It may be a new buzzword now and it may be worthwhile to incorporate sustainability into building design for new buildings, but what about existing buildings? How do we \u2018green\u2019 an existing structure or introduce sustainable retrofit?<\/p>\n
As governments worldwide incorporate new funds for homeowners to make their homes sustainable, the concept of retrofitting old properties for sustainable MEP (M&E) design takes on renewed interest.<\/p>\n
Studies show that almost 90%<\/span> of homes are energy inefficient and can be responsible for up to 25%<\/span> of a nation\u2019s energy consumption. It becomes important, thus, to focus on detailed design drawings and strict construction norms. Key criteria to be considered are:<\/p>\n Fulfilling these criteria efficiently can lead to 75-90%<\/span> savings in the energy that would be used for heating. This will also lead to a comfortable round-the-year indoor temperature, sufficient daylight indoors and fresh, clean air.<\/p>\n Be finicky about fabric. <\/p>\n Prioritising building fabric means including energy-efficient windows, insulation and doors, before changing anything else in the building.<\/p>\n A high-performance fabric must be finalised at each stage, including insulation, triple-glazing and the creation of air-tight construction. The choice of materials used for the fabric is critical in sustainable retrofit. Insulation from natural sources is preferred, as it will:<\/p>\n\n