Poorly insulated windows and doors increase the amount of energy lost via building emissions, which is both damaging to the environment and organizations’ bottom line when utility bills are due. There are several basic steps nonprofits can take to improve building insulation to curb energy loss, including installing weather stripping on windows and gasketing and sweeps on doors. Both measures help create a better seal to reduce the transmission of unconditioned air, reduce the heating and cooling load, and reduce energy consumption.
About the Program
IFF’s non-appraisal-based, flexible financing tools have always been a good fit for energy efficiency upgrades and decarbonization – everything from geothermal fields to building envelope repair – through its standard loan program. IFF has also increased its focus on supporting nonprofits in understanding and executing energy efficiency projects.
IFF has helped a variety of nonprofits in the Midwest complete green building upgrades by providing financing for construction projects and by offering real estate consulting services to assess the feasibility of such upgrades and estimate costs, among other support. Below we’ve included brief project features with details about how IFF clients have increased the sustainability of their facilities, with links to more information about each project. For more information about how IFF can help nonprofits become more environmentally friendly as part of facilities projects, please contact us through the form below.
Energy Efficiency & Nonprofits
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that can be harnessed to heat and cool facilities using pumps that use the earth as a temperature exchange medium. Because the temperature underground is consistently 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, water can be pumped through pipes below ground level to absorb the heat, then compressed in a heat pump and released through building air ducts. The same is true for cooling during summer months, with the process reversed. Heat from the air is drawn from the building and carried off by the water or other coolant in the pipes and deposited back into the ground. The process does not emit greenhouse gases, and once the system is installed, ongoing operating costs are low since no fuel is involved.
Another way nonprofits can increase the sustainability of their facilities through HVAC modifications is to replace gas/oil-fired systems with electric heat pump systems. Electrification works best in buildings that are both well-insulated and airtight, which can be a complex process to achieve in older buildings, but doing so results in a more energy efficient facility that costs less to operate.
Solar power is a renewable source of energy with significant upfront costs for installation, but those upfront costs can result in long-term cost savings for nonprofits while also drastically increasing the environmental sustainability of their facilities. The installation of solar panels is likely to be easier to accomplish for nonprofits building new facilities, since the structure can be optimized in the design phase to support the infrastructure needed, but it’s entirely possible for organizations renovating their facilities to install solar panels to reduce their energy usage and costs – particularly given the availability of government incentives and grant programs that help subsidize the cost of installation.
When thinking about replacing a roof, take a look at how much insulation exists and consider adding more. Most buildings lose more heat from their roof (35%) than from walls (25%), windows (10%), or doors (15%), so investing in good insulation, either during a remodel or a new build, can add up to real savings.
Insulation strength is measured in R-value, with a higher number providing the most protection from heat loss or gain. Buildings with attics usually have insulation installed on the ceiling (the floor of the attic). Check the attic: if the building has loose or blanket (batt) insulation but the ceiling structure (joists) are visible above it, more is needed. Insulation should cover the tops of the joists and be R-40 minimum.
Buildings with flat roofs will typically have insulation directly under the roof membrane, usually rigid foam boards. If a roof replacement or installation is imminent, consider the opportunity to add more insulation to raise the R-value to R-30 or even more, if possible. Adding a few inches of foam board during a roof replacement is a small cost in terms of the overall project and can significantly save on both heating and cooling costs. It’s also a good idea to install a white or light roof.