Brian J Honan Deep Energy Retrofit Update

Some thoughts on the duality of the “chainsaw approach” in #DeepEnergyRetrofits:

The phrase often conjures images of blunt physical intervention, and sometimes that’s true. Architectural details are cut away, eaves removed, character seemingly sacrificed in the name of efficiency. You can see this clearly in the before-and-after photos of the Brian J. Honan Apartments Deep Energy Retrofit, now under construction in Boston.

But there’s another way to think about the chainsaw approach.

It’s not just a cut aimed at a building’s identity, it’s a deliberate cut aimed at its biggest sources of energy loss.

The real work is strategic: prioritizing a continuous, airtight, highly insulated enclosure that radically reduces heating demand, operational carbon, and long-term costs.

Seen through this dual lens, the “chainsaw” enables deep performance gains while honoring the building’s role as long-term affordable housing—proof that meaningful climate action doesn’t have to come at the expense of architecture.

Allston Brighton CDC Haycon RMI Maloney Properties Sustainable Comfort, Inc. BLW Engineers
#HighPerformanceEnvelope #AirtightBuildings #AffordableHousing #BuildingReuse #Decarbonization