Sustainable refurbishment describes working on existing buildings to improve their environmental performance using sustainable methods and materials. A refurbishment or retrofit is defined as: "any work to a building over and above maintenance to change its capacity, function or performance' in other words, any intervention to adjust, reuse, or upgrade a building to suit new conditions or requirements".[1] Refurbishment can be done to a part of a building, an entire building, or a campus.[2] Sustainable refurbishment takes this a step further to modify the existing building to perform better in terms of its environmental impact and its occupants' environment.
Most sustainable refubrishments are also green retrofits: any refurbishment of an existing building that aims to reduce the carbon emissions and environmental impact of the building. This can include improving the energy efficiency of the HVAC and other mechanical systems, increasing the quality of insulation in the building envelope, implementing sustainable energy generation, and aiming to improve occupant comfort and health.
Green retrofits have become increasingly prominent with their inclusion in a number of building rating systems, such as the USGBC's LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance,[3] Passive House EnerPHit,[4] and Green Globes for Existing Buildings.[5] Some governments offer funding towards green retrofits as existing buildings make up a majority of operational buildings and have been identified as a growing area of consideration in the fight against climate change.[6]
^Douglas, J. (2006), Building Retrofit, Butterworth Heinemann, London.
Sustainablerefurbishment describes working on existing buildings to improve their environmental performance using sustainable methods and materials. A...
distinguishes the two like this: "Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal (i.e. a more sustainable world), while sustainable development refers to...
to make the concept of sustainable development better known. Sustainable development overlaps with the idea of sustainability which is a normative concept...
environmental impacts. Sustainablerefurbishment describes working on existing buildings to improve their environmental performance using sustainable methods and...
UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 defines sustainable cities as those that are dedicated to achieving green sustainability, social sustainability and...
Sustainable transport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating...
but are generally far more sustainable than fossil fuel sources. The role of non-renewable energy sources in sustainable energy is controversial. Nuclear...
impact of human habitation on any given ecosystem. It could be self-sustainable, employing all or most of its own available resources for a comfortable...
principles of ecological sustainability and also aimed at improving the health and comfort of occupants in a building. Sustainable design seeks to reduce...
one's livelihood. The sustainable livelihood framework provides a structure for holistic poverty alleviation action. The sustainable livelihood approach...
that increased efficiency by itself may not reduce fuel use, and that sustainable energy policy must rely on other types of government interventions as...
Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials (and by a sustainable process) that reduces demands on ecosystems during its life-cycle.[according...
living closely follows the overall principles of sustainable development. One approach to sustainable living, exemplified by small-scale urban transition...
our planet. Sustainable management can be applied to all aspects of our lives. For example, the practices of a business should be sustainable if they wish...
Sustainable community Sustainable Communities Plan Sustainability reporting Activity Sustainable design Sustainable living Sustainable yield Conservation...
dedicated to studying sustainable development, hence the growing importance of interdisciplinary studies. Individuals studying sustainable development could...
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria was launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The Criteria, managed by the Global Sustainable Tourism...
energy system. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy is underway to limit climate change. As much sustainable energy is renewable it is also known...
broader field of sustainable finance that also includes impact investing, social finance and ethical investing. A key idea is that sustainable finance allows...
sustainable. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition also launched the Higg Index, a self-assessment standard designed to measure and promote sustainable supply...
established the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). In 2013, the CSD was replaced by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development that meets...
Muhammad (2017). "Emerging renewable and sustainable energy technologies: State of the art". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 71: 12–28. doi:10.1016/j...
Sustainable business Sustainable finance Project finance EthicalQuote (CEQ) Environmental, social and corporate governance Index of sustainability articles...
the concept of digital sustainability, according to the definition of sustainable development in the Brundtland Report, refers to the conscious handling...
Sustainable packaging is the development and use of packaging which results in improved sustainability. This involves increased use of life cycle inventory...
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They...
Low-energy house Microgeneration Sustainable architecture Sustainable city Sustainable habitat Sustainablerefurbishment Thermal energy storage Tropical...
environmental products, sustainable products focus both on ecological and social significance. Life-cycle orientation: sustainable products are environmentally-friendly...
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