Houston Green Building Roadmap

1
Houston Green Building Roadmap

• Richard Morgan
• Austin Energy

2
Green Building in Austin

• Started in 1991 as single family homes rating
  system.
• Evolved from Austin Energy Star Homes
  program-alternate path to energy code compliance
• Municipal and commercial buildings in 1995
• Multi-family rating system in 1999
• June 2000 Council requires LEED Silver for
  Municipal bond projects
• Manage it Green consulting group begun in 2002

3
Current State

• In the beginning all private sector compliance
  was voluntary
• 1999 MOU with Citys Affordable Housing Dept. to
  require compliance for housing receiving
  incentives from COA
• 2003 requirement for buildings zoned DMU or CBD
• 2004 use of GB as trade off for PUDs or variances

4
Energy Code

• GB brings new energy codes to council for
  adoption
• Review new IECC versions for efficiency
  improvements and local needs
• Develop local amendments to meet Austins needs
• Review with stakeholders before taking to council
• IECC 2006 w/local amendments 19 more efficient
  than 2000 IECC w/local amendments
• Based on 2270 sq. ft. typical home-2462 kWh per
  year reduction

5
Single Family GB

• Locally developed rating tool
• Currently using v.8.0 of SF rating tool
• 1 to 5 star rating- 1 star basic GB, 5 star
  highest possible, 7,000 homes, 35 at 5 star
• Custom and volume builders, high end to
  affordable

6
SF basic requirements

• 14 SEER HVAC efficiency
• Submittal of Manual J for HVAC sizing
• Duct leakage testing
• Air barriers as per Energy Star
• Minimum of 5 fluorescent lights
• 2 H.E. Toilets
• 40 points from optional menu

7
SF Process

• Builder submits rating spreadsheet and Manual J
• Staff review for obvious discrepancies
• Staff inspection at rough mechanical
• Duct testing performed by third party
• Staff final inspection
• Certification

8
Multi Family GB

• Locally developed rating tool
• Applies to projects with 3 floors of residential
  or less
• Apartments to high end condos
• 50 projects completed-6,365 units, 5.5 million
  sq. ft.
• 44 projects currently under review, 4,270 units

9
MF requirements

• Energy Star labeled windows or exceed COA Energy
  Code envelope performance by 15
• Testing/commissioning of HVAC units
• All showerheads 1.8gpm or exceed EPAct indoor
  baseline by 15
• Divert 50 by weight construction debris and waste

10
Commercial GB

• Locally developed rating tool or LEED
• Separate/similar tool developed for AISD bond
  projects
• MF projects permitted as commercial, rated as
  commercial
• 46 projects complete, 1.32 million sq. ft.
• 100 projects under review, 8.6 million sq. ft.

11
Commercial Requirements

• Commissioning Plan, Verification, Report
  submitted
• Energy Star Qualified Roof
• Exceed COA lighting and envelope energy
  requirements by 15
• Divert minimum 50 construction waste and debris
  from landfill
• No grandfathered water quality compliance

12
Commercial Process

• Owners rep. submits Request for Participation
• Staff assigned to project and participate as
  sustainability consultants
• Goal setting
• Plan and spec review and recommendations
• Building energy simulation review
• Construction monitoring
• Documentation reviews
• Certification

13
Key Strategies

• Professional education
• Monthly seminars
• Conferences and trade shows
• Web based resources
• Marketing
• Create demand for GB from the public
• Acknowledge exceptional buildings and teams
• Promote program as go to source for GB issues

14
Key Strategies

• Stakeholder involvement
• Participation in trade associations
• Education on their turf
• Participate in other groups events

15
Market Transformation

• Work with the leaders, if everyone does it-it is
  not GB
• When measures become accepted, raise the bar
• Use the code to bring the rest of the industry up
  to the level of the leaders

16
Results

• Single Family
• FY 06 1049 ratings-21 of new SF homes in
  service area
• 874 kW of demand eliminated- 0.7 kW per (demand
  is power plant capacity not needed)
• 1,469,000 kWh savings to consumers 1400 kWh per
• 936.83 Tons CO2 not emitted
• 72,913,892 gallons water saved, 69,508 per

17
Results Commercial

• Medical Office Building- 3 Star AE GB
• 129,691 Sq. Ft.
• Demand Savings 462 kW
• Energy savings 1,370,719 kWh
• CO2 reduction 874.2 tons
• Building water 770,975 gallons- 28
• Irrigation water (July) 103,954 gallons- 75
• Construction waste 303.9 tons diverted 50

18
Results Commercial

• Grocery 4 Star AE GB
• 93,000 sq. ft.
• Demand savings 172.5 kW
• Electric energy 1,141,179 kWh
• Gas energy 730,000 CCF
• 989.4 Tons CO2 (gas electric)
• Building Water 535,308 gallons 36
• Irrigation water 67
• Construction waste 127 tons 81

19
Results Multifamily

• Apartment building, 240 units, 196,000 sq. ft.
• 2 star AE GB rating
• 157 kW demand reduction
• Live/Work Condos, 29 units, 29,467 sq. ft.
• 3 star AE GB rating
• 57.3 kW demand reduction

20
Total Results FY 2006

• Demand Reduction- 14,755 kW
• Energy Saved 24,974 mWh
• value of energy 2,222,686
• CO2 reduction 15,926.8 tons
• SOx reduction 3.04 tons
• NOx reduction 15.36 tons

21
Austin Climate Protection Plan

• Upgrade energy code to make all single family
  homes built in Austin by 2015 ZECH
• Upgrade energy code to make all other
  construction 75 more efficient than existing
  code
• Develop policy/program to require energy use
  disclosure and upgrades at resale
• Develop evaluation and recognition program for
  carbon neutral buildings
• Continue to upgrade GB standards for projects
  required to meet program requirements

22
Lessons Learned

• Be inclusive, all your stakeholders bring
  something valuable
• Avoid the bandwagon, no one knows your climate
  and your buildings better than the people working
  in your area
• Be bold, no one will care what you do if you take
  half measures