What’s in a retrofit

Every building owner can realize substantial energy efficiency cost savings by improving building envelope performance as well as HVAC systems, water handling, lighting and more. It’s just a matter of where you’ll find your quickest returns.

Experience has shown that greatest cost savings involve eliminating uncontrolled airflow through the building envelope. That’s because up to 40% of utility costs result from air leakage alone.

Hire a Specialist:

If you are looking for a comprehensive solution, your best bet is to hire a specialist. As an integrated energy solutions provider, All Angles can manage all aspects of energy efficiency retrofits, starting with the building envelope.
The first step in any All Angles project is performing comprehensive Energy Use Analysis. This will provide you with the raw information you need to determine what energy-saving measures you want to act on.
An Energy Use Analysis involves a complete survey of your building to determine energy conservation opportunities, projected savings associated with each action, and available energy conservation incentives from utilities or governments. These incentives can cover up to 50% of the cost of an Energy Use Analysis.

What’s Involved in a Retrofit?


Depending on the results of your Energy Use Analysis, All Angles may recommend a combination of any of the following:

Insulation

Many older buildings were inadequately insulated, or built using insulating materials that have lost their effectiveness over time. In many cases, energy savings and comfort improvements can be realized without invasive renovations. All Angles will typically remove vermiculite, rodent-damaged or moldy insulation and add the new insulation appropriate for any given situation.

Envelope Air Flow Reduction

A wide variety of advanced materials and components are now available to promote air barrier continuity around windows, doors, at roof/wall joints and points of penetration. You might be surprised to find out how efficiently building envelope airflow can be reduced. Installing new seals and weather stripping on windows and doors, for example, can produce dramatic results for a fraction of the price of replacement.
 Airflow reduction can involve any of the following: 
Weather stripping existing doors to eliminate gaps, Retrofitting window seals or replacing windows, Sealing exterior gaps, cracks and holes, Compartmentalizing building sections to restrict airflow 
Increasing attic, floor and/or wall insulation

Solar Energy Systems

Installing a solar system can help you save money, or make money. The two basic types of solar installations are those that reduce or eliminate reliance on grid power, and those that enable you to sell power to an electrical utility. In Ontario, more and more building owners are investing in microFIT or FIT solar installations as part of their revenue models. It’s a low-risk investment with returns of around 12%.

Drain Water Heat Recovery

Nearly one-third of the energy consumed in residences is used to heat water. 90% of that energy runs down the drain, mostly in showers and baths. A Drain Water Heat Recovery System can recover and reuse much of that energy before it is lost. All Angles often recommends DWHR installation in residential retrofits.

Water Efficiency Design

Water efficiency fixtures such as high efficiency shower-heads and low flush toilets can significantly reduce water use.

Lighting Retrofits

Thanks to the advent of CFC and LED technologies as well as innovations in fixture construction, replacing bulbs, lighting component parts or entire fixtures can achieve a significant reduction in electricity consumption.

HVAC Upgrade/Replacement

Heating and cooling systems don’t always need to be replaced to significantly increase efficiency. Today there are many alternatives to minimize energy use. Once All Angles has completed an analysis of your heating and cooling equipment efficiency, we will make recommendations that can include: HVAC and/or boiler replacement/upgrade
 Upgrading the efficiency of duct configuration, Installing heat pumps, Switching to high efficiency or high efficiency tankless water heaters, Installation of heat recovery ventilators