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Retrofit Highlights of 2024

When it comes to decarbonizing our building stock, an all of the above approach is absolutely necessary. New construction and more rigorous building codes are certainly key parts of the effort to decarbonize, but no strategy is complete without addressing existing buildings. Deep energy retrofits allow us to prolong the lifespans of building materials. Additionally, less energy is spent harvesting raw materials, and then manufacturing, transporting, and installing new building components in entirely new assemblies. As Nakita Reed explores in her article below ("Building Reuse Is Climate Action"), deep energy retrofits also play a role in historic preservation and the celebration of frequently overlooked historical narratives.

Beyond Nakita's article, this retrospective from 2024 covers single-family buildings, multifamily buildings, and even.

We'll be taking a few weeks off from programing for the holidays, but we'll be back in January with more great articles and videos.

See you in 2025!

Articles

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1/31/24

Figuring Out Deep Retrofits in Real Time

POAH-owned Salem Fairweather is undergoing a deep energy retrofit that utilizes exterior prefabricated panels. If successful, it may become a model for the DER of similar buildings in POAH's portfolio and beyond.

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2/16/24

A Life-Cycle Assessment of a Retrofit

Vancouver-based Carbon Wise conducted an LCA of a retrofit project and explored how materials choices affect high-performance retrofits.

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2/26/24

Updating for Efficiency While Preserving the Past

The Engine 16 retrofit project aimed to rehabilitate the building while increasing efficiency, without compromising the historic character. The envelope relied on EIFS that incorporated ROCKWOOL Frontrock™.

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4/19/24

Addressing Obstacles to Deep Energy Retrofits

A report from the Pembina Institute examines the challenges providers face in scaling deep energy retrofits in Canada and beyond.

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8/9/24

Net-Zero Retrofit to Rise in Troy

Phinney Design Group's new offices in Troy, NY, will take a building from one of the city's historic districts and convert it into a high-performance stunner.

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8/22/24

Building Reuse Is Climate Action

Architect Nakita Reed describes how preservation is more than just protecting historical sites. It can be a tool to promote climate action, social equity, and more inclusive historical narratives.

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9/4/24

The Passive House Institute Releases New Tool to Facilitate First Steps of Retrofitting

outPHit is supporting the planning of deep renovation projects with its new Decision Support Tool.

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9/13/24

Phius REVIVE 2024: Charting the Course to Efficient and Resilient Retrofits

The new standard aims to provide all the benefits of passive building balancing budget restraints and accounting for the social costs of embodied carbon.

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10/31/24

Johnson City Retrofit Strives to Become a Net Zero Energy Home

We follow the first phase of the retrofit, which focuses primarily on improving the enclosure of the more than 100-year-old home with high-performance components and a Larsen truss system.

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12/13/24

Corky Tales

In addition to being sustainable, natural, and easy to use, cork is also a highly versatile construction material, as these three projects from the U.S. and the U.K. highlight.

Author: Jay Fox
Categories: Article, Retrofit