Frequently Asked Questions

PLEASE NOTE! The first BrightBuilt Retrofit Competition has ended. Please stay tuned for more information about our first project with Community Partners and check back for information about future programs. You can also e-mail info@brightbuiltretrofit.com if you would like to talk with someone about the BrightBuilt Retrofit.

If you have questions that are not answered here, send them to retrofit@brightbuiltbarn.com. New questions and answers will be added on an ongoing basis.


What is a deep energy retrofit (DER)?
A deep energy retrofit is a renovation to an existing building whose owner seeks to reduce energy consumption by a significant percentage – often 50% or more. Deep energy retrofits typically focus on adding significant levels of insulation to basements, walls and roofs, aggressive air sealing to stop leaks of warm air, replacing leaky windows with high performing units, upgrading the mechanical system to the most efficient, appropriately sized unit available and adding mechanical ventilation. Many sites on our Resources and Links page discuss deep energy retrofits in more detail.

How much does a deep energy retrofit cost?
We won’t know the exact cost of the DER until a building is selected. However, experience shows that deep energy retrofits for buildings 2,000 – 5,000 square feet in size would cost in the $80,000 – $100,000 range.

Are there funding sources available to help pay for a DER?
Yes. The BrightBuilt Retrofit will provide the selected NPO with $10,000 in cash to help offset the costs of the retrofit, plus access to $90,000 interest-free loan money. It is the NPO’s responsibility to develop a funding plan and ultimately to pay for the retrofit costs above the $10,000 cash gift. There are federal and state incentive programs which may apply to proposed retrofits, as well as private foundations that support energy efficiency. Our website includes a Resources and Links section which will help all applicants focus their fundraising strategy.

What makes our NPO a good fit for the BrightBuilt Retrofit initiative?
The BrightBuilt Retrofit project team seeks a good fit in terms of both the organization and the building. The building needs to fit specific criteria to ensure that it does not have complex regulatory, architectural or structural issues that will hinder the process of a deep energy retrofit. The organization needs to be willing to take on a renovation project that will involve a commitment of staff time, disruption to working space and fundraising. The NPO also needs to be excited about this project and its larger mission and commit to sharing the retrofit experience of with its constituent community and the broader public.

Our NPO owns a historic building. Are we eligible?
In a nutshell, it depends. A deep energy retrofit is likely to include wrapping the exterior of the building in several inches of insulation. Therefore, a building that cannot be re-clad with new materials due to preservation ordinances or to preservation values of the organization is not a good candidate. While we recognize that buildings with preservation requirements are as in need of and deserving of energy upgrades as any others, we are not able to add that complexity to the project at this time. If you own a historic building, we encourage you to follow the Mallet Deep Energy Retrofit Project in Freeport, ME.

What makes this initiative open source?
Unlike most construction projects that are private affairs among a client, a designer and a contractor, the BrightBuilt Retrofit process is open to the public for participation. All aspects of the retrofit, from NPO selection through completion, will be documented on our blog, and we welcome input and discussion. We are especially interested in a public dialogue about innovative ideas and best practices for achieving the targeted energy reduction goals.

Why is BBR limited to buildings in the 2,000-5,000 square foot range?
The BrightBuilt Retrofit funding scope is $100,000. Based on lessons learned from recent energy efficiency upgrade projects, we are confident that the $100,000 budget is appropriate to achieve a deep energy retrofit of a building in that square foot range. Also, we are committed to demonstrating the applicability, replicability and affordability of deep energy retrofits to a broad spectrum of homeowners and small building owners in colder climates. The 2,000-5,000 square foot range has tremendous potential for replicability.

Can our NPO apply if our building is just under or over the square foot limit?
The BBR advisors are open to receiving applications from NPOs whose buildings are just below or just above the range. Please email us at retrofit@brightbuiltbarn.com or call us at 207-842-2888 to inquire if your building is within the acceptable range.

What is the scope and cost of the design services?
It is our goal to keep professional design costs to a minimum in the overall budget, and Kaplan Thompson Architects will be discounting their fees for this initiative. Organizations should anticipate payment for design services required to assess the property thoroughly and to plan and oversee the course of action. In providing up to $100,000 in funds (cash award and loan), we commit to keeping the entire budget, including professional fees, materials, labor, etc., within this total.

When will the project budget be determined and can our organization say “thanks but no thanks” if we are not able to commit to the total cost?
The shortlist of candidates will be announced on October 13, and site visits will be scheduled shortly thereafter. One tangible result of each site visit will be a preliminary budget for each shortlisted building’s retrofit. We are confident that $100,000 is a reasonable upper limit to accomplish at least a 50% reduction in energy consumption; the budget may indeed be smaller depending on the building. All applicants should consider and commit to raising at least $90,000 in the event that the entire loan is needed. The shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to review the preliminary budget with the BrightBuilt team but we encourage all applicants to plan ahead so that the organization is in a position to accept the award if chosen.

There are several code and hazardous waste issues with our building. Can we still apply?
We encourage you to email us at retrofit@brightbuiltbarn.com or call us at 207-842-2888 to discuss the extent of the issues. In most cases, it will be appropriate to continue with the application. However, it is important to note that BrightBuilt Retrofit funds can only be spent on expenses related to the deep energy retrofit. It is the responsibility of all non-profit applicants to identify, define a plan of action and pay for remediation of code and hazardous waste issues. If the building that is the best candidate for the BBR initiative has issues, we may require a conditional approval to ensure that the building is brought up to standards and that the process does not interfere with the timing of the retrofit. Site visits for the shortlisted candidates will include a discussion of these issues.

Is the NPO responsible for project management and the actual implementation of the recommendations and design?
The BrightBuilt team, led by Kaplan Thompson Architects, will work with the selected organization to outline the implementation plan and timeline. The open source nature of the initiative will lead to many minds being involved in problem-solving and defining best practices for the retrofit of the chosen building. Local, community-based resources (contractors, materials, etc.) are critical to the success and spirit of this project, and the selected organization will be asked to help gather local support. KTA will assist with overall project management throughout the retrofit process and will also help solicit discounted materials.

How does the voting and selection process work?
Voting is in two phases. First, beginning shortly after the September 15 application deadline, the Board of Advisors will jury all entries down to a shortlist of candidates. As stated in the application, NPOs and their buildings will be judged “based on their fit with the guiding principles of the project, as well as the building and organizational criteria.” On October 13, we will post a synopsis of the shortlisted candidates’ proposals on-line and invite the public to vote. Tallies from the on-line voting will be a small percentage of the final decision (less than 20% is anticipated). The on-line voting portion is intended to encourage the public to learn about the project and to start following its progress as much as it is to see what project has broad appeal. BrightBuilt Retrofit is not a popularity contest; we are searching for the right fit and a model project that will have a broad impact.

Our NPO is interested in pursuing an addition/renovation while doing the energy retrofit. How would this impact our application?
Organizations are welcome to increase the scope of the project to accomplish broader renovation goals. That said, there are several considerations. First, BBR funds may only be spent on the deep energy retrofit of the existing building. Additional funds would need to be raised by the NPO to cover the costs associated with additional renovations. Our goal is to quantify a $/square foot and then a $/square foot/Btu saved number. If the chosen organization wishes to complete additional work on the building, we will work with the NPO to ensure that the accounting is separate so that the data for the energy retrofit is easily quantifiable and reliable. Secondly, BBR seeks to complete the retrofit by fall, 2011 so that energy usage data for the 2011-2012 winter can be collected and compared to previous years. If an NPO’s proposed additional renovations would delay this timeline, the BBR team would need to know this in advance. We are seeking a competitive pool of applicants. If, in the end, the NPO with a delayed timeline due to additional renovations is the best candidate for the initiative, the retrofit timeline could conceivably be pushed back.

Our building does not have a poured concrete foundation. Can we still apply?
While rock/stone/rubble foundations are not ideal, there are workable solutions, in most cases, in the context of the deep energy retrofit. It is important to note that the basement (and especially the area adjacent to the foundation) must be free and clear (not occupiable space) for the energy efficiency upgrades in that area. Given the variability of basement conditions, we ask that you contact us by email at retrofit@brightbuiltbarn.com or phone at 207-842-2888 with a description of your foundation. We will be happy to provide preliminary feedback.

What are the terms of the loan?
BrightBuilt will provide access to $90,000 interest free loan money. The loan must be repaid within twelve months of the project’s completion. The payment schedule will be determined by the selected NPO and BrightBuilt at the time of the loan’s inception. Any payments made within the twelve month loan period will be applied against the principal. The NPO may consider paying the amount saved per month from the energy efficiency upgrades. Funds to repay the loan can come from reserves, single donors, capital campaigns and/or through more traditional financing options.