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We have come across two new reports which highlight how much energy apartment buildings could save if they were to implement cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, and they are interesting reads.
The first report, Deutsche Bank Report Unlocks Potential for Investment in Energy Efficiency, focuses on New York City, looking at energy efficiency retrofits in affordable multi-family buildings. The reports look at a range of relatively light energy retrofits across 21,000 units, and find savings of 7% on electricity and 19% on oil and gas fuel through energy efficiency retrofits. While this is quite far from the full potential, it is a step in the right direction.
The second report, Engaging as Partners in Energy Efficiency: Multifamily Housing and Utilities, covers a study done by the American Council for Energy Efficiency Economy that looked at strategies for working with utility companies to implement energy efficiency retrofits. The most important finding is that American building owners and residents could save a combined $3.4 billion annually from retrofits that would reduce utility costs by between 15% and 30%.
Very interestingly, the report covers which states – namely Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, and Texas – would benefit the most from implementing the strategies they outline. Check out the report to see their analysis of a number of different states’ existing policies and their recommendations for where policy improvements could have the biggest net benefit. They also provide some great case studies to give you a sense as to the types of projects they found to be most beneficial.
.bmp "Elements of an Energy Retrofit")
