It is a simple fact of the matter that a great deal of the construction currently in place all over the world will need to be replaced or retrofitted in order to meet global carbon emission standards. While the timeline in which these changes will need to occur is not yet absolute, it seems plainly evident that sustainability advisory experts like Marlon Kobacker will be very busy on projects in which green standards are adhered to. As more aggressive standards are set and greater incentives are created for green building practices, sustainable design features will only continue to become more valuable as time goes by.

According to Kobacker, the issues associated with retrofitting a building are not necessarily problematic from the perspective of accomplishing the goal of meeting newly established sustainable design standards. In terms of efficiency, performance and value, however, retrofitting does cause some issues that most would prefer to avoid if at all possible. This is why sustainability advisory professionals like Marlon Kobacker make every attempt to inform clients about the short- and long-term benefits of developing a comprehensive sustainability plan well before a construction site is even selected.

It is important to remember that the issue of climate change is one the entire global community is taking quite seriously. It is for this reason that it is highly likely that there will be fairly strict retrofitting mandates put in place that will make it very unlikely for any construction projects currently underway to shirk the sustainability requirements that will soon be put in place. Of course, this is far from the sole value of utilizing sustainable design and it should certainly not be viewed in this way, as the benefits are far more extensive than just the ability to avoid future retrofitting requirements.