Since the mid-1970s, hundreds of thousands of energy audits have been conducted on existing buildings followed by nearly as many energy retrofits. However, constructed energy conservation measures do not always translate into calculated energy cost savings (with the result of not paying back the investment as originally planned). At the beginning of a project, a specific set of "hierarchical design needs" must be addressed to realize calculated energy savings. This article proposes a set of hierarchical design needs from an owner's point of view, with historical perspective, examples describing interrelationships and other supporting issues.