An Overview of the Building Energy Retrofit Research Program

Abstract

This research update presents the status of a U.S. Department of Energy program that addresses the technical, financial, and behavioral barriers to improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The program is implemented with expertise from four national laboratories, Princeton University, and the Alliance to Save Energy in cooperation with a large number of state, utility, and local agencies. The remaining potential for energy savings from cost effective retrofit measures in existing buildings is impressive, but a variety of barriers have been identified that reduce conservation investment. One significant barrier that the program can address is the large uncertainty about savings. Average savings for a large sample of retrofit hones is generally lower than expected, and savings in individual buildings varies unpredictably from negative to very high positive values. Our approach has been to provide reliable information on the performance and cost effectiveness of energy conserving technologies and practices. Field performance monitoring is in progress in each building sector and development of diagnostic techniques and monitoring protocols is in progress.