Have you ever wondered about the money and carbon spent replacing an inefficient old building with a new one, and whether the same net results could be achieved through a retrofit?

This is the question the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) asked when it applied to the Codes Acceleration Fund, a research grant administered by Natural Resources Canada. The resulting study, led by Giaimo and Ha/f Climate Design with support from WSP and A.W. Hooker, explored the carbon and financial implications of retrofits against those of new construction. This research culminated with the publication of Unlocking the Value of Existing Buildings.

Many retrofit projects pursue net-zero or other performance targets focused primarily on operational carbon. To achieve these operational targets, a building typically needs to undertake a deep energy retrofit that can be invasive, costly, and particularly challenging for historic buildings. The cost and complexity of these retrofits frequently lead to the decision to just tear the building down and start from scratch.

CAHP Board President Adam Hatch is a registered architect and heritage consultant experienced in all project phases, with a keen interest in cultural projects and the integration of new construction with old structures. He is Contract Administration Director at hcma.