Energy Efficiency in Green Building Design

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Energy Efficiency in Green Building Design

• Phil Voss, Senior Project Leader, NREL
• August 6, 2008

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Schools utilize significant resources addressing
energyuse and facility maintenance

• K-12 spend 8 billion annually on energy,
  electricity (63) and natural gas (29), oil
  (7), district heat (3) costs rising Second
  largest cost after personnel
• 1,000 new schools built annually
• Average school is 42 years old renovations are
  becoming necessary and commonplace
• Estimated 60 billion over next 3 years for new
  construction, and retrofits
• In 2002, 47 of nations school districts
  renovated or retrofitted facilities
• In 2005, 21.6 billion spent on school
  construction 12.8 billion new, 5 billion
  additions, and 3.9 billion renovations

An enormous opportunity to reduce energy bills
for the long term and to make schools a healthier
place to learn by considering energy when building
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How can we build schools smarter? What
characteristicsdo schools that are models of
smart energy use have?

• Serve as safe havens
• Viewed as round-the-clock community centers
• Incorporate high-performance building design
• Include energy-efficient technologies and
  strategies
• Building would provide hands-on learning for
  energy education/curriculum
• Include alternative fuel transportation
• Generate energy on-site using renewable energy
  systems

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U.S. DOE Energy Smart Schools Program

• Vision for the Future of Schools
• Increase energy efficiency in new school
  construction and major reconstruction by 50
• Create more comfortable, productive, and
  healthier spaces for learning and working
• Provide opportunities for dynamic, interactive
  lessons on energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Supply off-grid power and back-up power
• Replace diesel- and gasoline-fueled buses with
  cleaner alternatives

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Energy Efficiency Strategies

• New Construction
• Major Renovations and Retrofits
• Energy Management Programs

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Designing Energy Efficient Schools

• Advanced Energy Design Guide
• Provides guidelines for designing and building
  energy efficient schools
• Schools would have minimum 30 energy savings
  over current code
• Accounts for different climates (and gives
  climate-specific recommendations)
• No unproven technologies focuses on
  cost-effective solutions and off-the-shelf
  technologies
• Minimal first cost increase if guide is used
  throughout design process
• Developed in partnership with ASHRAE, AIA, IESNA,
  USGBC

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Advanced Energy Design Guide breaks down each
aspect of the design process to help designers
identify how to maximize energy savings

• Louisiana Climate Zones Recommendations
• Provides criteria for insulating values for
  walls, roofs, doors, windows, ducts
• Outlines minimum HVAC efficiencies
• Specifies Lighting Power Densities (i.e. max. 0.9
  W/sq.ft.)

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Hot/Humid Climate Energy Efficient Design

• Process Recommendations
• Select experienced and innovative design team
• Include performance goals in SOW
• Develop quantifiable goals
• Document in Owners Project Requirements / Basis
  of Design
• Hire a Commissioning Agent prior to design
• Use an integrated design approach
• Owners, Cx Agents, all design disciplines,
  end-users involved in all phases of design
• Energy modeling to optimize energy efficiency
• Plan for preventive maintenance (PM)
• Train facility operators and occupants

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Consider Design/Planning Charrette

• Cooperative environment for decision makers
• Intense effort to identify and address issues in
  a short time
• Listen and understand needs and limitations
• Envision realistic and creative solutions
• Record ideas as they are introduced
• Effectively express ideas in a plan to serve as a
  vehicle to move the process forward
• Owner well-defined goals (OPR)

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Hot/Humid Climate Energy Efficiency Strategies

• Optimize daylighting to full possible extent
• Building orientation, photocell controls with
  dimmable ballasts
• Reduces lighting and cooling loads
• Daylight glass and view glass are not the same
• Efficient lighting design
• Lighting Power Density lt 1 W/ft2
• Pendant direct/indirect
• Occupancy sensors, auto night shut-off
• Dedicated outdoor air treatment
• Energy Recovery Ventilator or Demand-Controlled
  Ventilation
• Centralize exhaust zones for energy recovery

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Hot/Humid Climate Energy Efficiency Strategies

• Efficient, tight envelope
• Appropriate, well-installed insulation
• Low-e, low-SHGC windows (esp. east/west facing)
• Shading for south facing windows
• Light colored roof
• High efficiency HVAC with optimized control
  system
• Balance with maintenance concerns
• Size properly, incorporate strategies for
  variable loads
• Energy star appliances and office equipment
• Use energy modeling iteratively to identify and
  reduce loads, and optimize efficiency of design

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Successful model energy schools exist today

• Homewood Middle School, Homewood, AL
• LEED-Certified
• Low cost - 121/sq-ft
• Optimized Energy Performance
• High-Performance Windows
• Daylighting/Energy Efficient Lighting
• Efficient Heating and Air Conditioning
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Air quality Monitored Temp/Humidity/Ventilation
• Daylight Views
• 36 Energy Savings over ASHRAE 90.1-1999

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Energy efficient schools give noticeable results

• Caywood Elementary School in Edgewood, KY
• Features an extensive daylighting strategy that
  resulted in
• Annual Energy Savings of 50,000
• An Energy Budget that is 50 lower than other
  schools in the district

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Major Renovations and Retrofits

• Major Renovations Present Opportunities
• Utilize AEDG as much as possible
• Integrated design approach, Commissioning, Energy
  modeling
• Consider extent of renovation, and how
  layout/design changes may impact energy use
• Explore options beyond like-for-like
• HVAC efficiency, sizing and system design
• Lighting redesign
• Daylight harvesting
• Room layout, etc.

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Major Renovations and Retrofits

• Retrofit Strategies
• An energy auditor can identify Energy
  Conservation Measures
• Measures can be implemented individually, but may
  be best as a single project
• Can be prioritized based on simple payback or
  lowest cost, but consider other benefits as well

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Major Renovations and Retrofits

• Some Common ECM Retrofits (in order of cost /
  benefit)
• HVAC controls
• Night setbacks, optimal start/stop, chilled/hot
  water temp. reset
• Weatherization
• Weather-stripping, repair broken windows
• Lighting upgrades
• T12 -gt T8, HIDs -gt T5, CFLs, occupancy sensors
• Harvest daylight when possible
• De-lamp vending machines
• Solar water heating
• Domestic HW or pre-heat for boiler / furnace

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Major Renovations and Retrofits

• HVAC equipment
• Replace old equipment with high efficiency
  equipment
• Premium efficiency motors
• Variable speed drives for motors and pumps
• Window replacement
• Low-e, low SHGC, insulating glass
• Reflective films are a less expensive option if
  installed correctly
• Plug loads
• Energy Star office equipment and appliances
• Install Vending Misers on vending machines
• Replace CRTs with LCD monitors

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Energy Audit Example

• International School of Louisiana, New Orleans
• Energy audit performed fall 2007

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Energy Management Programs

• Proactive OM programs ensure buildings remain
  high-performing
• Can substantially reduce annual energy cost
• Gross generalization 5 - 20
• Extends equipment life and minimizes unexpected
  failures
• Policy should be set at district or state level
• Implement strategies to support policy

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Energy Management Program Options

• Low/No Cost
• Quick, simple fixes - minimal cost, low to
  moderate impact
• Education and Awareness
• Low cost, moderate impact with persistent efforts
• Energy Tracking and Accounting
• High cost (staff time required), high impact
• Regular Preventive Maintenance
• Low to moderate cost, moderate to high impact

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Example - St. Tammany Parish Schools

• Set a Goal of 10 Energy Savings
• Focus on Low/no-cost measures
• 2-person energy team (teacher and maintenance
  person)
• Educate to change behavior - turn off lights when
  you walk out of the room
• Verify HVAC/lighting control settings
• Energy Star Portfolio Manager - Monthly reports
  to schools (vs. baseline) - managed by Admin.
  Asst.
• Community is very Supportive
• Use bond issue to install central HVAC/Lighting
  Controls

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Example - St. Tammany Parish Schools (contd)

• Contract with Schools for Energy Efficiency
  (SEE)
• 4-year program to develop low/no cost approach
• Provides posters, manuals, webinars, etc.
• 14 Energy Savings in 2007-08 School Year
• gt1 Million energy savings
• Offering incentives to schools with the greatest
  savings
• Will involve students in 2008-09 school year

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Implementation Strategies for EE and RE
Financing Options

• New School Construction
• All Energy Efficiency upgrades can be cost
  neutral when an integrated design approach is
  used
• LEED Silver can be achieved cost-effectively
• School Renovations and Retrofits
• Energy Savings Performance Contracting
• Revolving Energy Efficiency Fund
• States and local districts have created a variety
  of funding programs

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Implementation Strategies for EE and RE
Financing Options for renovations/retrofits

• Energy Savings Performance Contracting
• Energy Service Company provides energy audit,
  design, installation, and financing
  implementation and service costs are repaid over
  time from guaranteed energy savings
• LA has ESPC authority through state legislation
• LA DNR administered award winning ESPC program
  for schools multiple parishes participated
• Johnson Controls performed ESPC for OPSD mid-90s
  basic lighting, some HVAC, some controls
• Oversight by LA Office of Contractual Review -
  http//www.doa.state.la.us/ocr/ESPC.htm

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Implementation Strategies for EE and RE
Financing Options for renovations/retrofits

• Creation of Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund
• How this could work
• Detailed energy/indoor environment audit for
  local district
• Audit would support funding request local
  district provides 25 of capital funding,
  revolving fund provides remainder as a low- or
  no-interest loan
• 50 of the annual savings accrues to the
  district, the remaining 50 is reinvested in the
  fund to finance future EE upgrades
• Seed fund established with bond issue, state
  surplus, grant funding, etc.

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Additional Resources

• U.S. Dept. of Energy - Energy Smart Schools
• http//www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmarts
  chools
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Education
• http//www1.eere.energy.gov/education
• Energy Star
• www.energystar.gov (Buildings Plants)

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Additional Resources

• Collaboration for High Performance Schools
• http//www.chps.net
• National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
  (NCEF)
• http//www.edfacilities.org
• ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides
• http//www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1604

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Final Thoughts

• Energy conservation and efficiency is affordable
  now, and more affordable over time
• Select AE firms who demonstrate innovation and
  experience with energy efficient design
• Use an integrated design approach to optimize
  energy efficiency and LEED rating
• Choose trade-offs between LEED categories wisely
• A comprehensive OM and Energy Management Plan
  ensures sustained savings and performance

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Contact Information

• Phil Voss National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  (NREL)
• Philip_Voss_at_nrel.gov [phone]
• Joe Ryan nola Energy Consulting (contractor to
  NREL)
• nolaec_at_cox.net [phone]

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• QUESTIONS?