Buildings use electricity and natural gas for heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC), water heating, lighting, and to power appliances and electronic devices. Retrofitting existing buildings to reduce energy demand can lower the GHG emissions due to these energy uses. This solution considers several key retrofitting options:
- Improving insulation/air sealing of existing buildings
- Replacing conventional lighting with LED lighting in both residential and commercial buildings
- Replacing conventional HVAC systems and gas- and oil-fired furnaces with high-efficiency heat pumps
- Installing water-saving devices such as low-flow fixtures and efficient appliances
- Replacing conventional thermostats with smart thermostats
- Using automated control systems in existing commercial buildings that can regulate heating, cooling, lighting, appliances, and more to maximize energy efficiency
- Using alternative roof designs such as green roofs, which line a roof with soil and vegetation, as well as cool roofs, which reflect solar energy to reduce a building’s electricity demand and therefore reduce emissions
In addition, solutions that were not originally considered by Project Drawdown®, including replacing conventional windows and water heaters with high-efficiency units, recommissioning / retro-commissioning of existing commercial buildings, and dead band range expansion / human factors will also be considered under the Retrofitting bundle for the Drawdown Georgia project.
