After a building is occupied, it will need ongoing maintenance over the years - changing filters, fixing leaks, replacing old fixtures and many other tasks.

Many buildings that we will deal with in the future will have issues that are related to a lack of attention to those little jobs that need doing - this is called "deferred maintenance".

It's critical that we identify those items of deferred maintenance, to include them in the work of a Deep Energy Retrofit (DER). This will contribute to the overall durability and longevity of the work we do on existing buildings.

COMMON AREAS THAT NEED MAINTENANCE:

• HVAC equipment and appliances
• Exterior finishes - roofing, siding, masonry, and flashing
• Landscaping - maintaining grade away from the building, lawn and tree care
• Foundations - parging, cracks and drainage (including sump pumps)
• Windows and Doors - seals and weather stripping, hardware
• Plumbing - fixtures, pipe connections, venting and drainage
• Electrical - fixtures, wiring connections, updated power capacity (i.e. upgrading from 100 amp to 200 amp)
• Cosmetic - paint, flooring, cabinetry, interior and exterior trim

Talk to your energy advisor about these items and ask how they may affect an energy retrofit.