“I often muse at how easy it is to build a low-energy home from scratch.  It is easiest in a rural setting (there exist countless examples) and more difficult, yet still relatively simple in an urban setting (there are many examples here as well).  However, it becomes quite difficult to renovate an existing home into a low-energy home.  Again, easiest in a rural/suburban setting, however, extremely difficult in an urban setting.  Although we know what must be done, we often find ourselves limited by numerous fixed constraints.  This is where gaps exist in the research.  These are the gaps I wish to fill with this project.”
                                                                -Prof. Russell Richman (2009)