Auditor Recommendations for the Building Envelope
Energy Conservation Measures aren't often recommended for a building envelope, mostly because it is expensive to replace or update the materials. Envelope measures that are more expensive would be making walls thicker, adding or replacing insulation, and replacing all of the windows. However, replacing the windows to change the R-value can make a big impact, especially if the building is older and the windows are single pane and/or have metal frames. Measures to improve the building envelope that may be less expensive include insulating the attic, adding blinds or shade screens to windows, repairing holes in the envelope, and weather stripping the doors.
If the owner has a limited budget and needs a quick payback on investments, it may be difficult to accommodate envelope upgrades, but if there is sufficient budget and the owner has a long-term investment perspective, an envelope upgrade can be the most important one to make, because it allows them to reduce the heating and cooling loads of the building and thus downsize the other equipment and save costs on future upgrades as well as ongoing operational energy costs.
Tips for when to recommend repairing the building envelope:
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If you can see the outside from the inside and it's not a window, it should be repaired.
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If you can feel the outside air when your inside, e.g. cold air coming inside when the door's closed, it should be repaired.
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Organize your recommendations in a way that allows the building owner or manager to compare their options against their budget and make a decision that works for them.