Technical performance and cost-effectiveness of conservation retrofits in existing US residential buildings: analysis of the BECA-B data base

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5384680

Goldman, C A

This study assesses the technical performance and economics of energy conservation retrofit measures in existing residential buildings. Most retrofit projects included in this study attempted to reduce space heating consumption. Energy savings, retrofit costs and measures installed, and project and building characteristics are compiled for approximately 115 data sources in four general categories: utility-sponsored conservation programs, weatherization programs directed at single-family low-income homes, research studies, and multi-family buildings. Annual average resource energy savings range from 23 to 38 MBtu in the four categories. Savings achieved are typically 20 to 35 percent of pre-retrofit space heating energy use. The sample size for each project varies greatly, ranging from individual buildings to 33,000 homes. Large variations are observed both in energy savings (absolute and percent) and in costs per unit of energy saved. Savings between groups of retrofitted houses varied by a factor of five at any particular investment level. Approximately 75 to 80 percent of the retrofit projects are cost-effective - i.e. have costs of conserved energy below their respective space heating fuel or electricity price. Homes retrofitted in nineteen utility-sponsored conservation programs have a median net present value (NPV) of $1015; the NPV is positive in sixteen of the nineteen programs. Predicted versus actual savings are also compared for groups of homes in 25 retrofit projects. Actual energy savings, averaged over a large sample of homes, are greater than or equal to predicted estimates in three of eight utility-sponsored conservation programs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5384680
• Report Number(s): LBL-17088; EEB-BED-83-04; ON: DE84006489
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
DOORS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEATING
HOUSES
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MAINTENANCE
OPENINGS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RETROFITTING
SPACE HEATING
THERMAL INSULATION
WEATHERIZATION
WINDOWS