The Path to Low and NetZero Energy Buildings

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Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable
Lifestyle Fair 2009

• The Path to Low and Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Andy Robinson, LEED AP SEDAC, Building Research
CouncilSchool of Architecture University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Overview

• Energy Overview
• SEDAC Building Efficiency
• Net-Zero Goal
• Results to Date
• Examples

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World-wide demand feeling the recessionary
pressures of high prices and the deteriorating
global economy.
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U.S. Energy Flows 2007 (Quads)
Source DOE/EIA 2008
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Unconventional Gas Production
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Drivers for Efficiency

• It is a new world out there
• Oil rollercoaster on availability and prices,
• Natural Gas availability and prices,
• Electrical deregulation.

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Energy Efficiency

• The cost of saving energy is going down while the
  price of energy is going up.
• Efficiency is the cleanest, cheapest, safest, and
  most secure source energy we have.
• These savings from energy efficiency to date have
  not yet come close to tapping the full potential
  for savings.
• Incentives are available under Illinois EEPS for
  energy efficiency and renewable energy. ARRA
  (stimulus) money coming.

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The Push Towards Efficiency

• The world is changing
• High performance is the expectation.
• Energy efficiency is a key ingredient in high
  performance buildings.
• Beyond code is the price of entry to green design
  and high performance.
• Green design is going mainstream.
• AIA and ASHRAE/IESNA are weighing in on the
  issues and changing expectations.

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Opportunity for Change

• Each year in the United States, we tear down
  approximately 1.75 billion square feet of
  buildings, renovate 5 billion square feet, and
  build new another 5 billion square feet.
• During the next 30 years, some 50 billion square
  feet will be torn down, some 150 billion will be
  renovated, and another 150 billion will be built
  new.
• By 2030, three-quarters of the built environment
  will be either new or renovated.

AIA COTE Ecology and Design Ecological Literacy
in Architecture Education, 2006
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Net-Zero Energy Buildings

• Economic benefits
• Reduce operating costs.
• Enhance asset value and profits.
• Improve employee productivity and satisfaction.
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance.
• Health and community benefits
• Improve air, thermal and acoustic environments.
• Enhance occupant comfort and health.
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure.
• Environmental benefits
• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Improve air and water quality.
• Reduce solid waste.
• Conserve natural resources.
• Contribute to overall quality of life.

Federal New buildings NZE by 2030. California
New residential NZE by 2020 and new commercial
NZE by 2030.
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ASHRAE Vision 2020

• Tools in 2020 for produce market-viable NZEBs by
  2030.
• NZEB the building produces as much energy as it
  uses.
• 70 Reduction, 30 Renewable.

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ASHRAE AEDGs
Download free http//www.ashrae.org/aedg
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ASHRAE Vision 2020

• Advanced Energy Design Guides
• 30, 50, 70, then Net Zero Energy
• Small Buildings (lt20,000sf)
• Office, Retail, K-12 Schools, Warehouses, Highway
  Lodging, High-rise Residential, and Existing
  Buildings.
• Schedule
• Complete all 30 guides by 2008.
• Complete all 50 guides by 2011.
• Complete all 70 guides by 2016.
• Complete net-zero guidance 2020. 2015 (and
  incorporate 70 guidance).

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International Green Construction Code

• The Code Council is developing a new set of green
  codes under the multi-year initiative called
  IGCC Safe and Sustainable by the Book.
• First edition scheduled for March 2012.
• 30 percent beyond IECC 2006 for energy minimum
  and tiers up to 20 percent beyond code (50
  percent beyond 2006 IECCC) and 50 percent on-site
  renewables.
• Prescriptive and Performance paths offered.
• All aspects of green building included.

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Humanity EpiCenter, Boston

• LEED Platinum
• 23,500 sf
• 25 kBtu/sf
• 49 kW PV 80 of power
• Cost 177/sf
• North- and south-facing glass walls to provide
  passive heating and cooling as well as maximum
  daylight for the interior.
• Super insulation.
• Exhaust fans and cross-ventilation instead of an
  air-conditioning system.

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DEP Cambria Office

• Location Ebensburg, PA
• Commercial office
• New construction
• 36,000 sf
• Suburban setting
• Completed October 2000
• LEED-NC, v2 Gold
• Annual Energy Cost 0.79/sf
• Annual Energy Use 39.5 kBtu/sf
• Cost 93/sf

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Fossil Ridge High School

• Size
• 1,800 student capacity
• 296,375 square feet total
• Location Fort Collins, CO
• Project Cost 122 per sf
• Energy Use 30 kBtu/sf
• Elements
• Careful choices for window size and placement
  provide daylit spaces, minimize glare and reduce
  the need for electric lighting during the day.
• Ice thermal storage systems use low-cost night
  energy to serve the air conditioning needs of the
  building.

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Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC)

• Sponsored by ILDCEO, Ameren Illinois Utilities
  and ComEd.
• Implemented by UIUC and 360 Energy Group plus
  Design Assistance experts on contract.
• Provides Energy Conservation advice and guidance.
• Targets Illinois small businesses, both
  commercial and industrial, municipal, K-12
  schools, community colleges.

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SEDAC Program Results

• Clients assisted (as of December 31, 2008)
• Level 1 1,318
• Level 2 363
• Level 3 168
• Level 4 165
• Completed studies of over 17 million square feet
  with over 43,000 employees.
• An additional 7.5 million sf underway.
• Recommended energy savings of 11.8M.
• Energy impact of 672,675 million Btu (4.3 million
  therms 86,147 MWh) and a demand reduction of
  19.8 MW.

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The SEDAC Top Energy Measures

• Lighting
• Super T8 fluorescent lighting with electronic
  ballasts and high-bay T5HO
• Existing buildings need retrofits and controls.
• New buildings benefits from more efficient
  fixtures, better layouts, motion detectors
  (integrated classroom lighting systems).
• Compact fluorescent lamps for single lamp
  fixtures in place of incandescent lights, LED
  exit fixtures.

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The SEDAC Top ECRMs

• Building Envelopes (beyond code)
• Increased insulation levels.
• Infiltration air sealing and duct sealing.
• Better windows (Low-E, with U-values of 0.4 or
  less).
• New designs should incorporate daylighting.
• New designs should consider building orientation
  and massing.

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The SEDAC Top ECRMs

• Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning
• Sealed combustion high efficiency boilers and
  furnaces (gt90).
• High efficiency Air-Conditioning units (EER13).
• Geothermal heat pumps.
• Programmable thermostats.
• DOAS/Ventilation heat recovery systems.
• Demand control ventilation, or at least the
  ability to schedule ventilation rates.

Treat code requirements as minimums not maximums!
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Level 3 Bill Results
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Level 3 Model Results
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Level 3 ECRM Results
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Level 2 Bill Results
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Level 2 Bill Results
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Level 2 ECRM Results
This school passed a 20m bond for new
construction, including these recommendations.
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Level 3 Net-Zero Goal
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Illinois EEPS

• ComEd Smart Ideas, Ameren Act on Energy, DCEO
  Public Sector EE
• Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard part of
  Illinois Power Agency Act.
• DCEO has 25 percent of the program for public
  sector and low income housing.
• Plan to reduce state electrical growth by 2
  percent/yr by 2013.
• Natural Gas utilities also starting programs.

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illinoisenergy.org
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DCEO Incentive Levels

• Standard
• Set incentives for a standard list of equipment
  upgrades.
• Custom
• 7 cents/kWh for measures with 1-7 year payback.
• Caps
• 100,000 per program year (June to May).
• 100 of Incremental Measure Costs (added cost
  of increasing efficiency beyond standard
  replacement option).
• 50 of Total Project Costs.

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Key Web Links
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Conclusions

• SEDAC program provides a centralized mechanism
  for clients to obtain
• Energy conservation information.
• Energy audits.
• Detailed simulations and analyses.
• Direct implementation assistance.
• Funnel projects to DCEO.
• The time is now. We expect significantly more
  implementation with the Energy Efficiency
  Portfolio Standard and ARRA funding and
  incentives.

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Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center

• Web site www.sedac.org
• Contact info_at_sedac.org
• 1-800-214-7954