What's involved in retrofitting housing?
Retrofitting is the process of applying new technology to existing buildings. It encompasses many different areas, such as electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling.
Retrofitting can be done in residential and commercial spaces to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency and thermal performance. In this article, we will explore house retrofits in particular.
What is retrofitting?
The term “retrofitting” refers to integrating new technology into existing structures.
Retrofitting may take many forms, including electrical systems, smart home automation, water supply and drainage, and heating and cooling, in addition to other factors.
Retrofitting is seen as a way to make buildings more efficient and humane. It can also be used to improve living conditions for people with disabilities, such as those with limited mobility who do not have access to elevators or wheelchair ramps in their homes.
Retrofitting can be applied either when adding new structures to the existing building or during renovations on existing ones. For example, suppose a homeowner decided to build an addition onto their home. In that case, that person could choose whether or not to retrofit the new section with internal wall insulation, heating and cooling systems, or smart home automation.
A whole-house retrofit process can be a significant investment because of the need to update older plumbing and wiring systems. However, the benefits of creating a more user-friendly environment usually outweigh the costs in many cases.
Housing retrofits can improve safety and enjoyability for residents of all ages. For example, when old buildings are renovated to meet newer building regulations, residents who are disabled or elderly can feel safer and more secure with the addition of new amenities, such as elevators.
Retrofitting may also help protect against fires since building regulations often require updates to building materials, electrical systems and wiring for a structure to be deemed safe.
What are the benefits of retrofitting residential property?
1. Increased Property Value
In addition to saving you money on your energy bills, a housing retrofit also typically leads to a significant increase in its value – which is especially useful if you plan on selling your property soon.
If you own a building that has been around since the 1950s or earlier, it may be time to start thinking about different ways of retrofitting it soon.
2. Improved Energy Consumption
One of the main benefits of retrofitting is that it makes your property more efficient by reducing your energy consumption. Older houses are not built with the same energy-efficient technology that new homes have. Retrofitting often involves installing this modern equipment in your existing home, which will lower your energy demand and save you money for years to come.
3. Reduced Environmental Impact
Retrofitting helps reduce a building’s environmental impact by making it more energy-efficient and using fewer resources. Energy efficiency reduces the dependency on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Retrofitting commonly involves installing building equipment made from recyclable materials or building products with ultra-high insulation properties, which will lower your carbon emissions.
4. New Technology & Appliances
With new technology comes newer appliances. Old homes might not have central heating or cooling systems or very efficient appliances. Retrofitting will ensure your home is equipped with the latest technology in environmental efficiency.
With newer appliances, you can also enjoy lower maintenance costs over the lifetime of your property. More recent buildings are also designed to be more durable and have improved warranties for windows, doors, insulation and roofs.
5. Better Health for Building Residents
As mentioned before, one of the goals of retrofitting is to make a building more energy-efficient. This helps decrease the amount of pollution emitted into our environment, which helps improve the health of the people who live inside that building.
Retrofitting can help reduce the risk of occupants developing asthma, allergies, respiratory illnesses and other conditions.
What are some examples of home retrofitting projects?
Insulation
Adding internal and external wall insulation to walls, ceilings, attics, and cavities can help keep your property cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Insulation can be injected into existing walls or blown into existing spaces between rafters, joists, studs, and flooring to keep heat inside during the winter.
Adding insulation to the attic is an energy-efficient way to keep heat inside during winter months, particularly if you have a cooling system that cools the house by transferring heat outside.
Finally, insulating hot water pipes efficiently reduces heat loss from water flowing through them.
Energy Efficiency
Installing a smart home system for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting is another example of a building’s technology being upgraded to make it more efficient.
Coupled with that, installing LED lights can reduce electricity usage in your home.
If you want to go the whole hog, installing solar panels to supply electricity for your home is another way to conserve energy in your home, and your surplus energy can be sold the National Grid, creating a small income.
Water
Installing low-flow appliances are an effective way to conserve water usage in your home. Replacing conventional water heaters with tankless water heaters is another way to save water and energy.
Glazing
Installing energy-efficient windows can help reduce heating and cooling costs by preventing hot or cold air from seeping out of your home. A more cost-effective option is to install window film on high-rise windows as an efficient way to reduce the amount of heat that enters your home during the summer months.
Conversions
Converting a garage into a living space is another example of home retrofitting as it involves adding new plumbing, electrical systems (to accommodate lifestyle requirements), and insulation.
Conclusion
Retrofitting a home is often a more affordable option than buying or building a new one. It can also make your home more energy-efficient, which will save you money on your monthly utility bills.
Additionally, retrofitting can improve the health of the people who live in your home by decreasing the amount of pollution emitted into our environment.
Finally, installing newer technology and appliances in an older home is a great way to bring it up to date with the latest advancements in environmental efficiency, which positively affects climate change. If you’re considering making some upgrades to your home, retrofitting may be the best option for you.