blown-fiberglass insulation (R19) to wall cavity will help maintain the thermal comfort. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, taking less energy to heat/cool the space.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that adding insulation can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. Contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to determine if this is a concern.
Envelope - Exterior Wall - Apply Wall Insulation (R21)
Apply blown-fiberglass insulation (R21) to wall cavity will help maintain the thermal comfort. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, taking less energy to heat/cool the space.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that adding insulation can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. Contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to determine if this is a concern.
Envelope - Window - Replace fixed-window to U-factor (0.29) and SHGC (0.2)
Replace existing window glass and frame with high performance windows by changing the U-factor and SHGC of the window material. The U-factor is a measure of thermal transmittance and SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, values taken as 0.29 Btu/h/sf/F, SHGC: 0.2. The SHGC and U-factor are 20% below Title 24 values.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Selecting windows with the appropriate heat gain and visible light transmittance can help maintain thermal comfort and improve occupant satisfaction with indoor lighting level.
Envelope - Window - Replace fixed-window to U-factor (0.25) and SHGC (0.18)
Replace existing window glass and frame with high performance windows by changing the U-factor and SHGC of the window material. The U-factor is a measure of thermal transmittance and SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, values taken as 0.25 Btu/h/sf/F, SHGC: 0.18. The SHGC and U-factor are 30% below Title 24 values.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Selecting windows with the appropriate heat gain and visible light transmittance can help maintain thermal comfort and improve occupant satisfaction with indoor lighting level.
Envelope - Roof - Apply Top Floor Ceiling Insulation(R30)
Install insulation (R30) to the ceiling beneath the existing roof by fasten fiberglass blankets/batts to reduce unwanted heat gain/loss. This measure is most applicable to older vintages and when reroofing is not required (or desired).
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that adding insulation can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. Contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to determine if this is a concern.
Envelope - Roof - Apply Top Floor Ceiling Insulation(R38)
Install insulation (R38) to the ceiling beneath the existing roof by fasten fiberglass blankets/batts to reduce unwanted heat gain/loss. This measure is most applicable to older vintages and when reroofing is not required (or desired).
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Better insulation may improve thermal comfort. But note that adding insulation can disturb existing building materials that may contain asbestos. Contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to determine if this is a concern.
HVAC - Operation & Maintenance - Add Programmable Thermostat
Install programmable thermostat to optimize heating and cooling energy use.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Heating and cooling setpoints should be within the thermal comfort range. Research studies found that the optimum temperature for office work performance is between 68 and 74 F.
Lighting - Controls - Install daylighting sensors for interior lighting control
Install photocell with existing timeclock. Daylighting controls function to reduce the light on-time, when natural light is capable of adequately lighting the space. Daylighting methodologies can be applied to any building space with daylight.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Achieving good daylight control can be challenging because of the vast difference in lighting level preference among people. Automatic lighting controls need to be simple to use, and allow occupants to manually override to ensure satisfaction.
Lighting - Controls - Install Wall-Mounted Occupancy Sensors
Install wall-mounted occupancy sensor pack. Occupancy sensors are motion-sensing devices that can automatically turn on luminaries when motion is detected, keep luminaries on while a space is occupied and turn off luminaries when the space is vacated.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Lighting conditions can affect occupant satisfaction and may affect work performance. Lighting controls need to be simple to use and allow occupants to manually override when desired.
HVAC - Ventilation - Replace Air Filter
Replace air filter with low pressure-drop air filter. This can save energy, improve overall air quality and reduce particle build up on internal equipment.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: Select low-pressure air filters that have the same or better particle removal efficiency because there are substantial health benefits by reducing indoor particle levels.
Service Hot Water - Improve Water Tank Insulation
Improve insulation for service hot water tank (Fuel type: Natural Gas) to 3.7 W/K
Service Hot Water - Upgrade to Gas Instantaneous Water Heater
Replace existing service hot water heater with a more efficient gas instantaneous unit with an efficiency of 0.82.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: If the current gas water heater is located indoors and is natural draft, then changing to a high efficiency equipment with forced exhaust venting will reduce the risk of combustion pollutants leakage to indoors.
HVAC - Ventilation - Add Ceiling Fan
Install ceiling fans to reduce heat destratification. Ceiling fans effectively cool by introducing slow movement to induce evaporative cooling, rather than directly conditioning the air.
Indoor Environmental Quality Impacts: The use of ceiling fans can maintain thermal comfort at higher temperature (28 C or 81 F, assuming 50% relative humidity). If there is no existing air conditioning, ceiling fans can help improve thermal comfort.
