Commercial buildings are an important piece of the energy consumption picture. According to the 2012 CBECS data, there are more than 87 billion square feet of existing commercial floor space in the United States, and approximately 82% of the commercial building stock was built before 1999. This represents a significant opportunity to ensure that energy codes are properly applied to safeguard that existing buildings meet their performance potential through any renovation process.
However, despite the energy savings potential and long-term benefits, both existing and new buildings are not achieving the code-mandated energy performance due to lack of full compliance with code requirements. These three studies and resources analyze and identify what factors contribute to this shortfall in existing buildings, specifically, and what opportunities there exist for the major stakeholder groups involved in the industry.
BCAP Studies
Study by Building Codes Assistance Project and United Technologies Research Center
Building energy codes and standards are essential to ensure that new buildings meet minimum levels of performance with respect to energy consumption. But there is evidence that buildings – both existing and new – are not achieving the code-mandated energy performance when they are built or renovated due to lack of full compliance with code requirements. Many factors contribute to this shortfall, and this report identifies those that are relevant to existing commercial buildings based on analysis of practices in the greater Philadelphia region.
This report identifies the underlying causes of slippage, and identifies ways in which the code application and enforcement processes can be improved to ensure that existing buildings reach their energy savings potential when intervention opportunities arise.
Renovation Projects
Existing Commercial Building Renovation Projects: Gaps and Recommendations
From interviews and surveys with various stakeholders in addition to detailed analysis of the existing building renovation process, BCAP aimed to characterize and quantify code slippage (i.e. the gap between energy savings potential and the savings actually achieved) and corresponding opportunities/actions existing in the process. The focus was to examine the code application process and interactions between stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities. This project summarizes the process, gaps and opportunities that were identified from our conversations with stakeholders.
News and Helpful Links
- Understanding (a Few) of the Challenges of Implementing the Energy Code in Existing Buildings November 25, 2013
Retrofits Are Key to an Energy Efficient Building Stock April 13, 2016
Advanced Energy Retrofit Guides
Case Study: Bedford Farmhouse High Performance Retrofit Prototype July 2010
Development Of An Operation And Maintenance Rating System For Commercial Buildings April 1, 2009
Eleven Case Studies From: A Search For Deep Energy Savings In Existing Buildings August 23, 2011
Existing Buildings = The 99% June 25, 2012
How does COMcheck show compliance for additions or alterations?
Old Buildings Are U.S. Cities’ Biggest Sustainability Challenge January 21, 2016
Old Wine, New Bottles: Retrofits of existing buildings can cut energy use, save money – and attract tenants September 21, 2009
Owners Should Green What They Have September 24, 2009
More Resources
This section offers studies and reports on existing commercial buildings and the relevant building energy codes. Topics range from the energy codes’ potential energy savings to best practices in regulatory approaches to developing technical assistance programs and etc. Many of the listed studies below were cited in BCAP’s own studies on existing commercial buildings.