Aalborg 10 4th European Conference on Sustainable Cities

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Aalborg104th European Conference on
Sustainable Cities TownsBuilding Codes and
Energy ConservationThe role of non-regulatory
mechanisms as a means of encouraging innovation

• Kevin Connery
• Lecturer Landscape Architecture Group
• Lincoln University, New Zealand

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Presentation Outline

• Background on Building Codes
• Prescriptive vs Performance Codes
• Codes in New Zealand, Canada and the USA
• Non-regulatory Instruments as a means of energy
  conservation
• Better Building Code - Waitakere City, New
  Zealand
• LEED Vancouver, Canada
• Green Building Design Construction Guidelines
  Santa Monica, USA
• Conclusions

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Background

• Building Codes were originally created to protect
  human health, safety and welfare.
• Establish baseline conditions for majority of
  buildings
• Have recently been seen as a means of achieving
  new goals including energy efficiency, minimizing
  greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability.
• Buildings are only part of the larger energy
  equation.
• Much of the world is in the process of replacing
  prescriptive building codes with ones based on
  performance.
• Instead of prescribing the precise protective
  measures required,
• the performance of the overall system, based on
  specific objectives, is presented.

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What is a prescriptive approach?

• Describes an acceptable solution
• Building envelope - lists the minimum R-value
  requirements for each building component, such as
  windows, walls, and roofs.
• Lighting systems - lists the allowable watts per
  m2 for various building types.
• Mechanical systems and equipment - lists the
  minimum equipment efficiencies.
• Does not specify overall energy goals/objectives.
• Prescriptive criteria are typically
  straightforward for a builder or designer to
  follow and relatively easy for building
  regulators to check and enforce

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Prescriptive Approach Problems

• Can be overly restrictive - typically based on
  worst-case assumptions and all requirements must
  be met exactly as specified.
• Can serve as a barrier to innovation -
  alternative approaches are not covered within the
  prescription/standard and those unfamiliar will
  either reject or take considerable longer to
  review the work which adds costs.
• Cost-optimisation difficult - Using more
  efficient, alternative building construction
  techniques that are unfamiliar to the approval
  authority will require more time and money to
  assess compliance.
• Non-tariff trade barrier - The WTO has stated
  prescriptive codes and standards can represent a
  major barrier that inhibits trade

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What is a performance approach?

• Thinking in terms of ends rather than means.
• They state what a building or building product is
  required to do, rather than prescribing how it is
  to be constructed. (IE. establishing a maximum
  energy budget)
• Utilises comparisons between a proposed design
  and a baseline or reference design to demonstrate
  the proposed design is at least as energy
  efficient as the baseline.
• Can provide great flexibility but they often
  require more sophisticated analysis to
  demonstrate compliance.
• Often necessary to obtain credit for special
  features, such as passive solar, photovoltaic
  cells, thermal energy storage, fuel cells, and
  other nontraditional building components.

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The Code of Hammurabi

• In the case of the collapse of a defective
  building, the builder (architect) is to be put to
  death if the owner is killed by accident and the
  builders (architects) son if the son of the
  owner loses his life.
• Attributed to King Hammurabi (The Code of
  Hammurabi) of Babylonia who reigned from 1955
  B.C. to 1913 B.C.
• Often cited as the first building code and first
  performance code.
• The performance requirement is for a building
  that does not collapse. The means for avoiding
  this objective are not specified or prescribed,
  however the consequence of not meeting the
  performance objective is clear.

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Prescriptive vs Performance

• In the prescriptive approach (a) the building
  parts are described, specified, and procured,
  resulting in a building with an implicit set of
  attributes

• In the performance approach (b) the building
  attributes are described and specified, and many
  combinations of different building parts can be
  procured for which it can be demonstrated that
  the specified attributes will be provided

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Typical Performance Code Framework

• Level 1 (Goal/Objective) addresses the essential
  interests of the community at large and/or the
  needs of the user-consumer.
• Level 2 (Functional Requirements) addresses one
  specific aspect of the building or a building
  element to achieve the stated goal.
• Level 3 (Operative/Performance Requirement)
  specifies the actual requirement to be satisfied.
  
• Levels 4 (Verification) and 5 (Examples of
  Acceptable Solutions) deal with the specifics of
  meeting the goal.
• Includes an introductory commentary section that
  explains the application of the performance-based
  provisions, and its evaluation or verification.

• Common Energy Themes
• Thermal envelope performance
• Heat/cooling loads
• Heat loss
• Interior lighting

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Typical Compliance Processes

• Alternative solution
• The use of any other material, method, system or
  design that, with suitable justification can be
  accepted by the Approval Authority as complying
  with the performance requirements of the code.
• The limited data on the viability of alternative
  solutions can make approving authorities
  hesitant.
• Verification Method
• Usually done by direct testing, calculation and
  or a combination of the two when an alternative
  solution is not readily available.

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Codes in NZ, Canada USA
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Contextual Differences with the EU

• Low electrical energy supply costs 0.07 to 0.10
  /KWH
• Low density suburban sprawl/anti-urban bias
• Individual rights - dominate/community
  subordinate
• Private market focus - few public private
  partnerships
• Demonstration projects rare No IBA
  Berlin/Emscher Park/ Malmo Bo01
• LA 21 uptake slow - progammes slow to be
  developed.

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Building Code Summary

• United States
• Model building code developed by the
  International Code Council - an independent
  authority responsible for model code development.
  
• Model codes are voluntary
• Building control responsibility of the individual
  States and/or local authorities.
• Each local authority can adopt any form of
  regulation they wish to but they do not write the
  codes.
• Codes are largely performance-based
• No language regarding renewable energy

• Canada
• Model national building code developed by the
  Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes
  an independent commission which is responsible
  for all decisions regarding model codes.
• Model Codes are voluntary.
• Each Province can adopt part or all of the codes.
• Codes are largely performance-based
• No language regarding renewable energy

• New Zealand
• Formulation of the national building code is the
  responsibility of the Building Industry
  Authority.
• New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) which is a
  statutory requirement that is part of the
  Building Regulations 1992.
• Territorial authorities and local councils can
  develop some additional requirements can adopt
• Codes are largely performance-based
• No language regarding renewable energy

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Example - New Zealand Building Code

• Sets specific Objectives, Functional Requirements
  and Performance targets for each of the areas
  covered by the Act.
• 35 clauses (A1 to H1) contain the mandatory
  provisions for meeting the purposes of the Act,
  and are performance-based.
• Each clause contains
• a social Objective which the building must
  satisfy, usually expressed about human needs
• the Functional Requirements describing the
  required functions of buildings and their
  components and
• the Performance Statements which must be met.
• Clause H1 Energy Efficiency includes specific
  performance levels for heat loss, insulation
  levels, lighting and heat loss for storage water
  heaters.

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Clause H1 Energy Efficiency
Energy Performance Schedule
Review process
Tables - BRANZ
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Moving Beyond Codes

• Buildings make a large contribution to the energy
  consumption of any country.
• IE it is estimated that in the EU buildings
  account for 35 - 40 of overall energy
  consumption and almost 50 of Europes carbon
  emissions

• New Zealand
• approx. 55 of residential energy use is used
  for hot water and space heating.
• California
• approx 70 for is used for water heating and
  space conditioning

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Non-code Considerations

• While codes play a key role in achieving safe
  buildings, they represent only part of the
  process of building, particularly regarding
  energy conservation.
• An informed market knowledgeable and accountable
  designers, builders, manufacturers etc. and
  knowledgeable consumers who have access to the
  information they require to make informed
  decisions and choices.
• Reliable standards and design guidelines to
  enable all involved in the building industry and
  particularly owners to have confidence in the
  materials and processes used in construction, and
  that these will be properly installed.
• Clear legal obligations and warranties to ensure
  accountability.
• Ongoing education and training to maintain
  awareness with current and new apporaches.

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Non-regulatory Instruments

• In the USA, Canada and New Zealand building codes
  have raised the standard of energy efficiency in
  buildings.
• However innovative approaches to reducing energy
  use in buildings are occurring largely outside
  the formal building code process.
• Better Building Code - Waitakere City, New
  Zealand
• LEED Vancouver, Canada
• Green Building Design Construction Guidelines
  Santa Monica, USA

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Waitakere City, New Zealand

• 180,000 people
• Located immediately west of Auckland
• Progressive political environment
• New Zealands only EcoCity
• Adopted the Better Building Code in 2000 to set
  a higher minimum standard regarding energy, water
  and resource use, indoor health, and
  accessibility issues than the performance
  standards in the NZ Building Code
• Best Practices Model
• Officially applies only to city owned buildings

Figure - Earthsong
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Better Building Code - Intentions

• New Buildings should
• Be energy, water and resource efficient
• Be built of materials that do not harm the
  environment or the people who will use them.
• Provide a healthy indoor climate.
• Reflect environmental and sustainability
  principles throughout.
• Simple solutions and passive systems vs high-tech
  options.
• Accessible for all people including children,
  older persons and those with disabilities.
• Be adaptable to changing uses, durable and easy
  to maintain.
• Proposals will undergo an environmental
  sustainability review before proceeding beyond
  concept design stage.

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Key Performance Statements

• The building shall have a long design life, and a
  form and layout that is inherently flexible
  allowing for a variety of uses.
• Maximising the energy efficiency of the finished
  building should be a key factor when determining
  the form, orientation and materials of the
  building
• Using passive heating, cooling and ventilation
  systems as much as possible in preference to air
  conditioning systems.
• Maximising the use of natural light and designing
  artificial light to complement natural light.
• The overall lifecycle costs (environmental and
  financial) should be considered when choosing
  materials
• Overall the building must not consume more than
  100 kWh per m2 per year (total energy use,
  including gas and any other fuels, but excluding
  passive solar energy).

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Massey Leisure Centre and Library

• Solar Power Generation
• Photovoltaic panels on the roof generate
  electricity for the building. The system is fully
  integrated into the national power grid, drawing
  extra power when needed and selling excess power
  back to the grid when available. 
• Daylighting
• By orientating the building and its windows
  carefully and using appropriate overhangs,
  natural light and solar energy are utilised
  without causing glare or overheating.

Images - Waitakere City
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• Rainwater Harvesting system
• The water feature treats the first rain to fall
  onto the library roof - called first flush.
• This water is often contaminated with dust and
  other pollutants. It travels through flow forms
  and air is mixed into it, cleansing and
  re-vitalising the water.
• Natural Ventilation/Cooling
• Windows and vents located to ensure adequate
  ventilation by drawing fresh cool air in at
  ground level, above water feature and letting it
  escape through windows higher up.
• To date energy bills have been lower compared
  with similar buildings in the city

Images - Waitakere City
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Greater Vancouver Regional District

• LEED certification as a non-regulatory means to
  conserve energy in buildings

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Context

• One of Canadas fastest growing urban areas (
  2,000,000)
• One of North Americas most progressive cities
  regarding sustainable planning
• Increasing scarcity and price of energy, combined
  with emerging livability concerns are influencing
  demand.
• Provincial government developed Energy For Our
  Future A Plan for BC. a strategy to address
  emerging energy supply concerns. The Plan
  includes
• Action 22 -The Province will update and expand
  its Energy Efficiency Act, and will work with the
  building industry, governments and others to
  improve energy efficiency in new and existing
  buildings and,
• Action 24 - The government is developing
  strategies to manage BCs greenhouse gas
  emissions and air quality in threatened
  air-sheds.

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Leadership in Energy Environmental DesignTM

• A voluntary Best Practices Approach and
  assessment tool that is proving popular in
  Vancouvers private and public sector region.
• It provides a leading-edge guidance for
  designing, constructing, operating and certifying
  green buildings
• Initiated by the US Green Building Council
• Focuses on five performance areas which cover all
  aspects of green building design and construction
  including
• sustainable site selection and development
• water efficiency
• energy efficiency and renewable energy
• green building material selection and recycling
  and,
• better indoor environmental quality.

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Overview of LEEDTM

• Currently being used for commercial,
  institutional, and high-rise residential
• New construction and major renovations
• Promotes the use of existing, proven technologies
• Appeals to building owners as a means of reducing
  building operating costs and increases marketing
  opportunities
• Appeals to local councils as a soft means of
  promoting the sustainability agenda
• Uses a point based scoring system to evaluates
  and recognizes performance in accepted green
  design categories
• Four levels of certification
• LEED Certified 26 - 32 points
• Silver Level 33 - 38 points
• Gold Level 39 - 51 points
• Platinum Level 52 points (69 possible)

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LEED Checklist
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White Rock Operations Centre

• City of White Rock, BC Canada Engineering and
  Operations building
• 660 m2
• Completed May 2003
• 1.3 million (CAN)
• AIA Top Ten Green Project - 2004
• Volunteer Initiative
• 8 extra in soft costs 40 lower energy costs

Images courtesy Vincent Plouffe
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• Energy Features
• Green roof reduces heat gain
• Natural ventilation eliminates the need for air
  conditioning.
• Solar hot water tubes provide heat for the
  building.
• Thermal energy in stormwater diverted into a
  detention tank from city streets used to augment
  facility heating during the winter and assist in
  cooling during the summer.
• Photovoltaic power generation.
• Extensive daylighting
• Materials were selected for their low impact on
  the interior environment, regional manufacturing,
  recycled content, and long-term viability.
• Rating LEED 2 - Gold (44 pts)

Images - Vincent Plouffe
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California Building Code Summary

• The California Building Standards Code is
  administered by the California Building Standards
  Commission.
• California's building energy standard is called
  Title-24, one of the 26 titles of the California
  Code of Regulations
• Title-24s Part 6 is the California Energy Code
• Originally adopted in 1978, updated since.
• Applies to new construction/ additions to
  existing buildings
• Different requirements by building type
  (residential versus commercial buildings) and
  climate zone (16 for residential, 5 for
  commercial).

Residential Climate Zones
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Title-24 Part 6

• Performance standard - no prescribed insulation
  levels for any building component.
• Emphasises overall thermal efficiency of the
  building shell and HVAC system.
• Establishes requirements for the three major
  building components
• Building envelope measures (wall, ceilings,
  floors, doors, and windows)
• Mechanical (heating, ventilation, air
  conditioning and water heating)
• Lighting system measures
• Allows trade-offs between different building
  components (wall, roof, windows, infiltration,
  equipment, etc.), as long as the overall building
  energy consumption is shown to be within the
  maximum allowable values.
• Since 1980 has helped to save an estimated more
  than 20 billion in electricity and natural gas
  costs.

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Santa Monica, California

• Green Building Design and
• Construction Guidelines

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Santa Monica Code Requirements

• Approximately 200,000 people
• Northwest suburb of Los Angeles
• Benign climate
• Progressive political environment
• City codes set higher performance thresholds than
  state or federal requirements for most buildings-
  lower annual energy consumption than Californias
  2001 Title 24 regulation
• Do not specify any particular method

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Green Building Design Construction Guidelines

• Developed by the city's Task Force on the
  Environment as a way to create the basis for a
  more sustainable way of life. (adopted 1999)
• Conventional design and construction methods
  produce buildings that can negatively impact the
  environment as well as occupant health and
  productivity
• Best Practices Manual includes required and
  recommended practices
• Intended to reduce life-cycle environmental
  impacts associated with commercial and municipal
  developments - new and renovation in Santa
  Monica.

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• Provides specific "green" design and
  construction strategies in the following topic
  areas
• Building Site and Form
• Transportation
• Building Envelope and Space Planning
• Building Materials
• Water Systems
• Electrical Systems
• HVAC Systems
• Control System
• Landscaping
• Construction Management
• Commissioning.

• Applies to the following building types
• Institutional and Commercial Offices
• Light Industrial Buildings
• Commercial Retail Buildings
• Multi-Family Residences
• Hotels and Motels

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Required practices

• Identifies 23 Required Practices all building
  projects must comply with.
• Explain how to comply with Santa Monica Municipal
  Code ordinances with particular emphasis on the
  environmental impacts of buildings.

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Recommended Practices

• Identifies 73 Recommended Practices that
  illustrate different ways to accomplish a given
  objective
• Degree of adoption is voluntary.
• Discussions are brief and illustrated to make
  them easy to use.

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Colorado Court

• Multi-unit residential, Special needs housing
• 2,800 m2
• Project scope 5-story building
• Budget 4,200,000(US)
• Government funded
• Passive solar design
• Oriented to take advantage of prevailing winds
  for natural cooling and ventilation.
• 13,000 to 14,000 per unit cost added by the
  energy--efficiency measures (10yr payback)

Images City of Santa Monica
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• 199 solar panels supplies most of the peak-load
  energy demand.
• A natural-gas powered microturbine generator
  supplements the solar array and capture its own
  waste heat to use for residents heating and hot
  water.
• Interior design optimises natural light and
  ventilation.
• Produces 92 of its own power. theoretical
  potential of 100
• Other environmentally friendly features include
  
• energy-saving refrigerators
• insulation made from recycled material,
• Krypton gas filled double-pane windows
• fluorescent lighting with motion detectors.

Images City of Santa Monica
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Summary

• Existing building codes establish baseline
  performance standards that apply to most
  buildings
• However additional non-regulatory Best Management
  Practices are proving to be an effective soft
  strategy in advancing energy conservation within
  a private-market oriented climate
• Substantial energy savings beyond baseline
  figures can be made
• Increases in energy costs/marketing key incentives

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Future Challenges for Codes Guidelines

• Avoiding complacency/Encouraging adaptability
• Incorporating Embodied Energy Life Cycle
  Assessment
• Considering ecological footprints
• Developing professional/institutional capacity
• Developing efficient approval processes
• Increase public desirability through enhanced
  public education.

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References

• Waitakere Better Building Code
• www.waitakere.govt.nz
• LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental
  Design
• www.leedbuilding.org
• www.usgbc.org
• Santa Monica Green Building and Construction
  Guidelines
• httpgreenbuildings.santa-monica.org
• www.energy.ca.gov/title24