Energy Efficiency TrainingSB-12 - Energy Star® Design

(Prescriptive Path)

Introduction

This presentation provides the relevant information for inspecting or constructing a new home to the Energy Star® requirements using the prescriptive path.  The presentation starts with the requirements of the Building Code for energy efficiency of new homes, called the Building Code Data. Then each of the elements listed in a Building Option Package (BOP) and the municipal Energy Efficiency Design Summary submitted with the building permit application are identified for review during construction. The elements consist of the requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications as listed in the Energy Star® for Homes Technical Specification – Ontario. It is important to understand that the Building Option Package or BOP is a form that the certified energy advisor (CEA) completes based on the designers drawings for a new home. At the completion of construction this form will be signed by the CEA certifying the home Energy Star® compliant and that a label maybe applied to the electrical panel. Please note the Building Code does not require a physical label be applied.

OBC Part 12 – Resource Conservation

12.2.1.1. Energy Efficiency Design

(3)  The energy efficiency of a building or part of a building of residential occupancy that is within the scope of Part 9 and is intended for occupancy on a continuing basis during the winter months shall,

(a) conform to the thermal insulation requirements of Subsection 12.3.2.,

(b) conform to the thermal design requirements of Subsection 12.3.3.,

(c) provide a rating of 80 or more when evaluated in accordance with NRCan “EnerGuide for New Houses: Administrative and Technical Procedures”, or

(d) conform to Supplementary Standard SB-12. (3 options)

OBC Part 12 as of January 1, 2012

Energy Efficient Design 12.2.1.1.

Performance12.2.1.1.(3)(c)EnerGuide 80

Prescriptive or Performance12.2.1.1.(3)(d)Conform to 1 of 3 options in SB-12

Prescriptive SB-12 2.1.1.1.Comply with one of the prescriptive compliance Packages in SB-12

PerformanceSB-12 2.1.2.1.Demonstrate the proposed building uses has the equivalent or less annual energy compared to 1 of the prescriptive packages in 2.1.1.1. using a recognized energy modeling software

Prescriptive/PerformanceSB-12 2.1.3.1.Comply with technical requirements of Energy Star

Building Code Data

12.2.1.2.(3)(b) The energy efficiency of a building or part of a building of residential occupancy that is within the scope of Part 9 and is intended for occupancy on a continuing basis during the winter months shall conform to Supplementary Standard SB-12

SB-12 2.1.3.1.(1) A building shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of Subsection 2.1.1. (Prescriptive Compliance Packages) provided that the building is in compliance with the technical requirements of NRCan, “Energy Star for New Homes: Technical Specifications- Ontario.

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

Energy Star for New Homes Compliance Options – Ontario (1.1.1.1.) Performance Path – See BOP

a) On-site evaluation and blower door testing of each house by Certified Energy Advisor (2.1.1.1.)

b) Construction verifications of each house are verified on-site by CEA to ensure that the house contains the required energy efficiency features (2.1.1.2.)

 c) Conform to construction specifications of the Performance Path files in

Section 5 of the Technical Specifications – Ontario including minimum EnerGuide rating of 80, Ventilation, Heating, Hot Water, Duct Sealing, Ventilation Interconnect and Electricity and Appliance Savings (2.1.1.3.)

 d) Details of the energy efficient components of the home (2.1.1.6.)

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

Energy Star for New Homes Compliance Options – Ontario (1.1.1.1.) Prescriptive Path – see BOP

a) Home constructed to the Elements listed in a Building Option Package (BOP) (2.1.2.1.) and the Municipal Energy Efficiency Design Summary submitted with the building permit application

b) On-site evaluation, blower door testing of each house by Certified Energy Advisor (2.1.2.2.) c) Home is labeled as being Energy Star Qualified (1.1.1.4.) and Section B & E on the Municipal Energy Efficiency Design Summary

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

Energy Star for New Homes Technical Specifications - Ontario (Prescriptive Path) In addition to the Elements/Components listed in each Builder Option Package (BOP), the following items are additional specific requirements related to each Element in the BOP for the Prescriptive Path.

The Performance Path requires the house elements listed in Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Refer to Item 10.  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 1. Windows, Doors and Skylight Area (4.2.1.)

a) Area of individual windows, sliding glass doors and skylights installed as per permit documents, rough stud openings are to be measured

b) * Maximum one non-Energy Star door per house (to allow for designer-type front entry doors)

 c) * Cold cellar doors are Energy Star or insulated core exterior doors

with weatherstipping (solid wood core doors not permitted) d) Review the BOP for the minimum Zone requirement, U-Value in

W/m2.K, or ER rating   

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 2. Basement Wall and Floor Assemblies (4.3.1.)

a) Basement wall a maximum of 900 mm above grade or the requirements of the Exterior Wall assemblies apply

b) Enclosed crawlspaces are conditioned and insulated to the same requirements for basements (review Building Code definition of crawlspace)

c) Full height basement insulation, 150 mm gap permitted where there is no insulation on the outside wall and the basement slab is a minimum of 1200 mm below grade

d) Where the basement slab is less than 1200 mm below grade and there is no insulation on the exterior side of the wall, insulation on the interior side extend to the slab without a gap (this requirements supersedes the Building Code permission to leave a gap) e) Thermal break installed where required by Builder Option Package f) Basement slab insulation where required by Building Option Package covers the entire slab area   

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 3. Equivalent Insulation Levels (4.3.2.)

a) Ceiling with an attic construction method/equivalent assembly is insulated according to the BOP

b) Ceiling without an attic construction method/equivalent assembly is insulated according to the BOP and has structural framing conforming to the permit documents to address the method of insulating

c) Main walls construction method/equivalent assembly are insulated (batt, blown-in, insulating board or ICF) according to the BOP and has structural framing conforming to the permit documents to address the method of insulating d) Exposed floor construction method/equivalent assembly are insulated according to the BOP and has structural framing conforming to the permit documents to address the method of insulating   

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 4. Whole House Air Leakage (4.4)

a) Airtightness confirmed by Air Changes per Hour, Normalized Leakage Area or Normalized Leakage Rate.

b) Blower door test results submitted indicating compliance with the values in Table 4.4 (note some municipalities may require a copy of the actual test report to be submitted or they may rely on a signed BOP as proof the home passed the blower door test)   

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 5. Mechanical Ventilation and Distribution (4.5)

a) Principal exhaust fan installed as per OBC section 9.32

b) HRV/ERV installed in a single detached dwelling, unless a principal exhaust fan without heat recovery is selected as part of the BOP (HRV/ERV not mandatory) c) Principal exhaust fan is rate maximum of 1.5 sones, HVI and Energy Star qualified

d) When a HRV/EVR is installed, it must be Energy Star qualified, with the energy efficiency as per the BOP

e) When a HRV/ERV is installed, it is balanced to within 10% and labeled indicating installing company and measured flow rates.  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 5. Mechanical Ventilation and Distribution (4.5)

f) Ventilation system installed to distribute ventilation air throughout dwelling (usually the forced air furnace system)

g) Where the central forced air system is used to distribute ventilation air, the principal exhaust fan control is interconnected with the forced air system and switching on the principal exhaust fan operates the forced air system (an HRV/ERV may be installed so as to distribute ventilation air throughout the home)

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 6. Space heating Equipment (4.6)

a) Furnaces are Energy Star qualified and have the minimum AFUE rating as per the BOP

b) Natural gas-fired/propane-fired fireplaces are direct vent with spark ignition

c) Wood fireplaces/stoves are certified by the US EPA Standard or the CSA-B415 standard and an CO detector and HRV/ERV installed (note that CO detector and HRV are already a Building Code requirement with the installation of solid fuel burning appliances)

d) Radiant in-floor heating not permitted under a BOP, must use the performance compliance path (supplemental radiant in-floor heating still requires performance compliance path design)

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 6. Space heating Equipment cont’d (4.6)

e)Combustion venting are non-spillage susceptible with direct venting or power venting

f) Combustion air supply to conditioned space is provided with an approved device to control air leakage (ie. gasketed dampers)

g) * Air conditioning unit < 21, 000 Btu/hr non-Energy Star qualified allowed, but 13 SEER and EER 11 requirements must still be complied with

* NRC Minimum Requirements for Energy Star Qualified New Homes effective January 1, 2011 Mandatory Minimum Requirements

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 7. Ducts (4.7)

a) All ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning are located within the heated boundary (not within an exterior wall envelope)

b) HRV connections to the outdoors vent hoods are sealed and insulated. All joints in ducts are sealed

c) All heating and air-conditioning and ventilation air distribution systems joints in ducts located on the same level as the main supply truck ducts are sealed with approved duct tape or mastic. (ie. If the furnace is located in the basement, all supply ducts in the basement are sealed up to the penetration of the underside of the first floor)

d) Common return ducts are sealed at the drop to the furnace and within 1000 mm of horizontal return duct measured from the furnace or where installed in a enclosed mechanical room, all return ducts including joist returns are sealed with approved tape and mastic.

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 8. Water Heaters (4.8)

a) Combustion heating equipment for boilers and water heaters used for DHW are Energy Star and are direct vented or power vented, including tankless water heaters and for gas storage tanks water heaters that have a nominal input equal to or less than 75000 Btu/h.

b) Gas storage tank water heaters with a nominal input of over 75,000 Btu/h are of the condensing type (ie combined heating systems)

c) Drainwater heat recovery, installed to manufacturer’s instructions, vertically and minimum of 42% efficiency

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 9. Electricity Savings Requirements (4.9)

a) Electrical appliances and technology installed as indicated in the BOP. (will have the CEA confirm compliance)

b) Lighting fixtures, bulbs and control mechanisms installed as per the BOP and are Energy Star qualified (will have the CEA confirm compliance)

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 Requirements for Building Components, HVAC Equipment, Lighting

Fixtures and Appliances - Detailed Building Specifications 10. Performance Compliance

a) When compliance is determined using the performance option, house elements must qualify with Table 5.1 of Energy Star for New Homes: Technical Specification – Ontario, revised September 2011, for Minimum EnerGuide Rating of 80, and the following as listed in the checklist;

• Ventilation• Heating• Hot Water• Duct Sealing• Ventilation Interconnect and• Electricity and Appliance Savings

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs

 

Occupancy Inspection a) For the Occupancy Inspection, submit completed BOP from Certified Energy Advisor (CEA) or complete items (b) to (h) separately

b) Airtightness confirmed by Air Changes per Hour, Normalized Leakage Area or Normalized Leakage Rate (see item c to obtain compliance)

c) Blower door test results submitted indicating compliance with the values in Table 4.4 and the air leakage requirements – see Compliance Options – Ontario

d) * Maximum one non-Energy Star door per house

e) * Cold cellar doors are Energy Star or insulated core exterior doors with weatherstipping

f) Ceiling with an attic is insulated according to BOP (attic sticker)

g) Electrical appliances and technology installed as indicated in the BOP.

h) Lighting fixtures, bulbs and control mechanisms installed as per the BOP and are Energy Star qualified

  

Building Inspections – Training Checklist for Energy Star Designs