Master Class:High-Performance

Building Design

Jerry Yudelson, PE, LEED FellowYudelson Associates

Green buildings are important for controlling CO2 emissions

Take-Aways

High-performance buildings are feasible today

No new technologies; just new Integrated Design Process

Energy use metrics well established at 100-150 kWh/sqm/year

IEA Global Warming Study

IEA estimates that meeting a ≤2°C target would require $5 trillion in global energy investments between now and 2020. Source: IEA, “Tracking Clean Energy Progress.”

Agenda• LEED Platinum Case Studies

– High-Performance Buildings• Designing for High-Performance

– Integrated Design Process• Exercise• Case Study: NREL Research Support Facility, USA• Discussion

Manitoba Hydro PlaceLEED Platinum

Winnipeg, Canada

Manitoba Hydro PlaceLEED Platinum

2000 Tower OaksRockville, MD

2000 Tower Oaks

Yale University

Kroon Hall

Kroon Hall

Newark, CA

Ohlone College

Ohlone CollegeCenter For Health Sciences &

Technology

Rooftop PV System

Visible Enthalpy Wheel

Portland, OR

Twelve WestDouble LEED Platinum

Twelve West

Annual Energy Use —Americas

Annual Energy Use —Europe

Annual Energy Use — Asia Pacific

• First-cost concerns• Demonstrate financial cost-

effectiveness– ROI– Increase in building value– Risk mitigation– Intangibles

• Concern over actual building performance– Projects need continuous

commissioning– Renewables have to work as

planned– Behavioral issues & plug loads

must be managed

ISSUES?

• Widespread low-energy design know-how– Cost premium for good design

getting smaller• More stringent energy codes (US,

EU, AUS)– Reduces first-cost premium for

net-zero– Better products at conventional

costs• Solar power cost

reductions/efficiency gains• Increases in conventional energy

costs– Shorter payback for savings

• Carbon reduction goals by increased perceived/actual value of green or

net-zero buildings

TRENDS?

High Performance Design Approach

• Site selection & orientation• Passive solar design• Building envelope design &

construction• Integration of low-energy building

systems• Controlling lighting/plug loads• Occupant engagement • Renewable energy systems

High Performance Buildings

PHASE I: Pre-designStep #1— Organize for zero carbon emissions: Develop plan for learning and approachesStep #2—Accept design conditions: Define environmental, occupant comfort and project financial goals before beginning design. PHASE II: Design and constructionStep #3—Resolve the macro-scale: Develop site and architectural strategies that reduce energy needs and optimize energy generation.Step #4—Develop integrated solutions: Define whole building systems to “tunnel through cost barriers.”PHASE III: StewardshipStep #5—Maintain zero: Provide a plan to operate building with Net-zero emissions.

Net Zero Building, Singapore

Three Phases & Five StepsTo Net-Zero Emissions Building

(HOK and The Weidt Group, www.netzerocourt.com, 2010)

• Reduce loads– Orientation & massing– Envelope & daylighting

• Take advantage of climate

• Choose efficient & integrated systems

• Reduce “safety factors” in engineering design

– “belt and suspenders” approach outmoded

• Use modeling effectively• Renewables: a last

resort!

Key Elements Of Integrated Design

• Reduce loads (>50% of total load)

– Lighting– Plug loads– Process loads– Elevators/

escalators• Integrate systems

– Garage ventilation vs. smoke exhaust

– BIPV as sunshades

Key Elements Of Integrated Design

– Take advantage of climate• Eastgate Centre, Harare

– Free energy• Sun, wind, water, vegetation,

topography, fog, etc.

• Daylighting & natural ventilation/economizer cycle

• Ground-coupled heat pumps/geo-exchange

• Night-flush ventilation

– Adaptive thermal comfort• Radiant vs. Convective

Key Elements Of Integrated Design

Integrated Design Process

• Total cost same• Engineering costs

lower• Invest more in

Architecture• Active to passive

systems• Fragile to resilient• Longer life• Less cost over life-cycle• Simpler design

Cost Transfer

• Collaboration• Team-building/

trust• Goal-setting• Blue-sky ideas• Better design

decisions• Improved overall

decision-making

• Develop synergies

• Systems integration

• Clearer direction• Reduced design

time• Transparency of

design decisions• Higher-

performance

WHY IDP?

• Commit to process• Change

procurement methods

• Broaden the team• Set specific

performance goals• Expect greater time in early design• Early-stage

modeling

• Eco-charrette(s)• Team-building

activity• Collaborative team

meetings• Contractor(s) on

board early• Stay within budget

& construction capabilities

• Iterative design vs. goals

HOW IDP?

WHEN?

• Identify potential partners/collaborations

• Set clear goals and metrics• Establish “must have’s” in design• Don’t re-design at DD/CD phase• Reduce/eliminate “value engineering”• Provide a basis for evaluating design

strategies• Initiate a multidisciplinary design

approach• Induce creativity from team members

STARTING EARLY

• Ask the right question at the right time!– Do we need this building at all? – How big does it need to be? Now? In 10 years?– Can we design it for alternative uses in the future?– How does carpet & desk color influence lighting

design?– What “free energy” can we take advantage of?– How much money is available outside the building

budget?– What do the future occupants value most?– What controls can future operators manage?– How will we know if we’re successful?

STARTING EARLY

• Pre-design:

climate analysis/infrastructure issues

• Design charrette (goal setting, site design)

• Schematic design (shape, massing, daylighting, envelope, HVAC options, base case for energy)

• Design development (systems optimization, Green Star progress vs. goals)

• Construction documents (value engineering, final energy model, document for Green Star)

• Commissioning/M&V (calibrate model, troubleshoot)

USE MODELING

EFFECTIVELY

Setting Project Goals

• Collaborative team meetings

• Problem-solving workshops

• Specific goals/targets• Tracking tools• Clear communication

channels• Team-building activities

• Evaluation & feedback tools & processes

• Expert facilitation• Modeling tools• Green Star/LEED checklist• Establish Owner’s Project

Requirements (OPR)• Basis of design document

(BOD)

IDP TOOLKIT

• Clarity in overall project goals & measurements

• Clear sustainability goals of owner and project team

• Buy-in from all stakeholders• Assess entire building life-cycle

– vs. just construction costs

• Identify roles and responsibilities early on• Introduce Green Star/LEED & set certification goals

IDP OUTCOMES

• Develop design issues and possible solutions for a building in Cape Town, using integrated design and high-performance goals– Office– Secondary School– University Classroom– Retail store of 50,000 sq.ft.

Exercise

Case Study: NREL — Golden, CO, USA

Phase I: 20,446 sq.m.; Phase II: 12,825 sq.m. (occupied 18 months later)

US Department of EnergyNational Renewable Energy LabResearch Support Facility

(RSF)

• Design/Build• 3 finalists from RFQ process• Design to 10% level to confirm cost

• $63 million fixed budget• Government projects• Outside “process” consultant• “Fixed-price, variable-scope” approach

Project Procurement

1. Mission Critical (3)• Safety

• LEED Platinum

• Energy Star (US)

Project Objectives

2. Highly Desirable (15)• 800 staff capacity• 25,000 BTU/sq.ft./year• Architectural integrity• Support future staff needs• Meet ASHRAE 90.1-2007• Support culture and amenities• Expandable building• Ergonomics

• Flexible workspace• Support future technologies• “How to” manual for occupants• “Real-time PR” campaign • Secure collaboration with outsiders• Building information modeling• Substantial completion by 2010 (24 months)

Project Objectives

3. If Possible (8)• Net-zero design approach• Most energy-efficient building in the world• LEED Platinum “Plus”• ASHRAE 90.1-2007 + 50%• Visual displays of current energy efficiency• Support public tours• National and global recognition and awards• Support reduced personnel turnover

Project Objectives

High-Performance Design Process

NREL Integrated Design Process

Multiday Eco-Charrette• Kick off competition phase of the project • Include all disciplines in design-build

team• Set low-energy goal • Determine ZONE and LEED Platinum/6-

Star Green Star best practices and strategies

• Develop section first• Explore relationship of site, program,

plan, roof and section for low-energy strategies

• Begin building simulations early in process.

Low-Energy Strategies

PV System

Natural Ventilation

Thermal Mass

UFAD

Labyrinth

Transpired Collectors

Radiant Cooling

Radiant Heating

Workplace

Daylighting

60’

The Section

Orientation & Massing

East + West Orientations

• Shading Studies• Energy Demand• Natural Ventilation• Wall Sections• Window / Wall Ratios• Roof / Floor Ratios• PV Energy Supply

Pre-Design Analysis

NREL RSF ENERGY CONSUMPTION

TASK LIGHTS1%

LIGHTS11%

EXT USAGE0%

DOMEST HOT WATER

0%VENT FANS

7%

PUMPS & AUX1%

SPACE COOLING8%

SPACE HEATING15%

MISC24%

SERVER ELEC32%

SERVER COOL0%

SERVER RM FAN1%

LIGHTS

TASK LIGHTS

SERVER ELEC

SERVER COOL

SERVER RM FAN

MISC

SPACE HEATING

SPACE COOLING

PUMPS & AUX

VENT FANS

DOMEST HOT WATER

EXT USAGE

• Energy Demand• Transpired Collectors• Thermal Labyrinth• Double-Skin Design• Data Center Heat Recovery• Data Center Cooling• Natural Ventilation• DaylightingDesign

Simulations

LEED Platinum

ZONE- Renewable Energy

RSF ROOF787 KW

3544 MBTU/YR

RSF PARKING540 KW

2432 MBTU/YR

Meets Site Energy, Source Energy, Energy Emissions and Energy Cost definitions of ZONE with only the roof and parking PV systems.

Zero

Beauty in the Numbers

Green buildings are important for controlling CO2 emissions

Take-Aways

High-performance buildings are feasible today

No new technologies; just new Integrated Design Process

Energy use metrics well established at 100-150 kWh/sqm/year

High-Performance. . . Just Do It!

Discussion