Page 7 - Zero Net Energy Case Study Buildings-Volume 2

reduction strategy, the case for retrofitting becomes stronger as we consider an emerging fact base around the carbon intensity associated with building brand new buildings versus the pres- ervation of existing buildings: preservation of viable existing building shells and foundations, as it turns out, can be a major GHG reduction strategy (mainly from the avoidance of emissions from producing and transporting new steel and concrete).
Each of the four such buildings we have documented in this Volume 2 are fulfilling the missions established by their owners and producing high levels of occupant satisfaction. As with percep- tions around technical feasibility and incremental cost, it will be interesting and instructive to observe changing trends around perceptions of ZNE retrofits.
Against this backdrop of rapid change, we must remind ourselves that buildings go up slowly: the time needed to site, plan, permit, design, construct and occupy even a small, simple build- ing is several years; for large, complex projects, it is a decade or more. Yet we are seeing new emphasis across all levels of government for GHG reduction and ZNE in the built environment. We know we can build to ZNE with little or no incremental cost and we know many buildings can (and should!) be retrofit to ZNE. How quickly can we integrate these trends into the existing development stream? How quickly can we embrace and realize the concept that ZNE means better buildings with higher value?
—Peter Turnbull, Principal, Commercial Buildings, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
PHOTO: AMY SNYDER ©EXPLORATORIUM
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