Fast and Simple – Cost Efficient Façade Refurbishment

Energy performance improvements in existing buildings are the next step towards energy efficiency according to the EU directives. Especially buildings built in the sixties or the seventies, before the energy crises, provide potential for improvements. The facades of these buildings are often in a need of a refurbishment. One major issue is that these buildings must be refurbished at low cost, not to increase the rents too much. The refurbishment process should be conducted with limited disturbance of the tenants. Existing façade renovation methods can be improved to decrease inefficiency and risk for contractors. The business situation is unclear, due to unclear means for refurbishment. One aspect of this problem is that there is a need for new business models. This paper studies the market and process optimization and proposals for information management aspects considering the need for developed business models in refurbishment. The study is part of a larger project about façade renovations with prefabricated wooden elements. The main contribution in this paper is to propose a new business model with standardized products, logistics and project management, discussing different aspects of efficient business models. There is a need for clear distribution of risks for the business partners and a clarification of potential co-benefits. Basically we propose a contract model with a contractor taking the full responsibility towards the client, including the detailed refurbishment design and project management.