Federal, state, and city governments are providing incentives to those who may not previously have considered retrofitting their commercial properties for increased energy efficiency.

“While some players in the commercial housing market have found their way to energy efficient buildings through benevolent motivations and the promise of global benefits, many more require policy and regulatory requirements or incentives to inspire them to enter the energy efficient retrofit market,” said senior research analyst Eric Bloom. “Sometimes these retrofits are encouraged through incentives or ratings programs that reward the most efficient buildings. More often, government agencies encourage higher efficiency buildings by educating the companies buying and selling buildings about the effect that the buildings will have on the environment and, more importantly, on their utility costs.”

The products and services offered to address energy efficiency retrofits can be grouped into several categories: HVAC, lighting, commissioning, controls, solar, water management, and building envelope, as well as offerings from energy service companies (ESCOs). These products are being supplied by an ever-increasing number of companies that wish to establish a place in this growing industry. ESCOs currently make up the largest portion of the energy efficiency retrofit market, but the fastest growing segments over the next eight years will be solar power and water management, according to the report.

Publication date: 12/10/2012