U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Energy Management Program – Guide to Integrating Renewable Energy in Federal Construction

Major Renovations

Major renovations are more constricted in design choices than new construction, but can still offer a wide range of opportunities for integrating renewable energy technologies into the renovation process. During a major Federal building renovation, more design factors may be pre-determined, such as building site and orientation, but a whole building design approach can still offer the most economic and efficient options. Federal agencies are required to incorporate the Guiding Principles for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings within new construction and major renovations. The Guiding Principles are required for any major renovation or repair of Federal buildings, including provisions for including solar water heating and other renewable energy technologies where life-cycle cost effective into different renovation types and special building types.

Even when only certain portions of a building are undergoing renovation, the design process should approach the renovation as a whole rather than simply as a renovation of a series of sub-systems in a building. All stakeholders, from design professionals to the building occupants, can be included in the design process. Stakeholder involvement ensures successful integration of energy savings measures and inclusion of renewable energy in renovation design.

The renovation team should determine the potential for various types of energy efficiency improvement measures and the renewable energy technologies to fit within the renovation. Certainly the basics of assessing renewable energy options should be followed, but depending on the type of facility areas planned for renovation, certain renewable energy technologies are more likely to be considered. For instance, since daylighting may be considered an energy efficiency measure and a renewable energy measure daylighting may be considered at the earliest stages of project planning. Proper daylighting design may involve renovations to the facility's roof, building envelope, plumbing, electrical system, and interior layout, so would need to be considered early on. Integration of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy into the design must start in the earliest stages of project planning.

Renewable Energy Options by Renovation Type

Different types of renewable energy technologies should be considered based on the type of renovation. As with any sustainable design, energy efficiency of the building should be considered as well.

While some renovations only involve one or a few sub-systems in a building, others are more extensive. Extensive renovations, such as building additions or "down-to-stud" renovations, involve all aspects of a facility. Compliance renovations, such as with asbestos or mildew removal, can open certain opportunities for renewable energy as well.

Back to Top

Special Building Types

A number of other factors can determine the ability to use renewable energy in a renovation. For instance, certain types of buildings have special energy considerations. The renewable energy opportunities in various Federal special building types such as warehouses and service buildings, hospitals, data centers, laboratories, remote facilities, residential units, and historic buildings can have their own requirements and needs.

Back to Top