The Deep Energy Retrofit Controversy Revisited - Self Study
About this course
Our window to avoid catastrophic climate change is closing. Existing buildings are one of the largest sources of emissions and among the hardest to decarbonize.
At BuildingEnergy Boston 2023, Rachel advocated for “moderate” retrofits as a scalable strategy. Michael responded that deep energy retrofits must be pursued wherever possible. Despite the disagreement, Rachel and Michael share a common goal and are struggling with the same question.
In this panel, they explore that question together: How do we balance doing what we believe is achievable here and now with our obligation to push for radical transformation?
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Learning Objectives
- Assess the costs and carbon savings of retrofit projects of varying levels of intensity.
- Make use of existing measures of carbon impacts, and explore how they might be leveraged and applied to develop a more holistic cost/benefit accounting.
- Explore how the value of future proofing and resilience may be used to augment standard cost benefit.
- Address the challenges and nuances of working with clients to come up with decarbonization plans that are achievable, opportunistic, and responsive to the urgency of the climate crisis.
This course is included in this bundle
Course outline
3 modules • 12 assignments • 1 hour to complete • 52 minutes of video lectures
Welcome • 1 assignments
Orientation Materials
- Welcome to the course!
Module 1 • 9 assignments
The Deep Energy Retrofit Controversy Revisited
- Introduction to Byggmeister (01:38 minutes)
- Deep Energy Retrofits: Challenges and Evolution (03:41 minutes)
- Moderate Retrofits: A Cost-Effective Approach (05:00 minutes)
- Systemic Issues and Broader Perspectives (11:49 minutes)
- Social Cost of Carbon (07:49 minutes)
- Understanding Carbon Emissions and Data Uncertainty (04:03 minutes)
- Market Responses and Carbon Markets (01:47 minutes)
- Strategies for Decarbonization and Policy Recommendations (16:51 minutes)
- Presentation Slides (.pdf)
Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate (members only)
Authors
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Rachel White is CEO of Byggmeister Design/Build, a nearly 40 year-old residential remodeling company that is striving to serve as an exemplary steward of homes and to prepare them to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Rachel has been affiliated with Byggmeister since 2008, when she hired the firm to renovate her house. What started as an effort to reduce the... Learn more
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Michael became a Passive House Consultants in early 2010, and completed the Certified Passive House Builder Training in 2014. He is owner and principal of Passive to Positive, and consults on Passive House, zero-energy, and Living Building Challenge projects. His projects include single and multi-family residential, small commercial projects, new construction and... Learn more
