IEQ
The retrofi t sweet spot
Renovation projects promise healthier indoor environments and lower running costs, but can one upgrade truly deliver both? Dominique Silva of Trane Technologies explores where the evidence meets the hype.
Dominique Silva I
"The phrase ‘you can’t
manage what you can’t measure’ is often associated with
management philosophies in business and quality control."
t is well known that heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play a vital role in creating healthier and more comfortable indoor spaces. However,
HVAC systems can also be very energy-intensive, and new regulations risk making obsolete technology even more expensive to maintain. According to the UK Green Building Council, 19% of the
UK’s carbon footprint comes from operational emissions resulting from the energy required to heat, cool, and power buildings. Furthermore, 80% of the buildings that will be occupied in 2050 already exist, highlighting the importance of decarbonising the current building stock as a major priority. In total, 25% of UK emissions are directly attributable to the built environment, underscoring the urgent need for action in this sector.
When renovating or retrofi tting existing buildings, facility managers face a timely opportunity to improve their indoor environmental quality and reduce operating costs. To do this, managers must look beyond just replacing old systems by investing in modern technology that off ers quick benefi ts and long-term value.
When designing and selecting HVAC systems for new buildings, engineers should consider technology that meets today’s high standards of indoor environment quality (IEQ) and evaluate its impact on the building’s carbon footprint. But
12 April 2026 •
www.acr-news.com
while building from scratch provides designers with immense choices, renovation projects are often more limiting and challenging to address. Improving energy effi ciency in existing and old buildings presents even more challenges when people need higher indoor air quality.
Balancing IEQ and energy effi ciency There are multiple interventions facility managers can take to reduce energy waste and improve effi ciency – from improving the building envelope to harvesting and re-purposing waste heat from other sources in the building. However, these interventions have a limited eff ect on improving indoor environmental quality. This is why updating the building’s ventilation system is always important. Typically, ventilation systems will operate continuously
in order to replace stale air with fresh air. These mechanical systems often need to work harder to compensate for leaks and overcome large pressure drops from fi ltration devices. The higher the fi ltration grade, the higher the pressure drop… and the higher the energy costs. These costs increase even further when the air needs to be pre-conditioned, e.g. dehumidifi cation, heating or cooling. In addition to higher operating costs, these ineffi cient systems also increase the carbon footprint of the building. Considering many old buildings in Europe still operate with
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