What is the difference between building refurbishment and retrofit?

Building refurbishment projects are designed to improve the look and condition of a building – to make it more appealing or functional. Building retrofit is focused on improving a building’s efficiency, resilience and comfort – often to meet modern building standards and user needs. However, the two are often linked. For example, a new façade to improve the appearance of a building should also have the energy efficiency to help reduce operational carbon emissions, lower operating costs and create a comfortable environment for people.

What is building retrofitting?

Retrofitting involves making improvements to existing buildings to improve their efficiency, resilience and comfort – including adding or modifying parts and equipment. Typically, retrofitting is associated with installing energy-efficient building systems and digital technologies for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) and lighting – to save energy, reduce operational carbon emissions and improve comfort for building users. However, deep retrofits go beyond this to improve the energy efficiency of the whole building including its architectural fabric. For example, by insulating walls, floors and roofs, upgrading windows and doors, replacing façades and installing sustainable energy technologies like heat pumps and solar panels.

Around the world, many buildings are also being retrofitted to reduce water use, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and meet modern building standards. For instance, seismic retrofits to improve the resiliency of existing buildings in earthquake zones.

Buildings can also be retrofitted to increase their floor area, for example, by adding additional storeys or a horizontal extension. This can often be the difference that makes a retrofit project financially viable, enabling the whole building to be made more energy efficient.

What are the benefits of building retrofits?

Retrofitting enables older buildings to meet modern building standards and the needs of building users – extending their lifespan and potential return on investment for building owners. Reusing existing buildings saves embodied carbon, while retrofitting for energy efficiency saves operational carbon emissions, helping to reduce whole-life carbon emissions in the built environment. It can also reduce operational costs for building owners and users. Adaptive reuse enables buildings no longer needed or fit for their original purpose to be reused - reducing the environmental impact that would otherwise be created when demolition materials are sent to landfills. Construction waste accounts for 37% of landfill waste today.

Retrofitting for resiliency will also help to future-proof existing buildings and mitigate against the impacts of climate change including rising temperatures, increased rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events. Reusing existing buildings has a social impact too, helping to create high quality places for people to live, work and connect, while preserving the history and culture of neighborhoods.

What is an energy retrofit and why is it important for older buildings?

An energy retrofit is designed to improve the energy efficiency of an existing building. Our specialist designers, engineers and advisors take a whole building approach to energy efficiency – to improve the architectural fabric of a building, as well as its HVAC and lighting systems. For example, an energy retrofit project can include installing new energy-efficient building systems, adding insulation and adopting passive design strategies to minimize energy use, such as passive ventilation systems using fresh air.

Retrofitting older buildings for energy efficiency is a vital part of helping to decarbonize the built environment. Meeting modern building standards will also help building owners to avoid stranded assets, extend the life of their existing buildings and lower their operating costs. As retrofit experts, we know how to optimize energy efficiency while preserving the historic and cultural significance of a building.

How do sustainable retrofitting practices contribute to reducing carbon emissions in commercial buildings?

Sustainable retrofitting practices such as passive design strategies can help to reduce carbon emissions while supporting the health and wellbeing of building users. For example, passive ventilation solutions that use fresh air, or lighting systems that harvest and use natural daylight, will save energy, lower operating costs and reduce operational carbon emissions. Smart building management systems are also key to optimizing the efficiency of building services including HVAC systems and lighting.

Retrofitting also enables existing buildings to be reused, reducing demolition waste to landfill, the use of carbon-intensive building materials such as concrete, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with building new.