The McKinsey Global Initiative identified existing building retrofits as an integral component to achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the United Sates by 2050 (Fluhrer, Maurer, & Deshmukh 2010). However, this will require energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings to be deployed more frequently and achieve higher energy savings on average. Deep Energy Retrofits using the Integrative Design Process can result in 30-60%+ energy savings in office buildings. Because Deep Energy Retrofits require higher upfront capital costs, in an economy still recovering from the economic downturn, financial decision makers may not be inclined to invest more capital solely on the basis of higher energy savings. In this paper, Deep Energy Retrofit case studies, research papers, and retrofit guides were examined to answer the question: are deep energy retrofits financially viable, and if so, under what conditions. Utility cost savings, avoided capital costs, as well as additional benefits, like increased reputation, environmental health and enhanced comfort of the building are ways in which Deep Energy Retrofits can be cost-effective; and in some cases profitable for the financial decision maker or building owner. Deep Energy Retrofits using the integrative Design Process present a low-cost and effective strategy to reduce GHG emissions and help aid the US in climate stabilization efforts.
","abstract_html":"<p>The McKinsey Global Initiative identified existing building retrofits as an integral component to achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the United Sates by 2050 (Fluhrer, Maurer, & Deshmukh 2010). However, this will require energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings to be deployed more frequently and achieve higher energy savings on average. Deep Energy Retrofits using the Integrative Design Process can result in 30-60%+ energy savings in office buildings. Because Deep Energy Retrofits require higher upfront capital costs, in an economy still recovering from the economic downturn, financial decision makers may not be inclined to invest more capital solely on the basis of higher energy savings. In this paper, Deep Energy Retrofit case studies, research papers, and retrofit guides were examined to answer the question: are deep energy retrofits financially viable, and if so, under what conditions. Utility cost savings, avoided capital costs, as well as additional benefits, like increased reputation, environmental health and enhanced comfort of the building are ways in which Deep Energy Retrofits can be cost-effective; and in some cases profitable for the financial decision maker or building owner. Deep Energy Retrofits using the integrative Design Process present a low-cost and effective strategy to reduce GHG emissions and help aid the US in climate stabilization efforts.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bertoldi, Daniel S."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)","degree_level":"Project/Capstone - Global access","degree_discipline":"Environmental Management","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Maggie Winslow"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-05-16T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-05-16T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:42:50Z","subjects":["Deep Energy Retrofit","Integrative Design Process","existing building retrofit","energy efficiency","deep energy savings","cost effective building retrofits","Environmental Design","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Oil, Gas, and Energy","Other Environmental Sciences","Sustainability"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/22","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Maggie Winslow"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bertoldi, Daniel S."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["1970-01-01T11:36:14Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Environmental Management"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Project/Capstone - Global access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Deep Energy Retrofit","Integrative Design Process","existing building retrofit","energy efficiency","deep energy savings","cost effective building retrofits","Environmental Design","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Oil, Gas, and Energy","Other Environmental Sciences","Sustainability"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/22"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The McKinsey Global Initiative identified existing building retrofits as an integral component to achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the United Sates by 2050 (Fluhrer, Maurer, & Deshmukh 2010). However, this will require energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings to be deployed more frequently and achieve higher energy savings on average. Deep Energy Retrofits using the Integrative Design Process can result in 30-60%+ energy savings in office buildings. Because Deep Energy Retrofits require higher upfront capital costs, in an economy still recovering from the economic downturn, financial decision makers may not be inclined to invest more capital solely on the basis of higher energy savings. In this paper, Deep Energy Retrofit case studies, research papers, and retrofit guides were examined to answer the question: are deep energy retrofits financially viable, and if so, under what conditions. Utility cost savings, avoided capital costs, as well as additional benefits, like increased reputation, environmental health and enhanced comfort of the building are ways in which Deep Energy Retrofits can be cost-effective; and in some cases profitable for the financial decision maker or building owner. Deep Energy Retrofits using the integrative Design Process present a low-cost and effective strategy to reduce GHG emissions and help aid the US in climate stabilization efforts.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Deep Energy Retrofits Using the Integrative Design Process: Are they Worth the Cost"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Maggie Winslow"],"dc:creator":["Bertoldi, Daniel S."],"dc:date.available":["1970-01-01T11:36:14Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The McKinsey Global Initiative identified existing building retrofits as an integral component to achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the United Sates by 2050 (Fluhrer, Maurer, & Deshmukh 2010). However, this will require energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings to be deployed more frequently and achieve higher energy savings on average. Deep Energy Retrofits using the Integrative Design Process can result in 30-60%+ energy savings in office buildings. Because Deep Energy Retrofits require higher upfront capital costs, in an economy still recovering from the economic downturn, financial decision makers may not be inclined to invest more capital solely on the basis of higher energy savings. In this paper, Deep Energy Retrofit case studies, research papers, and retrofit guides were examined to answer the question: are deep energy retrofits financially viable, and if so, under what conditions. Utility cost savings, avoided capital costs, as well as additional benefits, like increased reputation, environmental health and enhanced comfort of the building are ways in which Deep Energy Retrofits can be cost-effective; and in some cases profitable for the financial decision maker or building owner. Deep Energy Retrofits using the integrative Design Process present a low-cost and effective strategy to reduce GHG emissions and help aid the US in climate stabilization efforts.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/22"],"dc:subject":["Deep Energy Retrofit","Integrative Design Process","existing building retrofit","energy efficiency","deep energy savings","cost effective building retrofits","Environmental Design","Natural Resources and Conservation","Natural Resources Management and Policy","Oil, Gas, and Energy","Other Environmental Sciences","Sustainability"],"dc:title":["Deep Energy Retrofits Using the Integrative Design Process: Are they Worth the Cost"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Environmental Management"],"thesis:degree_level":["Project/Capstone - Global access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:42:50Z"}