Retrofitting in existing buildings – more efficiency and comfort at the touch of a button

• Retrofitting saves energy & CO₂: up to 30 % without new construction
• Simple retrofitting without conversions during operation
• Great benefits at low cost: amortisation often less than 2 years
• Typical pitfalls can be solved: with the right partners and planning
• better.energy as a digital control centre: for maximum efficiency in the building
• MClimate supplies the perfect hardware: especially for non-residential buildings

Old buildings, new opportunities: why retrofitting is important now

Existing buildings have real character. Whether venerable administrative buildings, charming old schools or traditional nursing homes – they tell a story. Unfortunately, however, they rarely write a modern chapter in terms of energy efficiency. And that’s where retrofitting comes in.

In this blog post, we have a look at what retrofitting is, how it works, its benefits and the challenges involved. We explain what levers are available and how the implementation of retrofitting works in non-residential buildings such as schools, care homes, hotels, clinics and public buildings and facilities.

Retrofitting – definition and benefits at a glance

What exactly is retrofitting? It is about digitalising, automating or improving the energy efficiency of existing infrastructure without replacing it completely. Retrofitting means technically retrofitting existing buildings with modern, energy-efficient technology. The aim is to reduce energy consumption and increase comfort while preserving the existing building – without demolition, noise and high investment costs.

The advantages at a glance:

• Extended service life of existing systems and machines
• Reduced downtimes thanks to modern maintenance systems (e.g. predictive maintenance)
• Cost savings compared to new purchases
• Increased efficiency and productivity
• Fulfilment of legal requirements to reduce emissions
• Seamless integration into existing systems without long downtimes

Retrofitting is a game changer, especially in the area of energy efficiency – for example, when retrofitting smart heating control with better.energy and the smart thermostats and sensors from MClimate.

Why retrofitting? Figures that make you sit up and take notice

According to the European Commission, over 75% of buildings in the EU are not energy efficient – and at the same time, 90% of these buildings will still be standing in 2050. These figures show the relevance of retrofitting. Because if the buildings are still standing in 30 years’ time, but climate protection targets are to be achieved at the same time, there is enormous potential lurking here. The building sector is responsible for around 36% of CO₂ emissions in Europe. So there is huge leverage here – and an equally great responsibility.

Smart upgrade: how digital retrofitting works

Digital retrofitting sounds like high-tech at first – and it is. But don’t worry: you don’t need a robot in the boiler room or an IT degree to do it. With the right technology, retrofitting is surprisingly easy to implement today – and without any intervention in the building structure. This makes it particularly important for existing buildings that are listed. This is because it is not possible to make major changes to the building’s structure and characteristics through remodelling measures.

The most important digital levers:

• Smart thermostats: Replace conventional radiator valves and enable needs-based, automated heating control.
• Sensor technology & IoT: Records room temperatures, air quality, occupancy and more – in real time.
• Energy management systems (EMS): Combine all components in one platform and create full transparency about energy consumption.
• Cloud connection & dashboards: For control, evaluation and optimisation – independent of location and intuitive.
  

What challenges can arise during retrofitting?

Of course, retrofitting is not a sure-fire success. The table below shows you the most common stumbling blocks – and how to avoid them.

Typical steps in retrofitting: how to make your project a success

A retrofit project is not a sprint, but a well thought-out process. To make sure you don’t stumble on the way to digital energy efficiency, we show you the five key steps here – including specific tips for implementation in non-residential buildings such as care homes, schools, hotels or public facilities.

1. Goal definition – be clear about the “why”

Before you get started with the technology, you should know where you want to go. A clear definition of goals helps you to focus the project and make success measurable.

Typical goals in retrofitting:

• Reduction of CO₂ emissions (e.g. as part of the EnSimiMaV or the GEG)
• Reduction of heating and energy costs by xx%
• Increasing room comfort for users (e.g. carers, pupils)
• Ensuring compliance with legal requirements (EEWärmeG, EnSimiMaV, climate pathways)
• Introduction of digital remote control and monitoring

Tip: Define SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. For example: “We want to reduce heating costs by 25 % and increase user satisfaction by 1 school grade by March 2026”.

2. Analysis – the basis for every successful retrofit

Before any work is carried out, it is important to understand what is currently happening in the building. The analysis is the foundation of your project. In addition to the visual inspection and technical recording of existing heating and control technology, this also includes a data analysis: What heating profiles exist? Are there any vacancies or overheating?

You should also accurately record user feedback, such as complaints about the cold or irregular temperatures, and of course identify potential savings, for example through vacant rooms with permanent heating.

Tip: Use existing billing data, room plans and maintenance logs. The better your initial data, the better you can plan targeted measures later on.

3. Planning – now it’s getting specific

Based on the analysis, you can now decide which technologies, partners and resources you need. Time and financial planning is now also required.

Important planning aspects:

• Selection of suitable hardware (e.g. MClimate thermostats, CO₂ sensors)
• Selection of software (e.g. better.energy as a central platform)
• Compatibility check: Are there interfaces? Do the connections fit?
• Timing: When is a good installation period? (e.g. holidays, idle times)
• Budget: How much do the hardware, installation, software licence and training cost?

Tip: Get your facility manager or technical manager on board at an early stage. They often have experience or previous projects that you can incorporate.

4. Implementation – let’s go!

Now it’s time to install, integrate and network. The great thing is that retrofitting can often be carried out during ongoing operation – especially with wireless systems such as better.energy with the smart thermostat from MClimate.

What happens here:

• Replacing old thermostats with smart models (plug-and-play)
• Installation of gateways, sensors, communication modules
• Integration into the better.energy energy management platform
• Test run and function test
• Training of employees

Tip: Work in pilot zones – e.g. one floor or building section. This allows you to gain experience and integrate improvements directly into the rollout. Good communication with everyone involved (technology, management, users) is worth its weight in gold in this phase!

5. Monitoring & optimisation – saving the best for last

Perhaps the most important part begins after commissioning: monitoring and optimisation. Because you can only be successful in the long term if you recognise what is working – or not.

What better.energy offers you here:

• Monitoring of all devices (temperature curves, valve positions, time profiles)
• Consumption evaluations by room, building, time or user behaviour
• Recognition of unusual values (e.g. continuous heating despite an empty room)
• Monitoring of your heat consumption and thus the basis for economic effects
• Option to adjust heating profiles centrally or locally

Tip: Schedule monthly review meetings with your team. Use these for data analyses, feedback rounds and readjustments if necessary. This will make your retrofit project a lasting success – instead of a one-off technical firework display.

Smart retrofitting: sensors and actuators as key components of retrofitting in non-residential buildings

Sensors and actuators form the digital nervous system in retrofitting:

1. Sensors measure room temperature, window opening, humidity, occupancy, etc.
2. Actuators (e.g. thermostats or valve drives) convert energy impulses in a targeted manner.

In combination with an energy management platform such as better.energy, the result is an autonomous, adaptive heating system that only supplies energy when it is actually needed.

better.energy: The digital brain behind smart building control

Our intelligent energy management platform better.energy, which networks all these digital components, is your digital control centre for retrofitting your building. It provides you with a central solution for analysing, optimising and controlling your building’s energy consumption.

With better.energy you can:

• Control based on consumption instead of flat-rate heating
• Create individual heating profiles or control sets for different zones and rooms
• Introduce automatic setbacks when not in use
• Recognise and avoid peak loads
• Sustainably reduce CO₂ emissions and heating costs

Better.energy is particularly powerful in combination with modern thermostats – such as those from our partner MClimate.

MClimate: Thermostats that revolutionise retrofitting

MClimate supplies the hardware that really gets our better.energy software going. The smart thermostats from MClimate are specially designed for use in non-residential buildings with a heterogeneous heating landscape – and are therefore ideal for retrofitting projects in:

• Hotels
• Hospitals
• Schools & universities
• Administrative and government buildings

The thermostats communicate directly with better.energy and continuously supply temperature data. This means the system knows exactly when and where heating is being used – or not. Heat only when it’s really needed – that’s energy efficiency!

Conclusion: Small changes, big effect

Retrofitting is not a luxury, but a smart necessity – especially for operators of existing buildings. Investing in digital retrofitting today not only reduces operating costs, but also ensures greater comfort, better air quality and sustainable climate protection.

With better.energy and the smart thermostats from MClimate, you have the ideal tools in your hands. Together, we can turn your building into an efficiency champion – without any new construction. So act now before the next heating season arrives!

Do you want to know what retrofitting can look like in your building? Then get in touch with us now. We’ll show you on your preferred date and conveniently via webcall how you can reduce energy consumption and costs in your building in just a few weeks.

Further information and sources:

• European Commission: A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK): Langfristrenovierungsstrategie für den Gebäudebestand gemäß Art. 2a EPBD
• International Energy Agency (IEA), UNEP: Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2022
• Fraunhofer ISE: Energieeffizienz im Gebäudebestand: Strategien und Potenziale
• Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena), Agora Energiewende: Digitale Lösungen für die Wärmewende – Potenziale smarter Thermostate
• Institut für integrierte Produktion Hannover: Retrofit: Modernisierung von Anlagen und Maschinen
• VDMA: Leitfaden Retrofit für Industrie 4.0