NBI News January 2010

In this Issue:

Progress made on net zero energy buildings
High performance energy code proposals clear first hurdle
Newton, Mass., is first to adopt state stretch code
COMNET is born

Progress made on net zero energy buildings, California leads

While net zero energy buildings are technically achievable, they are rare. The U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Buildings database lists eight projects across the country that qualify as net zero--those buildings that produce from renewable sources at least as much energy as is used in a year.  That number should grow as policymakers, often in partnership with private enterprise, more ambitiously pursue net zero energy in order to meet climate change goals. 

California is undoubtedly leading in this area. The state is working to develop an action plan that will make real a goal of all new and 50% of existing buildings meeting a net zero standard by 2030. NBI, under a project for the California Public Utilities Commission, has been working with state policymakers, utilities, design professionals, owners, consultants and others to engage and facilitate input. Through a series of three meetings held last fall and this winter, stakeholders are gathering to craft the strategies and tactics that will allow net zero energy buildings to become standard practice in California within two decades.

In Massachusetts, a governor-appointed Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force released its comprehensive report, Getting to Zero, last year. The report calls for zero net energy use in buildings by 2030 to be achieved with incentives, minimum energy performance standards and workforce development (for details see our October 9 blog entry).

Nationally, the U.S. Department of Energy has launched its Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative (CBI) to "develop and disseminate technologies, practices, and policies for establishment of zero net energy commercial buildings."  The effort is funded with $33 million to achieve net zero energy buildings in new commercial buildings by 2030, 50% of all commercial building stock by 2040, and all commercial buildings by 2050.  In addition, the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium launched officially this year to collaborate with DOE promoting net zero building practices. NBI is a member of the consortium's steering committee and supports strategy development on advancing the introduction of new technologies into the market and relevant policies.

High performance energy code proposals clear first hurdle

Model energy codes that require 30% better efficiency just got a step closer to reality. New Buildings Institute's major code proposal, EC 147, was approved by a 6-5 vote at the International Energy Code Council (IECC) Code Development Hearings in Baltimore in October. The IECC is the model code recognized in federal law, green building standards and nearly all states.
 
NBI, along with the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Department of Energy, submitted the comprehensive proposal last June, which codifies much of NBI's Core Performance® protocol and several addenda to ASHRAE 90.1-2007.

In addition, the development committee signaled growing support for higher efficiency energy codes with the adoption of NBI-AIA proposals to improve performance of the codes opaque envelope tables, by a 9-2 vote, and the fenestration table, by 11-0.
 
"This is the first hurdle in the long code development process. We're greatly encouraged by the adoption of our proposals, which would represent the largest ever single step increase in commercial building energy model codes," said Dave Hewitt, NBI executive director. "High efficiency energy codes are essential if we are to meet the challenges of climate change," he said. 

If upheld by the ICC Final Action Hearings in October 2010, the proposals recommended for IECC adoption should meet the 30% target included in legislation that has already cleared both the full House of Representatives and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. 

In the meantime, NBI and AIA will be working to ensure a successful public comment period, addressing concerns from industry and positioning the proposal for acceptance by the ICC voting membership. 

For more information on the NBI-AIA-DOE proposal and details on the commenting process, visit www.newbuildings.org/iecc.htm. 

Newton, Mass., is first to adopt state stretch code

Newton, Mass., is the first community to adopt the state's new stretch energy code based on Advanced Buildings Core Performance. Core Performance is an NBI-developed set of strategies and measures that when applied under an integrated design process, result in buildings that are up to 30% more energy efficient than model energy standards. 

The work to convert the Core Performance Guide was led by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships in partnership with NBI, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environment and the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards. The adoption by Newton provides momentum to efforts in other towns and cities.

The stretch code is being offered by the state as an alternative for cities wanting to enforce a stricter energy efficiency standard for new buildings. The Massachusetts Bureau of Building Regulations and Standards approved the code earlier this year.

Newton's Board of Alderman voted unanimously to adopt the new rules in early November and Mayor David B. Cohen signed the official Board Order later that month. The stretch energy code will go into effect in Newton on January 1, 2010.

"This important measure enhances the city of Newton's long and proud tradition of environmental leadership and sets the path other Massachusetts communities can follow," said Cohen. "The city of Newton is reaffirming its commitment to preserving the natural environment, its commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and making the city of Newton as green as possible."

COMNET is born

COMNET (the Commercial Energy Services Network) is a new project intended to create a unified technical protocol for comparing the energy efficiency of, and calculating an energy rating for, commercial buildings. NBI is managing the project team.

COMNET seeks to fill an important void by creating clear, consistent, rigorous and easy-to-use methods for demonstrating compliance with tax deduction provisions for energy-efficient commercial buildings and building systems (as created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and extended to December 31, 2013).
 
The new protocol is being designed to allow use in code compliance, utility incentive programs, appraisal and financing and commercial building energy labeling. COMNET will support existing calculation methods used in these areas, as well as emerging methods under development. By creating a streamlined process that can be used across many modeling programs, COMNET will make it easier for building owners, designers and operators to pursue the rewards of energy efficiency at less cost.
 
The Phase One COMNET manual will be published in early 2010. For more information, view a factsheet on COMNET or an introductory slide show.

Case studies document performance of UC Merced buildings

 In collaboration with the California Institute for Energy and the Environment, NBI recently completed measured performance case studies for two buildings on the University of California campus at Merced. In addition to demonstrating exemplary energy levels in these buildings, these reviews highlight the value the campus obtained from using the UC energy performance benchmarks. 

Their benchmark performance levels, derived from weather and activity normalized experience throughout the UC system, helped first to ensure that specific targets were pursued for each phase of development, starting with initial design. They also provided a ready basis for evaluating measured results against an appropriate peer group. In providing information for these case studies reports, the UC team is a model that we would like to see widely emulated, including:

• Attention to rigorous review of measured experience to assure credible conclusions.
• Use of ongoing monitoring for performance improvement.
• Willingness to openly share results, including both the basis of successes and areas for improvement.

Case studies are available in NBI's High Performance Buildings Database (see story below) or by clicking these links:

Case Study: Classroom & Office Building, UC Merced
Case Study: Science & Engineering Building 1, UC Merced

NBI expands database featuring high performance buildings

Commercial building professionals have a new tool to help them create high performance buildings. New Buildings Institute has teamed with the U.S. Department of Energy, and Building Green to expand a searchable database with examples of buildings that perform at least 30% better than the CBECS (Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey) average for their type. The online database is available at http://buildings.newbuildings.org/.
 
In keeping with NBI's position that measured performance of buildings and energy use feedback are a critical part of the design process, this database includes detailed search features enabling users to select buildings where actual energy use data is available and specific energy saving design strategies are clearly outlined. It was initially developed in 2007 as part of NBI's Getting to 50 Initiative, investigating the feasibility of creating buildings that use 50% less energy than the CBECS average. The Getting to 50 research found that while this level of efficiency is technically possible, only 1 in 1,000 buildings in the United States met the criterion (at the time of the study). The database has been recently updated and expanded.

"By providing practitioners with real world examples of innovative, low-energy buildings, we hope to encourage design goals that seek energy performance of at least 50% better than model energy standards," said NBI Executive Director Dave Hewitt.

One example featured in the database describes technologies installed at the University of Texas School of Nursing and Student Center to reduce heating and cooling loads. An under-floor air distribution system increased energy efficiency and thermal comfort in the building while reducing energy use by an estimated 41% over a code-compliant building. 

NBI launches blog

It's true, we've entered the blogosphere. In an effort to provide more timely information to our supporters and others working for better energy performance in commercial buildings, we've established our Path to Zero Energy Buildings Blog featuring the practices, policies and technologies that result in low-energy buildings. Net zero energy is, of course, the end point on this journey. The blog offers updates on progress getting there. 

NBI in the news

Below are some of the recent news publications featuring NBI staff or programs:
 
"Better Building Energy Codes: It's Not Rocket Science," Matter Network

"Green Design vs Green Performance," CSE Live
 
"Companies add Advanced Buildings to Commercial Efficiency Program Offerings," Building Energy Peformance Info

"Searching for Efficiency," Constructech
 
"Advanced energy codes lead to major savings," CSE Live
 
"Shaky Foundation," Architect Magazine