• Retrofit when replacing

    Axiom #2 makes clear that a deep energy retrofit (DER) is an extensive remodeling. Therefore, it makes financial sense to carefully consider the DER option when your home is nearing the useful life on many of its major systems and components. For most homes this occurs around every 30-to-40 years. Additionally homes built before 1990 generally were not constructed with energy efficiency in mind, so these “legacy” homes will reap the greatest benefit from a DER.

    The 30-to-40 year replacement cycle usually requires replacement of HVAC, roofing, siding, windows and the repair of other major components in the home. Indeed, it would be a serious mistake to replace these components without carefully considering the costs and benefits of a DER remodel. Practically speaking, the opportunity would be missed for upgrading to a high-performance house until the next replacement cycle, 30-to-40 years hence. Given the future of energy prices, this would burden the house with an unnecessary and very costly operating overhead into the future, possibly impacting the home’s future market value.

    While there is incremental cost to a DER over a conventional remodel, the impact is minimized when systems must be replaced anyway and the return on the incremental investment is usually very high.