With retrofit applications, the process is dysfunctional primarily be-
causefacility managers are not as well informed, having less resources
than an A/E team.Economic and process barriers frustratedeven the
most well-intentioned facility manager.Theorderofretrofitsisbased
onsystembreakdownsorapprovedalterations(lobbyupgrades,en-
ergy-efficiency, etc.).Mechanical andlighting systemsare usually re-
placedfirst,sincetheyarenotaslong-lastingandenergy-efficiency
upgradesofsuchcomponents(VFDs,T8lamps)usuallyrequireless
total capital and have a shorter payback than envelope systems.Often,
advancedwindowscannotbeimplementedasaretrofitbecausethe
energy-efficiency cost-benefitsofrecentlyupgradedlightingandme-
chanical systems(downsizedcapacity) cannotbe folded in.

We encounteredseveral such situations.In Sacramento,apreviously
naturally-ventilated 1932 office building was upgraded with a new me-
chanical system.The ceiling height was reduced by 3 ft (1 m) to accom-
modate new ventilation ducts, blocking daylightfromthe upper third
ofthe window.Theentire building wasupgradedwith newfinishes
(window shades, painting, etc.).New light fixtures were installed with
multi-levelswitching.Twoyearsafterthiscompleterenovation,the
building managersturnedto the upgrade ofthe exteriorofthe build-
ing, including replacement of the single-pane, clear glass windows but
foundtheir cost-effective energy-efficiency optionslimited.

Ifan integratedperspective hadbeentaken initially, the facility man-
agermayhavebeenabletoa)reducethecapacityofthechillerand
possibly the depth of the air distribution ducts, b)design the layoutof
thelightingzonestoaccommodatefutureinstallationofdaylighting
controls(parallelto the window wall,notperpendicular!),andc)de-
sign thewindow-to-ceiling detail to admitmore daylightandreduce
the visual contrast in brightness between the interior and window.Ret-
rofitsmustnotbeconductedpiecemealaseventscomeabout,rather
with aproactive perspective ofwhat is to come.Weconveyedthis ap-
proach in a document on spectrally-selective glazings to federal energy
managers.Institutionalchangesinpolicyordesignapproachcould
also affectthe way retrofits are conducted in businessesthatmanage a
large number offacilities.