Cost-Effective Green Retrofits:
Opportunities for Savings in Existing Buildings

The current slowdown in the economy has increased interest in retrofitting existing buildings for cost savings, often with significant environmental benefits from reduced resource consumption. Retrocommissioning, the practice of commissioning an existing building, is a common area to start. It provides a top-to-bottom assessment of lighting, plumbing, mechanical systems, and even the building envelope. Short of a formal commissioning process, any basic inspection of building systems can yield significant operational savings. Inefficient lighting, malfunctioning mechanical system controls, and leaky irrigation...