Energy Retrofits Cost-Effective, Says DOE Study

Whitestone Research recently released the results of a study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluating the cost-effectiveness of retrofitting an older building to meet the requirements of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which mandates that federal buildings reduce their energy consumption 30% by 2015 (calculated from a 2003 baseline).

The study, a lifecycle cost analysis of two retrofit options proposed for a research library at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, found that the more costly retrofit not only exceeded the 30% energy reduction but was also 16% more cost-effective over a 40-year period than the less expensive option and 12% more cost-effective than making no changes to the building. The study also found that up to 75% of the mandated energy savings could be achieved through modifications to the building’s mechanical system, though such results could not necessarily be replicated in every case.