Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO)

ReCover is expanding our services to include Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) and Total Cost of Portfolio Ownership (TCPO) analysis, powered by the SEEFAR‑Valuations© methodology. These tools integrate lifecycle cost, energy performance, carbon emissions, operating and capital costs, and long‑term cash flow into a single, decision‑ready model.

A SEEFAR-Valuation© based TCBO analysis assesses all major building operating and maintenance costs over a 60-year period in the context of transition to renewable energy. This approach is unique in that it includes comprehensive building lifecycle costs such as utilities, property taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, operating expenses, and maintenance capital (the cost to replace components at the end of their useful life). TCBO demonstrates that high-performance new buildings or deep retrofits of existing buildings can save the equivalent of the up-front capital construction cost over their lifecycle.

In addition to being offered as a stand-alone service, TCBO will become a standard component of all ReCover investment‑ready business cases delivered through the Building Transformation Program (BTP), ensuring every client benefits from a consistent, industry‑leading approach to lifecycle valuation. ReCover recently acquired SEEFAR Building Analytics Inc. to bring TCBO and TCPO capabilities in house. Read the announcement here.

TCBO services will launch soon. If you’d like to be notified when TCBO services launch, you can join our TCBO interest list.

FAQs

TCBO is a lifecycle valuation framework that evaluates all major costs associated with owning and operating a building over its useful life, including energy, carbon, operation and capital costs, and long-term cash flow.

Energy audits and cost studies typically look at isolated components. TCBO integrates energy performance, carbon emissions, capital renewal, and financial outcomes into one model, giving decision makers a complete picture.

Deep retrofits are long-term asset renewal investments. TCBO shows how different retrofit pathways affect operating costs, capital needs, emissions, and financial performance over time — helping building owners choose the most cost-effective option. TCBO can also demonstrate that the operational savings from investing in a high-performance building can save the equivalent of the up-front capital investment over a building’s lifetime.

TCBO produces long-term cash flow projections and investment-ready outputs that lenders and funding partners can use to evaluate project viability.

TCBO evaluates a single building. TCPO evaluates an entire portfolio, helping owners prioritize buildings, manage risk, and plan capital investments across multiple assets.

No. TCBO is a financial analysis performed by ReCover that complements the technical feasibility study performed by PCTs. Together, along with non-energy benefits, they produce an investment‑ready business case that supports confident deep retrofit decision‑making. 

TCBO and TCPO services are being integrated into ReCover’s expanded offering and will be available soon as part of the Building Transformation Program. If you’d like to be notified when TCBO services launch, join our TCBO interest list here.

Service Spotlight

Building Transformation Program

The Building Transformation Program helps you plan and deliver deep retrofits tailored to your building’s needs. It ensures your project stays on time, on budget, and focused on performance.