Code & Policy / September 14, 2016 / Codes And Policy, New Construction

Voting members, be sure to vote! The CDP voting period is November 8 through November 22. All votes are important, but be sure to review NBI’s Voting Recommendations and the following General Energy Efficiency Voting Recommendations before you vote. Final...

Code & Policy / December 22, 2015 / New Construction

NBI has identified the following four studies as a general survey of the cost impact of increasing the level of energy efficiency in commercial new construction and major retrofits. This is not an exhaustive survey of cost material available, but...

Code & Policy / December 22, 2015 / New Construction

Bringing energy codes to market often involves a comprehensive approach that starts years before a code is adopted by a local jurisdiction. NBI provides technical assistance through each stage of code development. NBI aggregates technical information from existing high performance buildings. Observed trends...

Code & Policy / December 21, 2015 / New Construction

The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) is an effort of the International Code Council (ICC) aimed at creating a new green overlay code for the ICC’s suite of I-Codes.  The IgCC includes requirements for a range of issues pertinent to...

Code & Policy / December 21, 2015 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

NBI and several other leading organizations proposed code revisions for a range of 2015 International Code Council codes (I-codes) including the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the International Existing Building Code (IEBC). The purpose is to help the usability...

Code & Policy / December 19, 2015 / New Construction

NBI works collaboratively with a wide range of industry partners to bring model energy codes up to current market capabilities. Measures promoted by NBI include higher efficiency standards for equipment and advanced design strategies such as daylighting. Once adopted by states...

Report / August 10, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

This report is part of the California Energy Commission (CEC) EPIC project (EPIC-14-009), Optimizing Radiant Systems for Energy Efficiency and Comfort. The main goal of this research was to determine the building characteristics of projects with radiant heating and cooling…

Document / March 22, 2017 / New Construction

Updates and errata for the 1.01 print edition of the New Construction New Construction Guide and print editions of the 1.01 through 1.12 New Construction Core Performance Guide are available here.

Document / October 16, 2015 / Codes And Policy, New Construction

NBI presented the first public “straw-man” of a proposed section for multifamily buildings in the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to the Department of Energy's Denver Energy Codes Stakeholder Meeting on October 13, 2015.

Report / August 28, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report represents the findings on research on the Enlighted wireless luminaire level lighting control system. New Buildings Institute (NBI) conducted the work on behalf of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). The technical proof of concept study aimed to…

Report / June 26, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

As part of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA’s) investigation of new approaches to reducing commercial cooling electric energy use, New Buildings Institute (NBI) installed, monitored and analyzed the performance of a third generation indirect direct (IDEC) evaporative cooler on…

Paper / May 23, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Lighting systems with advanced lighting controls offer a pathway to savings, however they also create challenges. The integration of a projected code comparison method is imperative. In this paper NBI is proposing a consistent set of metrics along with a…

Report / April 24, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report reviews and compares the characteristics and approaches for a variety of FDD tools in the market. Also identified are the technology protocols needed to identify faults and the criteria and energy savings estimates used for the inclusion of…

Report / April 24, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report summarizes the findings for the Skylight Modeling and Validation project within the Evidence-based Design and Operation research program. This report was prepared as part of the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.

Report / April 23, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report summarizes the findings for the Rooftop Unit FDD project within the Evidence-based Design and Operation research program. The project goals were to reduce the energy performance degradation in rooftop HVAC units (5-50 tons in size) in California and…

Report / April 23, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report details tasks, findings, and recommendations undertaken for the Enhanced Skylight Modeling and Validation project. The scope involved developing and validating computer simulation alternatives to physical measurements for producing optical daylighting system photometry. Findings indicate that it is possible…

Paper / February 6, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) tools are becoming more widely available for residential and light commercial air conditioning systems. The California Title 24 Building Energy Standard includes refrigerant charge and air flow diagnostic protocols and procedures, and energy efficiency programs…

Report / February 3, 2011 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This specification is proposed for commercial packaged rooftop units equal to or smaller than 135,000 Btu/h. It is intended to improve in-field energy performance for customers and utilities by increasing reliability, maintainability and performance/conditioning monitoring including advanced fault detection.

Paper / June 30, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This report is a secondary research project examining data available on pilot and operating rooftop unit (RTU) retrofit programs around the country at the time and summarizes a variety of information on the topic. Included are discussions of technical issues,…

Paper / February 24, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This document presents an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with the features of an advanced rooftop unit (ARTU). These features were identified in the “

Report / February 24, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This field test consisted of site and AC selection, installation and replacement, performance monitoring, and data analysis. Standard baseline SEER 13 air conditioners were first monitored and then replaced with HDACs. Monitoring of the baseline and HDAC units were completed…

Paper / February 17, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This white paper, also known as "My Car Is Smarter Than Your Building," looks at the lessons controls-savvy cars can teach us about how high performance and enlightened controls standards can lead to more energy efficient buildings.

Report / February 16, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Under a project for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NBI researched trends and new technologies in advanced metering as used in energy information systems (EIS).

Report / January 28, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

NBI completed a report on the range of evaporative, evaporative hybrid and evaporative condensing technologies for HVAC applications on behalf of Southern California Edison including: technologies, manufacturers, market applications and adoption factors surrounding evaporative approaches to cooling.

Report / January 28, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

NBI conducted lab and field technical assessments of eight Desert CoolAire prototype indirect evaporative air conditioners on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Sacramento Municiple Utility District. Also see the 2007 Addendum with additional monitoring and equipment status.

Report / January 28, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

NBI conducted lab and field technical assessments of eight Desert CoolAire prototype indirect evaporative air conditioners on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Sacramento Municiple Utility District. This addendum includes additional information about monitoring and equipment status. Also see the Final Report on…

Report / January 27, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This document was one of the technical attachments to the final report of a larger research effort called "Integrated Energy Systems: Productivity and Building Science Program" as part of the PIER Program funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and managed…

Report / January 26, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

The Advanced Variable Air Volume (VAV) System Design Guide (Design Guide) is written for Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) designers and focuses on built-up VAV systems in multi-story commercial office buildings in California. The Design Guide recommendations include best practices…

Report / January 21, 2010 / New Construction

This study expands and validates previous research by Heschong Mahone Group that found a statistical correlation between the amount of daylight in elementary school classrooms and the performance of students on standardized math and reading tests.

Report / January 21, 2010 / New Construction

This study presents evidence that a chain retailer is experiencing higher sales in daylit stores than in similar non-daylit stores.The study included 73 store locations in California, of which 24 stores were daylit primarily by diffusing skylights.

Report / January 21, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This study investigates whether daylight and other aspects of the indoor environment in elementary school student classrooms have an effect on student learning, as measured by their improvement on standardized math and reading tests over an academic year. The study…

Event / April 17 - April 19 / Zero Net Energy

RMI and NBI are again joining forces to bring you the premier global event dedicated to defining the future of low energy and zero energy (ZE) buildings April 17-19, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA. Join leading designers, owners, operators, commercial real…

News / November 1, 2017 / New Construction

Outcome-Based Path for Codes Focuses on Results, Looks at Building’s Actual Performance A number of cities and states across the United States have begun to recognize that the current code-based mechanisms in place do not provide the means to help...

News / October 30, 2017 / New Construction

Published in EC&M: Multifamily buildings offer a largely untapped opportunity for improving energy efficiency, according to a recent report from the New Buildings Institute (NBI). Despite tremendous potential for savings, the organization explains why the multifamily market is hard to...

News / September 23, 2016 / New Construction

Research Frontiers licensee Smartglass International addresses the long term savings that commercial organizations can realize when they install SPD-SmartGlass in their buildings. From 2016-2023, it is estimated that $960 billion will be invested to make existing buildings more environmentally friendly....

News / September 24, 2015 / New Construction

On September 17, John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America, addressed the importance of taking a holistic approach to improving the efficiency of the U.S. commercial building stock as part of a broad objective to double energy productivity. Galyen was joined...

News / June 16, 2015 / New Construction

The New Construction Guide has also been incorporated as the prescriptive path to comply with the energy prerequisites for both USGBC’s LEED v4 and the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools standard. The guide has also been adopted as the...

News / June 1, 2015 / New Construction

June 2, 2015—New Buildings Institute (NBI) and Architecture 2030 are excited to announce that Architecture 2030 has endorsed a prescriptive path to meet the current 2030 Challenge goal based on NBI’s New Construction® New Construction Guide. With this path, design...

News / December 10, 2014 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

December 10, 2014—Detailed information on North America’s most energy-efficient and zero energy buildings is now available online with the New Building Institute’s Getting to Zero Buildings Database. The database features more than 280 buildings from all climate zones across the...

News / September 23, 2014 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Environmental Leader reported on new technology in heating, venting and air conditioning building automation systems for small- and mid-sized buildings. The article references a 2004 New Buildings Institute study, which found that 91 percent of the packaged rooftop units tested...

News / November 6, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Building Design + Construction reported, that NBI developed the first ever set of plug load energy use metrics, which will allow commercial building owners and managers to more easily gain insight into their buildings’ energy use and become more energy...

News / November 6, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Portland-based PECI used NBI metrics to assess plug load energy use at its First and Main Building headquarters in downtown Portland. The study inspired an energy-saving campaign that resulted in an 18 percent kWh reduction of PECI’s plug load reports...

News / September 30, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

An article written by Cathy Higgins, Research Director, and Dan Harris, P.E. was published by Today’s Facility Manager. The article reports that plug loads are the fastest growing energy use item in commercial buildings and can represent as much as...

News / July 30, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

MarketWatch reported that NEEA, NBI and Enlighted collaborated on a study that found when given the option, individuals chose less light. Organizations could substantially reduce their utility bills while improving employee satisfaction. (7/23/2013)

News / October 19, 2012 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Newsletter articles referenced NBI’s “Commercial Office Plug Load Savings Assessment“. The study reveals details about actual energy consumption of common plug loads and measured savings of 40 percent or more resulting from low-cost efficiency measures. 5 Steps To Help You...

News / October 16, 2012 / New Construction

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group wanted their building to perform in the most energy-efficient way. Their project team worked with Efficiency Vermont to follow the New Construction Core Performance Guide. Tracey Beckstrom, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives, wrote about the experience...

News / August 21, 2012 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Commercial Property Executive Magazine’s plug-load management article quotes Amy Cortese, Senior Project Manager, and includes the 5 steps for reducing energy used by electronic devices from the Plug Load Best Practices Guide. (8/21/2012)

News / July 19, 2012 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

July 19, 2012–The number of things office workers plug into the socket is growing rapidly. To help commercial building owners and occupants get control of the energy used by office equipment and other electronic devices, New Buildings Institute (NBI) today...

News / May 23, 2012 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

New ways of envisioning architecture, design, and construction are discussed in this blog by MetropolisMag.com and they mention research done by NBI. This research can be found in the report Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings. (5/22/2012)

News / March 7, 2012 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

Existing buildings can maximize sunlight use without making structural changes. In this article, from Buildings, Barb Hamilton, Senior Lighting Manager for the NBI, offers three strategies to maximize daylight and minimize artificial light. (2/24/2012)

News / June 3, 2009 / New Construction

June 21, 2009–The Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards voted Tuesday to adopt a stretch energy code for the state that would make new commercial buildings under 100,000 square feet up to 30% more energy efficient than base standards...

Post / October 10, 2017 / New Construction

Multifamily buildings pose a conundrum for advancing energy performance. As a building type, they are caught somewhere between commercial buildings and single-family residences – they are often constructed like commercial buildings, yet used as residential buildings. Energy-efficient technologies and design...

Post / August 10, 2017 / New Construction

During the renovation of the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building, a variable air volume (VAV) system was replaced with a radiant design system. The design team included numerous CBE industry partners, including SERA Architects, Stantec, Interface Engineering, and Charles...

Post / July 5, 2017 / New Construction / Lighting

This material has been excerpted from the soon-to-be-released Multifamily Guide offering best practice design for high performance multifamily new construction projects. Stay tuned for more information on the Guide’s release. LED lighting had some of its earliest and broadest successes...

Post / July 1, 2015 / New Construction

In 2006, Architecture 2030 took a bold step: Challenge everyone involved with the built environment — designers, owners, government, utilities, operators and tenants, everyone — to reach for the goal of Zero Net Energy by 2030. Using the average performance...

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

The Port of Portland headquarters was studied under a California Energy Commission EPIC research project on radiant heating and cooling systems in 2016-2017. It is a three story office space with 450 Port employees built above seven stories of public…

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

The Pomona College Millikan Laboratory and Andrew Science Hall (Millikan Building) was studied under a California Energy Commission EPIC research project on radiant heating and cooling systems in 2016-2017. It is a 3-story, 75,000 square foot building comprised of physics…

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

radiant heating and cooling systems in 2016-2017. It is a two-story, 19,460 square foot retail and office building located in Portland, Oregon. The building was constructed in 1910 as stables for an historic hardware company. Opsis Architecture purchased the building…

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

The Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building was studied under a California Energy Commission EPIC research project on radiant heating and cooling systems in 2016-2017. It is an 18-story, 512,474 square foot office building located in Portland, Oregon. The building houses…

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / New Construction / HVAC

The Bullitt Center was studied under a California Energy Commission EPIC research project on radiant heating and cooling systems in 2016-2017. It is a six-story, 44,700 square foot (SF) office building located in Seattle, WA. The Bullitt Foundation, a nonprofit…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

Washington’s Department of General Administration supervised an energy system retrofit of Spokane’s Westlake State Hospital and then was responsible for verifying the energy savings resulting from the improvements. However, when the hospital’s energy management system experienced a partial loss of…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

EZ Sim showed its versatility and its accuracy when analyzing a building with run away winter energy bills. While the building was initially modeled using a traditional engineering method, EZ Sim provided a quicker alternative to identify the nature of…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

When a county building’s facility manager wanted to know if it was time to upgrade the building’s heat pumps, EZ Sim’s detective work helped to uncover more savings in more places than she bargained.

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters (NERCC) represents 22,000 carpenters, pile drivers, shop and mill men, and floorcoverers working in the New England states.

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI), a non-profit organization founded in 1926, is the only private rehabilitation agency to offer free training, services and support to visually impaired Vermonters of all ages. VABVI offices are located…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

Fidelity Bank is one of the oldest and continually growing independent, local community banks in Central Massachusetts. In January 2007, the bank opened its new Corporate Center and Branch in Leominster, Massachusetts. The four-story building includes office space as well…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

Serving more than 1,800 students annually, the not-for-profit Duxbury Bay Maritime School aims to connect the community through educational and recreational programs with its primary resource, Duxbury Bay.

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

Child and Family of Newport County (CF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families and communities through services such as preschool childcare, counseling, home care for the elderly and disabled, substance abuse education, home-based child welfare, transitional housing for…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

In September 2010, the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School opened its new green building, ready to accommodate 600 students. This new building includes masonry and steel construction, a 3,300 square foot state-of-the-art library and media center, a 5,700 square foot gymnasium,…

Case Study / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

Below are New Construction projects that have utilized Core Performance including links to case studies or project profiles when available.

Guideline / January 29, 2018 / New Construction

The Community Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Implementation Guide outlines a process to help staff engage stakeholders, set tangible goals, target opportunities, and develop a plan to achieve deep and ongoing energy reductions in public building portfolios. Community SEM coordinates activities…

Guideline / January 11, 2018 / New Construction / Existing Buildings

Over 400 Mayors across the United State have made formal commitments to the Paris Climate Accord. Others have signed onto the 2030 Challenge and/or the Better Buildings Challenge. To meet these goals, an effective strategy to track, manage, and improve…

Guideline / September 6, 2017 / New Construction

A new Multifamily Guide offers an advanced standard that addresses the issues faced when applying building code to multifamily buildings. This single prescriptive standard delivers savings regardless of whether the project is subject to the residential or commercial versions of…

Online Tool / June 1, 2017 / New Construction / Water-Energy Nexus

NBI has laid the groundwork to connect the water-energy nexus at the power plant with the energy consumed at the building level. With the support of existing research and funding from the Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, NBI has created a…

Factsheet / January 30, 2017 / New Construction

FirstView’s calculation engine uses multivariable regression analysis to generate a weather normalized simulation model of a building. The building’s energy usage is disaggregated into heating, cooling, thermal baseload, and electric baseload. This allows building owners, operators and designers to better…

Factsheet / January 30, 2017 / New Construction

NBI’s FirstView software tool quickly generates information about a building’s energy performance to help you determine if it is on track or if it needs improvement. Learn more with this factsheet.

Guideline / December 23, 2015 / New Construction

The Daylighting Guide for Office Interiors helps designers understand and consider the best use of space and finishes to maximize illumination with daylight. The free, printable guide outlines specific steps to accomplishing good daylighting design, facts, tips, links to resources…

Online Tool / December 20, 2015 / New Construction / Daylighting

The Daylighting Pattern Guide is a free, interactive tool that helps design teams incorporate proven daylighting strategies into commercial building projects for substantial reductions in lighting power consumption and overall building energy use.

Online Tool / December 19, 2015 / New Construction, Outcome-Based Performance

FirstView® software and services enable building owners, energy efficiency professionals and designers to extract more targeted and useful energy performance information from basic data inputs. With monthly utility bills and a few building characteristics a building energy model can be…

Guideline / December 19, 2015 / New Construction / HVAC

This newly updated primer describes energy savings opportunities and context for packaged rooftop units (RTUs) for utility energy managers and their trade allies. RTUs are ubiquitous in commercial spaces but are also a difficult market to reach. Analysis shows many…

Factsheet / December 19, 2015 / New Construction

COMNET is a quality assurance initiative to standardize building energy modeling, by creating consistent baselines relative to various energy codes and standards. COMNET extends and supports existing systems for assessing and rating the energy efficiency of new commercial and multifamily…

Guideline / December 12, 2015 / New Construction

Increasing energy code stringency and owner demand for higher efficiency in buildings are challenging design teams to deliver high performance without adding costs. The New Construction Guide from New Construction offers a comprehensive approach to new commercial construction projects that…

Factsheet / June 2, 2015 / New Construction

Architecture 2030 has endorsed a prescriptive path to meet the current 2030 Challenge target based on NBI’s New Construction® New Construction Guide. With this path, design teams now have another tool when pursuing the 2030 Challenge.

Factsheet / February 28, 2013 / New Construction

New Construction® is a suite of tools and resources that helps design teams create high performance commercial buildings that stand out for their energy efficiency and healthy environments. The suite is managed by NBI. Learn more in this print friendly…

Guideline / February 28, 2013 / New Construction

The Daylighting Pattern Guide (DPG) is a free, interactive tool that helps design teams incorporate proven daylighting strategies into commercial building projects for substantial reductions in lighting power consumption and overall building energy use. Learn more in this print friendly…

Factsheet / February 28, 2013 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

With rising demand for green building, lighting design professionals are called upon not only to deliver great lighting plans but also to incorporate the most advanced, energy-saving strategies and technologies. For nearly two decades, the Advanced Lighting Guidelines (ALG) has…

Guideline / February 28, 2013 / New Construction

The Core Performance Guide is a prescriptive path that was first published in 2007. Following this building guidance will result in buildings that are more energy efficient than conventional buildings.

Guideline / July 17, 2012 / New Construction

The Plug Load Best Practices Guide outlines no-cost and low-cost measures for reducing the energy and costs associated with plug loads, or any device that is plugged into a building’s electrical system—think computers, printers and data servers. The guide, based…

Guideline / March 12, 2010 / New Construction

Online Tool / February 22, 2010 / New Construction

ALG Online is the former Advanced Lighting Guidelines taken to the web. It is written and updated by expert lighting industry professionals for practicing professionals and provides a comprehensive, one-stop resource for advanced lighting theory, design guidance, real-life applications, lighting…

Guideline / January 26, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This document provides design guidance on how to improve the installed performance of small packaged rooftop HVAC systems in commercial buildings. It is targeted at architects, engineers, and design/build contractors involved in the design of small packaged rooftop systems for commercial…

Guideline / January 21, 2010 / Deep Energy Retrofits, New Construction

This study reports on a statistical investigation into the influences indoor physical environment has on office worker performance, especially daylight and view, and secondarily ventilation and thermal comfort. Two different studies were conducted at the same organization, the Sacramento Municipal…