Building Green Building Energy Codes

July 12, 2011

Andy Burns, LEED-AP, PresidentJohn Downie, AIA, LEED-AP,

Consulting Architect

Agenda

• What is ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’?• Building Energy Codes• Energy Consumption Comparisons• Case in Point: Silver LEED-EB v2.0• Beyond Code• Challenges to ‘sustainable’ standards

What is Green or Sustainable?

“Green” Building is:

A. Kermit the Frog’s House?B. Any building painted with Benjamin Moore #2034-40

Cedar Green ?C. Any ivy covered building at Harvard??D. Also known as Green Construction or Sustainable

Building, Green Building refers to building processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from site selection to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

✔

“Sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and

moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.”

-Wikipedia

What is Green or Sustainable?

• Buildings account for 40% of U.S. energy use*

*Source: International Energy Agency, www.iea.org

Energy Codes Today

• Building codes start as life safety/construction

• Energy codes in U.S. have been standardized through IECC

• Massachusetts has adopted IECC• MA jurisdictions have the option of

using the ‘stretch’ code• Stretch code dictates 35-40% reduction

in building energy usage over base code.

Actual Energy Consumption Comparison• For single family houses in Denmark• Relative to energy efficiency requirements in

building codes

*Source: International Energy Agency, www.iea.org

Beyond Code: References

• LEED www.usgbc.org • Passive House www.passivehouse.us • Net-Zero http://zeb.buildinggreen.com/

Beyond Code - LEED

• USGBC LEED Program:– Not-for-profit trade organization– The largest ‘sustainable’ rating

program in the U.S.– Energy savings debatable– Rates issues beyond energy• 6 criteria for measurement

Case in Point: LEED-EB v2.0 Silver Certification

• Challenges:– Existing building vs. new– Occupant and Owner Green

awareness– Tight budget– High traffic area, needed to

minimize disruption– Needed to identify areas of

opportunity

• Required a team approach• Conducted a retro-

commissioning energy study

Case Results• Achieved ENERGY STAR score of 72• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)

provided 50% cost sharing• Operational gains:

– Reduced potable water by 10% over EPA 1992 standards– Implemented extensive ozone protection through active management of refrigerants– Powered by Green-e energy for electricity– Diverted over 70% of building waste from landfill– 85% efficiency (MERV 14) air filters to provide proper indoor air quality

• Office efficiencies:– Sustainable purchasing of office materials, green cleaning paper products, and light

bulbs– 50% of office spaces have lighting controllability– High performance green cleaning featuring Green Seal certified cleaning products,

equipment and pest management • Delivered Green Education to Occupants:

– Shared green building exterior management practices and preventive maintenance program

• Noted for exemplary performance in public transportation, development density, and occupant recycling

Beyond Code: Passive House

• U.S. Energy Information Administration shows buildings are responsible for: – 48% of greenhouse gas emissions annually– 76% of all electricity generated by U.S.

power plants goes to supply the Building Sector

Principles for a Passive House

Beyond Code - Zero-Net

• By 2016, UK set the goal that all new buildings will have Zero-Net carbon footprint

“…a popular term to describe a buildings use with zero net energy consumption and zero

carbon emissions annually.” - Wikipedia

CREATE USE

Challenges

• Challenges to ‘sustainable’ building standards beyond the code:– Potential suits against USGBC– “Shadow Government” – Lack of data on actual results– Construction issues

Questions?Thank you!

Contacts:

Andy Burnsaburns@theburnscompanies.com

http://www.theburnscompanies.com

Linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/in/theburnsco

John Downiejdownie@theburnscompanies.com

http://www.theburnscompanies.com

Linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/in/jovidownie