Skip to content

Resource Library

The Cost of Decarbonization and Energy Upgrade Retrofits for US Homes 

Download

Overview

Read the report which summarizes a nationwide effort to gather home energy upgrade project cost data along with household energy performance data.

A national report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: The Cost of Decarbonization and Energy Upgrade Retrofits for US Homes

Cost is a major barrier when upgrading homes to reduce carbon emissions required to meet DOE’s climate-related goals. This report summarizes a nationwide effort to gather home energy upgrade project cost data along with household energy performance data. The goal was to develop cost benchmarks and to guide future R&D efforts aimed at cost compression and scaling of the residential upgrade market. 

The report features 35 ZEN homes and points to the ZEN approach as costing about half as much while saving twice as much carbon compared to other alternative approaches. 

Read the report

Related Resources

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource Video

Review of the Passive House Prescriptive Checklist 

Watch as Chris Laumer-Giddens reviews the Passive House Prescriptive checklist with green builder Matt Hoots.

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource Video

Moisture Management Fundamentals with Joe Lstiburek 

Watch as Joe Lstiburek guides viewers on how they can build with better moisture control.

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource Video

This Old House: How a German Home Maximizes Energy Efficiency 

In this video, This Old House shows an average German home to understand how building practices and lifestyle affect energy consumption.