TARGET AUDIENCEThis checklist provides generic guidance and good practice for organizations aiming to retrofit their building using low-cost/no-cost measures.

1. Building Retrofit (2020). Etihad ESCO. Retrieved from https://etihadesco.ae/our-services/building-retrofit/2. Hong, Y., Deng, W., Ezeh, C., & Peng, Z. (2019) ‘Attaining Sustainability in Built Environment: Review of Green Retrofit Measures for Existing Buildings’ IOPConf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 227(4). DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/227/4/042051

WHY IS RETROFITTING BUILDINGS IMPORTANT?Retrofitting buildings is modifying an established building, including its systems and structure, and it reduces a building’s energy and water consumption1. Retrofitting buildings is an important step taken by organizations in order to reduce their environmental impacts. It does not only have environmental, economic, and social significance, but also aligns with the national strategies.

The importance of retrofitting buildings includes:

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Environmental: - Ensures efficiency in energy

and water performance

- Allows for reduction in the carbon footprint of the building

Economic: - Allows for energy and water efficiency which reflects on

financial and economic benefitto the organization

Social: - Provides occupants with improved

indoor environmental quality and comfort2

Alignment with andsupport of the UAE and

Dubai’s national strategies: - UAE Vision 2021 on Sustainable

Environment and Infrastructure

- Dubai Integrated EnergyStrategy 2030 (DIES)

- Dubai Supreme Council of EnergyDemand Side Management (DSM) strategy

AIM OF THIS CHECKLISTThe aim of this checklist is to encourage retrofitting of existing conventional buildings into advanced, energy efficient, and eco-friendly buildings through reducing the use of natural resources, reducing building operational cost, as well as reducing associated negative impacts on the global and local environment by reducing carbon emissions.

This checklist provides low-cost/no-cost measures for sustainable practices in building operations, and organizations can adopt some or all measures based on the feasibility of application. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to adopt the maximum number of measures such as efficient use of lighting, water, and air-conditioning in the building, and explore additional measures that help in reducing emissions from building use.

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Identify the building to be retrofitted

Gather data on building usage, size, and number of occupants

Gather data on energy use and water use from the past 1 – 3 years

Calculate key water and energy performance indicators (such as kWh/m2/year)

Aim for easy, low-cost/no-cost changes first

Track improvement and compare against targets

Benchmark the building against other similar buildings based on building usage,size, industry, and number of occupants

Using data from the benchmarking report, conduct energy/water audit or useinformation from sub-meters; consider the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning(HVAC) equipment, thermostat control, equipment usage and efficiency

Use ASHRAE/other applicable standards to compare data. Identify the existingsituation that is leading to excess energy. Take into consideration currentOperation and Maintenance procedures that are being followed

Set achievable and measurable targets as well as performance indicatorswith timelines

List measures that can be implemented by determining capital cost, ROI andother relevant information

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LOW-COST/NO-COST MEASURES TO RETROFITTING BUILDINGSThe following steps can be used as a guideline for retrofitting existing buildings to increase energy and water efficiency and reduce building environmental impact. It is important to consider the building size and usage once the building has been identified, since different industries such as industrial usage/ warehouses will differ in capacity as compared to traditional offices. With data on energy and water usage, a baseline can be determined for the building. Audits or sub-meter readings will provide additional information regarding performance of existing equipment and areas of high consumption. This will provide the building users/facility team with the needed information to design a plan for retrofitting, along with Return On Investment (ROI) calculations. It is recommended to begin with the elements that are easiest to modify or the “low-hanging-fruit“ aspects prior to the major changes. STEPS TO BE UNDERTAKEN GENERALLY:

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Switch off lights where daylight is sufficient

Change inefficient lights to more efficient or LED lights

Install energy efficient task lighting over working desks

Install light control systems such as dimmers, occupancy/motion sensors

TO RETROFIT LIGHTING IN OFFICES:

Switch off air conditioning or increase set point temperature at no occupancy

Use natural ventilation during cool winter days

Set the thermostat to as high as 24-26⁰C

Add ceiling and pedestal fans to assist in air distribution

Seal cracks and openings to prevent air leakage

Optimize chiller operations and loads to reduce consumption

Have a regular and scheduled filter maintenance every quarter or at least twice a year,and ensure to clean the outdoor condenser every three months

TO RETROFIT AIR-CONDITIONING IN OFFICES:

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TO RETROFIT ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN OFFICES:

Turn off appliances and electronics when not in use

Do not keep electronics (including computers, screens, printers, etc) on standby mode as they still consume energy

Turn down the temperature of the water heater but not below 55⁰C to prevent legionella

Invest in smart power strips to eliminate energy loss that occurs in standby mode

Replace desktops with laptops or tablets

When replacing or purchasing new appliances, consider ones with high ESMA rating

Minimize the use of unnecessary electronics and appliances that generate heat suchas computers, dishwashers, TV screens, projectors, etc

TO RETROFIT WATER CONSUMPTION IN OFFICES:

Install aerators or flow controlling sensors on water taps

Install dual flushes on toilets

Use condensate water for cleaning or as makeup water for cooling towers

Use the treated sewage effluent provided by the local municipality for landscape irrigation

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RECOMMENDATIONSIn order to successfully retrofit buildings and offices, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach of environmental management is a recommended one. In order to implement the PDCA approach, organizations are encouraged to:

To receive further advice and guidance on retrofitting buildings, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) offers a wide variety of programs and guidebooks, and this includes:� Building Retrofit Program� Green Building Tool Tips� Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings� Energy Efficiency Database

Other useful links include:� Dubai Green Building Regulations (DGBR)

Plan retrofitting projects by formulating clear andSMART energy and water conservation targets

Do the actual retrofitting of the targeted elements in the building

Act by implementing necessary improvement and/orcorrective action if needed

Check the achieved results against the set targets through energy audits to identify opportunities and hazards in the retrofitted building

https://emiratesgbc.org/education/building-retrofit-training/https://www.emiratesgbc.org/green-building-tooltips/https://emiratesgbc.org/technical-guidelines/https://emiratesgbc.org/technical-programs/energy-efficiency-program/https://www.dewa.gov.ae/~/media/Files/Consultants%20and%20Contractors/Green%20Building/Greenbuilding_Eng.ashx