A Case Study on Retrofitting of an Existing Residential Building in Germany for Energy Efficiency and Performance

Depleting energy sources and climate change are important concerns of the world today, and buildings have a considerable share in energy consumption. Taking into account the large ratio of existing buildings to new construction, reducing energy consumption and focusing on energy-efficient retrofitting of existing buildings become essential for sustainable development, and passive design strategies can improve the performance of the building. In this scope, this study was aimed at achieving energy efficiency and investigating the impact of glazing systems and the strategy of implementing a buffer zone to the north facade on annual energy consumption and cost of the building. To this end, a residential building located in Berlin called Scheibe Nord was studied, and energy analyses of before and after retrofitting conditions were conducted by using Autodesk Revit Architecture and Insight. In addition, photovoltaic panels were recommended for the retrofitting project, and alternative flats were proposed to contribute to the social aspect of sustainability. The results showed that triple glazing and focusing on the north facade with passive design strategies in Berlin can decrease overall consumption and energy costs. The reduction in energy usage can encourage owners and policymakers at governmental institutions to launch extensive retrofitting campaigns to address the current energy crisis.