Commercial buildings are an important piece of the energy consumption picture. According to the 2012 CBECS data, there are more than 87 billion square feet of existing commercial floor space in the United States, and approximately 82% of the commercial building stock was built before 1999. This represents a significant opportunity to ensure that energy codes are properly applied to safeguard that existing buildings meet their performance potential through any renovation process.

However, despite the energy savings potential and long-term benefits, both existing and new buildings are not achieving the code-mandated energy performance due to lack of full compliance with code requirements. These three studies and resources analyze and identify what factors contribute to this shortfall in existing buildings, specifically, and what opportunities there exist for the major stakeholder groups involved in the industry.

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BCAP Studies

Study by Building Codes Assistance Project and United Technologies Research Center
Building energy codes and standards are essential to ensure that new buildings meet minimum levels of performance with respect to energy consumption. But there is evidence that buildings – both existing and new – are not achieving the code-mandated energy performance when they are built or renovated due to lack of full compliance with code requirements. Many factors contribute to this shortfall, and this report identifies those that are relevant to existing commercial buildings based on analysis of practices in the greater Philadelphia region.

This report identifies the underlying causes of slippage, and identifies ways in which the code application and enforcement processes can be improved to ensure that existing buildings reach their energy savings potential when intervention opportunities arise.

Read the report here.

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Renovation Projects

Existing Commercial Building Renovation Projects: Gaps and Recommendations

From interviews and surveys with various stakeholders in addition to detailed analysis of the existing building renovation process, BCAP aimed to characterize and quantify code slippage (i.e. the gap between energy savings potential and the savings actually achieved) and corresponding opportunities/actions existing in the process. The focus was to examine the code application process and interactions between stakeholders to identify gaps and opportunities. This project summarizes the process, gaps and opportunities that were identified from our conversations with stakeholders.