building envelope energy efficiency measures

#BUILDING ENVELOPE ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES UPGRADE#

#BUILDING ENVELOPE ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES UPGRADE#

If the property owner wants to avoid disrupting the existing envelope, an alternative upgrade is adding storm windows in front of the existing ones.

Triple-pane windows with low-emissivity coating offer the top performance in the market. Window upgrades can drastically reduce unwanted heat transfer from fenestration, although the project can be expensive due to the associated labor cost. Caulking can be applied in air leaks that affect fixed building elements, and weatherstripping is suitable for moving elements such as doors and windows. However, before proceeding with any building upgrade, the recommended first step is identifying deficiencies in the existing envelope.Īlthough air leaks and deficient insulation are invisible, energy consultants can pinpoint them with methods such as thermal imaging and pressurization tests.

Improving Envelope Performance in Existing Propertiesĭesigning a building with an efficient envelope from the start is the optimal solution, but the business case is often favorable for upgrades in existing properties. If there is a blackout, an airtight and well-insulated building can sustain adequate temperatures for a longer time than a building with a deficient envelope. Smaller equipment not only has a lower price, but also reduced maintenance costs.Īn efficient envelope also increases building resilience against extreme weather events that interrupt the power supply. Since heating and cooling loads are decreased, the nameplate capacity of the corresponding equipment may also be reduced. In new constructions, a high-performance building envelope can also reduce the upfront cost of mechanical installations.

Building envelope energy efficiency measures