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Building Decarbonization Retrofits for Commercial and Multifamily Buildings, 2025
- Back to Previous Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Acronyms [Go to Page]
- 1.1 Background [Go to Page]
- 1.1.1 Why Decarbonization?
- 1.1.2 What Does Decarbonizing Existing Buildings Mean?
- 1.1.3 Building Decarbonization Strategies and Benefits
- 1.2 Existing Building Decarbonization in Building Codes and Ordinances
- Chapter 1: Introduction [Go to Page]
- 2.1 Purpose and Organization [Go to Page]
- 2.1.1 Building Types Addressed Within This Guide
- 2.2 Case Studies
- Chapter 2: How to Use This Guide [Go to Page]
- 3.1 Navigating Building Decarbonization
- 3.2 Decarbonization Planning [Go to Page]
- 3.2.1 Set Decarbonization Goals
- 3.2.2 Define Timeline
- 3.2.3 Define Scope and Level of Decarbonization Assessment
- 3.2.4 Identify and Inform Stakeholders
- 3.3 Perform Decarbonization Assessment [Go to Page]
- 3.3.1 ASHRAE Energy Audit and Decarbonization Assessment
- 3.3.2 Decarbonization Evaluation Tools
- 3.3.3 Assessing Building Portfolios
- 3.4 Prioritize/Determine Decarbonization Measures [Go to Page]
- 3.4.1 Reducing Heating and Cooling Loads and Rightsizing Equipment
- 3.4.2 Maximize Building Systems Efficiency
- 3.4.3 Electrify Space Conditioning and Water Heating Systems
- 3.4.4 Grid Interactivity
- 3.4.5 Distributed Generation and Clean Power Production
- 3.4.6 Energy Storage
- 3.4.7 Embodied Carbon
- 3.4.8 Select the Best Combination of Measures
- 3.4.9 Financial Considerations
- 3.5 Develop a Building Decarbonization Plan [Go to Page]
- 3.5.1 Measure Summary and Implementation Triggers
- 3.5.2 Impacts to Electrical, Utility, or Other Infrastructure
- 3.5.3 Achieving Projected Emissions After Measure Implementation
- 3.5.4 Other Considerations
- 3.5.5 Portfolio Decarbonization Planning
- 3.6 Implement the Building Decarbonization Plan [Go to Page]
- 3.6.1 Implementation for Building Portfolios
- 3.7 Track and Report Performance [Go to Page]
- 3.7.1 Measure Installed Performance
- 3.7.2 Measure Ongoing Performance
- 3.7.3 Operation and Maintenance Procedures
- Chapter 3: Path for Existing Building Decarbonization [Go to Page]
- 4.1 Existing Building Considerations
- 4.2 Electrical Capacity
- 4.3 Structural Capacity
- 4.4 Building Age and Envelope/Infrastructure Condition
- 4.5 Space Constraints
- 4.6 Local Building Codes and Ordinances
- 4.7 Historic Buildings and Regulatory Constraints
- 4.8 Occupant Considerations
- 4.9 Equity and Affordability [Go to Page]
- 4.9.1 Disadvantaged Communities
- 4.9.2 Policies and Programs
- 4.10 Building Owner Type [Go to Page]
- 4.10.1 Building Owner Occupied
- 4.10.2 Leased Buildings
- Chapter 4: Challenges Unique to Existing Buildings [Go to Page]
- 5.1 Electrical Load Reduction [Go to Page]
- 5.1.1 Building Lighting Systems
- 5.1.2 Multifamily Kitchen Appliances and Cooking Systems
- 5.1.3 Other Systems and Plug Loads
- 5.2 Heating/Cooling Load Reduction: Building Envelope and Passive Systems [Go to Page]
- 5.2.1 Building Envelope
- 5.2.2 Passive Strategies
- 5.2.3 HVAC Optimization
- Chapter 5: Decarbonization Strategies and Technologies: Building Electrical, Heating and Cooling Load Reduction [Go to Page]
- 6.1 HVAC System Retrofits [Go to Page]
- 6.1.1 Gas Furnace Retrofits
- 6.1.2 Steam System Retrofits
- 6.1.3 Central Boiler Retrofits
- 6.1.4 Air-Source Heat Pump Considerations
- 6.2 HVAC Control Sequences
- 6.3 Data Analytics and Monitoring Based/Continuous Commissioning (MBCx)
- Chapter 6: Decarbonization Strategies and Technologies: HVAC Systems [Go to Page]
- 7.1 Renewable Systems [Go to Page]
- 7.1.1 Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
- 7.1.2 Other Renewable Systems
- 7.2 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- 7.3 EV Charging Systems
- 7.4 Grid-Interactive Systems
- 7.5 Thermal Energy Storage Systems [Go to Page]
- 7.5.1 Sensible Heat Storage (SHS)
- 7.5.2 Latent Heat Storage (LHS)
- 7.5.3 Thermochemical Heat Storage
- 7.5.4 TES Integration with District Heating and Cooling (DHC) Systems
- Chapter 7: Decarbonization Strategies and Technologies: Distributed Generation and Energy Storage [Go to Page]
- 8.1 Evaluating Existing Conditions [Go to Page]
- 8.1.1 System Configuration and Condition
- 8.1.2 DHW Load Profile
- 8.2 Load Reduction and Rightsizing [Go to Page]
- 8.2.1 Low-Flow Fixture Retrofit
- 8.2.2 Distribution and Storage Losses
- 8.2.3 Passive Heat Recovery (Drain-Line Heat Recovery)
- 8.2.4 Rightsizing
- 8.2.5 Sizing Methodology for Storage-Based Systems
- 8.2.6 Sizing Methodology for Point-of-Use Systems
- 8.2.7 Sizing Considerations for Grid-Demand Response
- 8.3 Distributed vs. Central Systems [Go to Page]
- 8.3.1 Distributed DHW Systems
- 8.3.2 Central DHW Systems
- 8.3.3 Application Considerations
- 8.4 Recirculation Systems [Go to Page]
- 8.4.1 Reducing Recirculation Energy Losses
- 8.4.2 Direct-Return Systems
- 8.4.3 Recirculation System Considerations for Central Single-Pass HPWHs
- 8.5 Heat Pump Water Heaters [Go to Page]
- 8.5.1 Heat Pump Types
- 8.5.2 Refrigerants
- 8.5.3 Heat Pump Heat Sources
- 8.6 DHW Storage Systems [Go to Page]
- 8.6.1 Cost and GHG Emissions Benefits of Increased DHW Storage
- 8.6.2 DHW Storage Considerations for Retrofits
- 8.6.3 Controls and Automation
- 8.7 Heat Recovery and Renewable Heat Sources [Go to Page]
- 8.7.1 Heat Recovery
- 8.7.2 Renewable Heat Sources
- 8.8 Combined Systems and Hybrid Fuel Systems [Go to Page]
- 8.8.1 Combined Systems
- 8.8.2 Hybrid Systems
- Chapter 8: Decarbonization Strategies and Technologies: Domestic Hot-Water Systems
- Glossary
- Case Studies [Go to Page]
- Case Study 1: University of California, Santa Cruz—Phasing Approach
- Case Study 2: 345 Hudson, New York
- Case Study 3: San Diego State University, California
- Case Study 4: University of California, Santa Cruz—Cogeneration Plant
- Case Study 5: The Heritage, New York
- Case Study 6: Bloedel Conservatory, Canada
- Case Study 7: StopWaste Office, California
- Case Study 8: Montreal City Hall, Canada
- Case Study 9: 47 Seventy Apartments, Utah
- Case Study 10: McMullen County Courthouse, Texas
- Case Study 11: Ken Soble Tower, Canada
- Case Study 12: East Palo Alto Government Center, California
- Case Study 13: Vera Cruz Village, California
- Case Study 14: Skokie Courthouse, Illinois
- Case Study 15: Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, Maryland
- Case Study 16: Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia
- Case Study 17: STAR Transit, Texas
- Case Study 18: North Oak Development, Canada
- Case Study 19: Kitsilano Pool, Canada
- References [Go to Page]
