It's Not Easy Going Green

Most people who think about green buildings think about new, modern, cutting-edge construction, but what about the thousands of buildings (about 98% of the buildings in developed countries) that are already built?  If this green initiative is going to have any significant impact on our planet, we can't just look to future buildings - we have to be ready to update exisiting buildings. This is where retrofitting comes into the picture.  By taking existing buildings and updating them with green features, we are able to impact the future today.  The two main goals of retrofitting are to reduce energy use and to minimize the production of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) - the nasty stuff that is a huge contributor to global warming. 



Rendering of Sears Tower rooftop (NYTimes.com)

 Retrofitting seems like a great idea - and it is - but it comes with its own challenges.  The primary concern is the expense.  This is combined with the diffculty in calculating the benefits (saving $$ on energy bills) and a sense that you have to do it big or not at all, causing many property owners to stop before they start.  While there are several major retrofitting projects such as the Empire State Building, Sears Tower, and Sydney Opera House, these high-profile multi-million dollar projects seem to perpetuate this idea that there is no room for smaller updates.  Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many things that a property owner can do to help retrofit their building that are of minimal cost.  Simple things like using compact flourescent light bulbs, insulating behind heaters, reducing water use all play a role in helping to improve the energy efficiency of a building.  While LEED Certification is a wonderful goal, we all need to get comfortable with the idea that this is a work in progress.  Every little thing we can do that moves us toward a mindset of sustainability is a good thing.  It may not be easy going green, but there is little question that it is worth the effort.