Evidence-based Design

Drivers and Data for Design Teams

BECC ConferenceSacramento, CA

November 16, 2010

Cathy HigginsProgram Director

new buildings institute• Non-profit, think tank on commercial

building energy efficiency• Formed in December 1997 • Funding

– Sponsors: includes SCE, PG&E, NGrid, NYSERDA, CEC, SMUD, NEEA

– Major Grants: EPA, EF, Doris Duke, Kresge

– Contracts: USGBC, CEC PIER, DOE, EPA

– Staff in Vancouver, Seattle, and White Salmon, Washington

Evidence-based Design and Operations is a California Energy Commission

Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) project

Common Interests

Do design firms want to create buildings of beauty that meet the clients program AND are energy and environmentally responsible?

No

Yes

CAMP

California Advisors on Measured Performance (CAMP)A & E firm advisors to PIER and related measured performance projects

Design team as Advocates for Energy Efficiency

Recognition, Image, Incentives

Performance Feedback

Policies & regulations

Design Team

Client / Owner

Design Tools

12/6/20106

Policies & Regulations

Rating & Disclosure Mandates

Enacted Building types Disclosure Also required

California 2007 Nonresidential Point of Transaction: Buyers, lessees and lenders

Utility assistance

Austin, TX 2008 Nonresidential + multifamily

Point of Transaction: Buyers + public display for multifamily

Energy audits + some retrofits for multifamily

District of Columbia 2008 Nonresidential Annual to public web site

Disclosure of energy use estimations for new buildings

Washington State 2009 Nonresidential Point of Transaction: Buyers, lessees

and lenders

Utility assistance; minimum ratings for state leases

New York City 2009 Nonresidential + multifamily

Annual to public web site Energy audits & retro commissioning

Seattle 2010 Nonresidential + multifamily

Annual to city + Point of Transaction: Buyers, lessees , lenders + current tenants

Utility assistance

Others Pending Source: Institute for Market Transformation

Ratings & Labels

Benchmark first then: Label @ design and @ operations

Levels of Metering

• Whole building metering • Tenant space sub-metering• Load-type isolation (Design for Meterability)

– HVAC– Lighting– Building Operations (elevators, automatic doors, etc.)– Miscellaneous (plug and process loads)

• Metering of on-site renewables• All connected to a data acquisition system

Process diagram for data collection from meters to software tools

Proposal for the International Green Code Council (IgCC)

An outcome-based energy code

• Would be based on achieving actual post-retrofit performance outcomes rather than applying prescriptive codes

• Would leverage current efforts toward annual disclosure and benchmarking of performance of all buildings

Probable Pilots: Seattle, Vancouver B.C.

an outcome-based code is worth exploring

• Can include typical “unregulated” loads• Puts appropriate pressure on operations

and Cx to assure that equipment works and is properly controlled

• Credits good daylighting design and natural ventilation – difficult now

• Breaks policy silos by becoming a reference point for multiple entities

• Narrows the gap between design and actual performance – puts pressure on design teams (or design build) to optimize the solution set.

Feedback on Key Performance Indicators

Glazing performance – building orientation – cooling efficiency – infiltration –operating hours – climate – weather – occupant density – heating efficiency –duct design – fan size – window area – HVAC control sophistication – building

mass – interior shading – occupant habits – data centers – kitchen equipment –lighting power density – filter condition – wall color – lighting controls - furniture configuration – exterior vegetation - operable window use – insolation- glazing

orientation – wall insulation – ventilation rate - exposed interior surface characteristics - domestic hot water use – number of computers – copiers and

printers – elevators – exterior lighting - occupant gender ratio – elevation –photovoltaics - development density – register location – cooling distribution

system – roof insulation – building manager training – cool roof – building surface to volume ratio – building use type – janitorial services – metering strategies – commissioning – structural system – acoustic treatment – slab edge detailing – night setback temperature – ground water temperature –

humidity – occupant dress code – lamp replacement strategy – roof slope –daylight controls – sensor calibration – corporate culture – lease terms – utility meter characteristics – parking garage ventilation – HVAC system capacity –

number of separate tenants – retail space – age of equipment – ceiling height –heating fuel – transformer capacity – window mullion pattern – terms of

maintenance contract – wall thickness – building height – lighting fixture layout – overhangs – thermostat location – exit lighting – private offices – refrigerators

– solar hot water – utility meter – load diversity

Glazing performance – building orientation – cooling efficiency – infiltration –operating hours – climate – weather – occupant density – heating efficiency –duct design – fan size – window area – HVAC control sophistication – building

mass – interior shading – occupant habits – data centers – kitchen equipment –lighting power density – filter condition – wall color – lighting controls - furniture configuration – exterior vegetation - operable window use – insolation- glazing

orientation – wall insulation – ventilation rate - exposed interior surface characteristics - domestic hot water use – number of computers – copiers and

printers – elevators – exterior lighting - occupant gender ratio – elevation –photovoltaics - development density – register location – cooling distribution

system – roof insulation – building manager training – cool roof – building surface to volume ratio – building use type – janitorial services – metering strategies – commissioning – structural system – acoustic treatment – slab edge detailing – night setback temperature – ground water temperature –

humidity – occupant dress code – lamp replacement strategy – roof slope –daylight controls – sensor calibration – corporate culture – lease terms – utility meter characteristics – parking garage ventilation – HVAC system capacity –

number of separate tenants – retail space – age of equipment – ceiling height –heating fuel – transformer capacity – window mullion pattern – terms of

maintenance contract – wall thickness – building height – lighting fixture layout – overhangs – thermostat location – exit lighting – private offices – refrigerators

– solar hot water – utility meter – load diversity

Glazing performance – building orientation – cooling efficiency – infiltration –operating hours – climate – weather – occupant density – heating efficiency –duct design – fan size – window area – HVAC control sophistication – building

mass – interior shading – occupant habits – data centers – kitchen equipment –lighting power density – filter condition – wall color – lighting controls - furniture configuration – exterior vegetation - operable window use – insolation- glazing

orientation – wall insulation – ventilation rate - exposed interior surface characteristics - domestic hot water use – number of computers – copiers and

printers – elevators – exterior lighting - occupant gender ratio – elevation –photovoltaics - development density – register location – cooling distribution

system – roof insulation – building manager training – cool roof – building surface to volume ratio – building use type – janitorial services – metering strategies – commissioning – structural system – acoustic treatment – slab edge detailing – night setback temperature – ground water temperature –

humidity – occupant dress code – lamp replacement strategy – roof slope –daylight controls – sensor calibration – corporate culture – lease terms – utility meter characteristics – parking garage ventilation – HVAC system capacity –

number of separate tenants – retail space – age of equipment – ceiling height –heating fuel – transformer capacity – window mullion pattern – terms of

maintenance contract – wall thickness – building height – lighting fixture layout – overhangs – thermostat location – exit lighting – private offices – refrigerators

– solar hot water – utility meter – load diversity

What do we measure?

CONNECTED LOAD LIGHTING

POWER DENSITY

Old System 1,564 W 1.04 W/SF

New System 2,076 W 1.32 W/SF

CA T24 code (2005) with controls allowance = 1.37 Office of the Future Pilot Project

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Weekday Hour (HH)

Lightin

g Po

wer Den

sity (W

/SF)

T‐24 ‐2008 Installed LPD ‐Standard ControlsMeter 15‐min Maximum(W/SF)Meter Average (W/SF)

T24 max ‘Power’ T24 assumed energy

Landmark System Performance

Savings

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

0:00 1:12 2:24 3:36 4:48 6:00 7:12 8:24 9:36 10:48 12:00 13:12 14:24 15:36 16:48 18:00 19:12 20:24 21:36 22:48 0:00

Lumenergi Weekday AverageGSA BaselineConnected Load

San Francisco OfficeLumenergi ‐Workstation Specific Lighting

Weekday averageConnected loadBaseline

W/SF

Time of Day

Plug Loads

19

Plug Load Existing Condition

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0.5

1

1.5

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3.5

0:00 1:12 2:24 3:36 4:48 6:00 7:12 8:24 9:36 10:48 12:00 13:12 14:24 15:36 16:48 18:00 19:12 20:24 21:36 22:48 0:00

4 California commercial office 

buildings

W/SF

Time of Day

Comparing Models to ActualEasier with Energy Signature

• Compare EUIs

• Compare Signatures

82.4 98.195.0

0 20 40 60 80 100 120kbtu/sq ft/yr [Actual for year ending 12/2009]Design- Actual- Baseline-

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40 50 60 70

Aver

age

Pow

er D

ensi

ty,

W/ft

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Monthly Average Degrees F

Measured year 2008 & design model

Total measured signature

Design total signature

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Aver

age

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ensi

ty,

W/ft

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Monthly Average Degrees F

Design Model

Design total signature

Design electric signature

Electric design points

Design fuel signature

Fuel design points

Primary Performance Areas as seen by First View tool

Design & construction:

–Signature slopes↔ Shell, HVAC

Tenants / Occupants:Schedule & plug loads ↔ Internal gains

Operations:Controls‐related issues ↔ Model interactions and relationships

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35 45 55 65Av

erag

e Ho

urly

Usa

ge,

W/s

f

Mean Monthly Temperature, deg F

Heat‐G

Heat‐E

Cool‐E

DHW (E or G)

Int+Ext Gain

Ref: 4

First View

Relative vs. Absolute energy

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Mea

sure

d EU

I (kb

tu/s

f)

"The Barn" Certified Silver Gold Platinum

NBI Study of the measured performance of 100 LEED buildings.

Design team as Advocates for Energy Efficiency

Recognition, Image, Incentives

Performance Feedback

Policies & regulations

Design Team

Client / Owner

Design Tools

Snapshot Summary:Designers need

• Receptive owners / clients– Policies

• Disclosure, Labeling, Codes, Metering– Incentives & Promotion

• Evidence on performance– Feedback on their buildings– Comparative data

Thank you

Questions?

Cathy HigginsProgram Director

New Buildings Institutehiggins@newbuildings.org