Why Retrofit Buildings Instead of Building New Ones? (Expert Insights)

As we continue to seek sustainable solutions to modern problems, retrofitting stands out as a clear path towards reducing our environmental impact, especially for business owners seeking to improve the value and sustainability of their property investments. 

In this blog post, the experts at Paramount Metal Systems, leaders in the provision of lasting engineered building and roofing systems, illuminate the benefits of retrofitting buildings.

What is Retrofitting?

Retrofitting is the process of enhancing the performance of existing buildings through the addition of new components. In particular, Paramount Metal Systems specializes in retrofitting with engineered metal building systems, providing practical, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions to building upgrades.

Benefits of Retrofitting Old Buildings

  1. Energy Consumption in Buildings: A significant portion of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the US is attributed to the running of older buildings. Retrofitting an older building, especially through energy-efficient building retrofits, reduces energy consumption and overall carbon footprint, lowering utility costs and helping to reduce the impact of your property portfolio on our climate. 

  2. Cost Savings: One of the key benefits of retrofitting buildings is that this strategy offers a cost-effective alternative to a new build, leveraging an existing building's structure. The cost of retrofitting buildings is considerably cheaper than complete demolition followed by a new build.

  3. Environmental Impact: By maximizing the use of existing materials, retrofitting minimizes waste and decreases the demand for new construction materials. Sustainable building retrofits use as little new material as possible.

Water-saving building retrofits are also possible, decreasing your building’s water consumption by methods such as installing the infrastructure to reuse rainwater, etc.

  4. Increased Property Value: Paramount Metal Systems has seen firsthand how retrofitting can enhance a building's value, making it more appealing to potential tenants or buyers.

  5. Enhanced Occupant Comfort: Modern retrofit solutions not only ensure healthier spaces but also improve occupant comfort. For a business owner, this enables you to improve productivity, reduce sick time and increase staff retention.

  6. Competitive Advantage: By retrofitting buildings for the future and climate change, businesses can position themselves as environmentally conscious, meeting growing consumer demand for sustainable business policies.