• Home
• Introduction
• Assessing Renewable Energy Options
• Planning, Programming, & Budgeting
• Project Funding
• Building Design
• Project Construction
• Commissioning
• Operations & Maintenance
• Major Renovations
  • Renovation Types
    • Building Envelope
    • Electrical
    • Extensive
    • Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning
    • Interior Construction
    • Landscaping & Parking
    • Lighting
    • Other
    • Plumbing
    • Roof
    • Utility Service
  • Special Buildings
• Training
• Outreach
• Resources
• Acknowledgements
• Contacts

Renewable Energy Opportunities by Renovation Type

Renewable energy opportunities should be considered and identified in the earliest stages of Federal project planning and the team should assess the renewable energy options based on the type of renovation for the facility prior to making any significant decisions about the building design and goals.

Integrating renewable energy into major renovations follows the same processes in design as for other construction projects. However, renovations will necessarily be more limited in some design choices related to renewable energy, such as site selection and building orientation. This section of the Guide attempts to give a first step in understanding the considerations when integrating renewable energy into major renovations.

Renewable Energy Options by Renovation Type
	Daylighting	Photovoltaics	Solar Water Heating	Solar Ventilation Air Preheating	Passive Solar Heating	Geothermal Heat Pump	Biomass	Wind	Renewable Ready
Lighting	X	X							X
Plumbing			X		X	X			X
Electrical	X	X							X
HVAC			X	X	X	X	X		X
Roof	X	X	X						X
Interior Construction	X		X	X	X				X
Building Envelope	X	X		X	X				X
Utility Service Upgrade		X						X	X
Landscaping/Parking		X	X			X		X	X
Other	X		X						X

The table shows a variety of renovation types (lighting, plumbing, etc.) and identifies potential renewable energy opportunities. Most likely, any renovation will combine a number of these types of renovations into a larger project. It is important to view the renovation as a whole, rather than as modifications to a variety of sub-systems.

As part of whole-building design approach the design teams for various components should work together from the earliest stages to identify and capitalize on various energy opportunities.

Each renovation type, including extensive renovations, has further explanation provided about the renewable energy options in design development. This information is not comprehensive, but it can be useful in the screening of technology options that should occur prior to design development. Actual facility loads and system economics will affect which technologies are selected as well.

Even when renewable technologies are not included in a renovation, certain elements can be simply incorporated into the design that would be costly to add later. This keeps the option open for the use of certain renewable energy technologies. This is important since the economics of systems are highly dependent upon external factors, such as government policies and fuel prices, which can change quickly.

Since energy efficiency is often the most effective way to reduce energy costs, each renovation section also includes a brief discussion of energy efficiency measures to be considered in that renovation. While this is not comprehensive, it notes the importance of energy efficiency in sustainable design and provides links to additional resources.

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