ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING CONTROLS - CABA NBI ZNE... · products relating to home automation and...

©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA).

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ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING CONTROLSCHARACTERISTICS, ENERGY IMPACTS, AND LESSONS

FINAL PRESENTATION TO STEERING COMMITTEENOVEMBER 2, 2015

CATHY HIGGINS, ALEXI MILLER, MARK LYLESNEW BUILDINGS INSTITUTE

Sponsors

These visionary organizations sponsored this research project:

THANK YOU!

©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.2

Continental Automated Buildings Association

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is an international not-for-profit

industry association, founded in 1988, dedicated to the advancement of connected home

and building technologies. The organization is supported by an international membership

of over 325 organizations involved in the design, manufacture, installation and retailing of

products relating to home automation and building automation. Public organizations,

including utilities and government are also members. CABA's mandate includes

providing its members with networking and market research opportunities. CABA also

encourages the development of industry standards and protocols, and leads cross-

industry initiatives.

Please visit http://www.caba.org for more information.

Greg Walker, CABA Research Director


http://www.caba.org/

Research Team – NBI and partners

New Buildings Institute (NBI) is a nonprofit organization working

to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings. As

a technical resource for governments, utilities, energy efficiency

advocates and the building industry, NBI acts as a carrier of

ideas between these groups and works collaboratively to put the

best innovations for advanced buildings into action. Our primary

work areas are focused on creating the thought leadership that

defines "What's Next" in our industry, assessing effectiveness of

emerging technologies, promoting best practice design

approaches and helping to guide policies and programs that will

significantly improve the energy efficiency of commercial

buildings. www.newbuildings.org


http://www.newbuildings.org/

1. Background: Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings

2. Research Review

3. Buildings and People

4. Types of Controls

5. Control Design Selection Process

6. User Experience

7. Energy Findings

8. Ten Key Takeaways

9. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations

10. Discussion, Questions and Answers• Embargo Period

• Final Report Changes

• Individual Organization Follow-up by November 20

Presentation Agenda

5 ©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.

GETTING TO ZERO NET

ENERGY BUILDINGS

CASE STUDIES

RESEARCH REVIEW

BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE

TYPES OF CONTROLS

Alexi Miller, NBI Sr. Project Manager

Background – Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings


A Zero Net Energy (ZNE) building generates as much energy as it

consumes annually. Also known as Net Zero Energy.

» Zero = ‘nothing’ – plain & simple

» Net = On-site Energy Production (renewable) minus Energy Use, over 1 year

» Energy = All energy (electric, gas, steam, liquid fuel etc.) consumed on site



Small-Med Commercial Offices

Large Office Facilities K-12 Schools

Environmental Centers Higher Education Institutions

Government Offices

ZNE Buildings are in many building types, climate zones and sizes



ZNE Building Ownership Types ZNE Buildings – Existing vs. New

CASE STUDIES

(BY SPONSORS) Alexi Miller, NBI Sr. Project Manager

Case Study: VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor

Centre, BC (BC Hydro)


High-Performance Achieved: ZNE+W, Living Building, LEED Platinum

» Innovative design & flexible adaptation to actual building needs

» Complex systems = complex controls. Training & collaboration required.

Image: Perkins + Will

Case Study: PNC Bank Branch, FL

(Emerge Alliance)

©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.14 Photo: PNC

Solar panels produce Direct Current (DC); Grid uses Alternating Current (AC)

» Typical: Solar Panel DC => inverter to AC => back to DC after plug level

» PNC Bank Branch: Solar Panel DC => DC equipment in building

» Reduces conversion inefficiencies & need for equipment

» Near total elimination of grid-supplied AC during business hours

Case Study: Wayne Aspinall Courthouse, CO

(EnOcean Alliance)

©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.15 Photo: GSA, © David Lester Photography

Wireless lighting control system deployed in historic building ZNE retrofit

» Integrated into building’s existing Building Automation System

» Relays, light switches, outdoor & indoor LUX sensors, power strips

» Sensors powered by small solar cells – not batteries

Case Study: DPR San Francisco Office, CA

(Honeywell)


Automated Integrated Building Controls

» Energy, Security, Comfort, Life Safety…

» Map-based visualizations & integrated workflows

» LEED Dynamic Plaque in lobby – tracks &

displays near-real-time performance data

» Feedback to Operator: continuous improvement

First year: Produced 115% of energy used

Images: DPR, Honeywell

Case Study: The Edge Building, Amsterdam, Neth.

(Schneider Electric)


Integrated Building Management, Electrical Distribution, IT Infrastructure

» Building Management System: continuous feedback onsite or remotely

» Integrated sensors throughout: 180+ meters installed & data captured

» Occupants can use smartphone app to control LED lights & climate at work

Photo: Schneider Electric

Research Review - Overview


Investigate Building Energy

Monitoring & Controls Systems

in Low-Energy and ZNE Buildings

Areas of inquiry and participants:1. The Selection and the System. What did they choose and why.

Design Firms

2. The Energy Impact. Savings assumptions in modeling and attribution in use.

Design Firms and Operators

3. The Use and User Experience. How is it being used and what is effective and

lacking.

Operators and Occupants

Research Review – Survey Instruments

» Design Team Survey » Operator Survey


» Occupant Survey

Surveys – Targets and Actuals


Buildings & People: List of Participant Buildings


Project Location Size Range Building Type Retrofit

Operator

Survey

Completed

435 Indio Way CA 25k - 50k sf Office X

Bullitt Foundation Cascadia Center for Sustainable

Design and ConstructionWA 50k - 100k sf Office X

Cornell NYC Tech First Academic Building NY over 100k sf Education

David and Lucile Packard Foundation CA 25k - 50k sf Office X

DPR Construction's San Francisco Office CA 10k - 25k sf Office X

Exploratorium CA over 100k sf Other X

Hanover Page Mill Building CA 50k - 100k sf Office

IDeAs Z2 Office Building CA 5k - 10k sf Office X

Lane Community College, Downtown Academic

CenterOR 50k - 100k sf Education

Leslie Shao-Ming

Field Station at Jasper RidgeCA 5k - 10k sf Education

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field

HeadquartersMA 25k - 50k sf Office

Morphosis Architecture Studio CA 10k - 25k sf Office

NREL Research Support Facility CO over 100k sf Office X

Rice Fergus Miller Office and Studio WA 25k - 50k sf Office X

Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center CO 10k - 25k sf Office

Sacred Heart Schools Stevens Family Library CA 5k - 10k sf Education X

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge HQ and Visitor

CenterCA 10k - 25k sf Office

UC San Diego J Craig Venter Institute CA 25k - 50k sf Other

UniverCity Childcare Centre BC 5k - 10k sf Education

VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre BC 10k - 25k sf Assembly X

Watsonville Water Resources Center CA 10k - 25k sf Office

Wayne Aspinall Courthouse and Federal Building CO 25k - 50k sf Courthouse X

West Berkeley Public Library CA 5k - 10k sf Library X

Buildings & People: Buildings

Buildings

» Zero Net Energy buildings from

NBI’s North America Getting to Zero

database

» Mainly 10,000 – 100,000+ sqft

› Some smaller buildings represented

» Mainly Offices & Higher Ed

› Also Courthouse, Lab, Library, Museum

» Climate: CA has most ZNE buildings

› Also: Canada, PNW, NE, CO


Buildings & People: People

People

» Design Firm Interviewees have

extensive experience

› In primary building types

› With ZNE buildings in general

‒ Average of four ZNE buildings each!

» Designers set energy targets and

keep tabs

› Maintain ongoing performance data

tracking and feedback post-occupancy


Types of Controls

» All participants ranked building

control strategies “very important”

or “critical” to ZNE success

» > 90% of buildings use control

systems integrated across some or

all end-uses

» Daylighting is critical to ZNE

› Get Glare Control & Shading right!

› Light switches are still most common

» Most buildings use combination of

manual & automatic controls

» ¾ of buildings rely on occupant for

some part of controls success

» The highest-performing buildings

have engaged operators and

occupants standing on the

shoulders of intelligent and

integrated controls systems


One Primary Project Goal:

Characterize Controls Technology & Strategies in ZNE Buildings

Types of Controls: Controls Integration by End-Use


Types of Controls: Plug Loads


Plug Loads can be 50% or more of total electricity usage in ZNE Buildings!

» More devices and occupant-driven misc loads coming online

» Regulated loads (Lights, HVAC, Water Heat…) becoming more efficient

» Most (64%) buildings surveyed use plug load controls or monitoring

CONTROL DESIGN

SELECTION PROCESS

USER EXPERIENCE

ENERGY FINDINGS

Mark Lyles, NBI Project Manager

Controls Design Selection Process


» Rigid execution of design intent

» Thorough documentation & specs

» Detailed sequence of operations

» Flexibility in implementation

» Flexibility in operation

Designing a successful ZNE Building is a balancing act:

Controls Design Selection Process: Follow Up


Despite the focus on performance and the qualification of the design and

construction teams associated with these projects…

The #1 reason for excessive follow-up:

Incorrect installation of controls systems in the field

User Experience: Operations Survey Summary

» All agree: bring Operator into

design process early

› Operator involved in all sequence

development efforts

› Operator involved in commissioning

process

› Improved operator buy-in

› Smoother startup of building systems

› Better understanding of design intent

» Often, operators learn on the job

(without formal training)

› Heavy reliance on Operations and

Maintenance (O&M) Manual

› Heavy reliance on Commissioning

Process and Report

» Building Operator & Controls

Vendor – close relationship

› Frequent communication in Year 1

» Controls Integrator Role

» Maintaining Building Performance:

Operator should write & use a

System Support Manual or

Procedure Manual

» Most (5/6) say the value of

investing in controls is increasing

» Most (4/6) say passive features do

not reduce scope of controls


User Experience: Occupant Survey Summary


Occupants generally are satisfied with their ZNE building work spaces

» Design teams & operators must balance automation vs. occupant interaction

» 75% of occupants satisfied with daylighting – but often want more glare control

» Broad satisfaction with natural ventilation, DOAS

» Heating systems are well regarded; desire for more control for cooling

» Plug load controls are not problematic or obtrusive for most occupants

Occupant Interest in

Interaction with Lighting

and Shade Controls

Energy Findings: Participant Buildings


Energy Findings: Setting Energy Targets

» 100% of design teams set an

aggressive low-energy EUI target


» 100% of design teams considered

setting early energy targets as key

to the design process & outcomes

Energy Targets are Key

Energy Findings: Whole Building Energy Aspects

» Baseline: High-Performance/LEED

» Energy modeling: More than one

software package used

› eQuest remains #1, but this is shifting

› Radiant systems, natural ventilation

modeled with IES/TAS

» Keys to ZNE: Building Siting

» Keys to ZNE: Envelope Design

» Keys to ZNE: HVAC Systems

› Ground source heat pumps

› Advanced air source heat pumps

› Radiant heating & cooling distribution

› Variable refrigerant volume


Energy Findings: System Energy Aspects


» Lighting Controls: Daylighting first, then other electric lighting controls.

» HVAC Controls: Passive first: natural ventilation, night flush, thermal set point

controls. Then, optimize mechanical system control and monitoring.

» Glare Controls (Shading & Blinds): 33% got thermal savings => Reduced

thermal loads & thus HVAC system needs.

» Plug Load Controls: up to 50%

of usage in some ZNE

buildings. Designers are

still experimenting with

different control approaches.

10 KEY TAKE-AWAYS

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Cathy Higgins, NBI Research Affiliate

» Are Controls Important

to get to ZNE?

– Yes: 100%

» Would you select the

same controls again?

– Yes: 77%

» Considering that passive design

strategies and improving technology

efficiencies are reducing building

energy use, is the value of

control systems increasing

or decreasing? – Increasing = 78%

1-3) The Value of Controls


4) Problems and Some Solutions

» 82% of the designers agreed or strongly

agreed that control communication

platforms and protocols between

systems need improvement’

» 87% of designers agreed that

“Controls always have some problems”


Problem:

“The principal issue with every

ZNE building that I have

studied carefully has been

control systems, measurement

and verification.”

Suggested Solution:

It’s a matter of writing a detailed

sequence of operations, having a

great relationship with your

vendor and requiring

accountability for integration.

5-8) Advice and Occupants

» What would you do again & What

advice would you offer to designers?

1. Integrate the controls contractor - not

just the controls

2. Meter and monitor then track and

share actual performance

3. Design the building right first

4. Design for “Off”

5. Select leading technologies and

incorporate system controls for high

performance

6. Simple is smart. Keep it simple

Alternate point – Make it work

7. Optimize settings and strategies

» What would you do differently?

› Increase control contractor role and

commissioning

› Ensure sufficient metering

› Consider system changes

» Occupants – how do you ensure they

contribute to low-energy goals?

› Education and training

› Early involvement

› Feedback

› Engagement


“The Toughest Thing to Control is

Occupants – They Make (or Break) Energy

Performance”

Controls are a sub-trade of a sub-trade - they

should be a first-tier (separate) contractor.

9) Surprises

» Collecting energy data is rare!

» Systems were not interoperable

» Contractor resistance and skills are an issue

» ZNE goes well beyond the traditional

commissioning (Cx) process

» Occupants waste energy

» Conflicts with complex sequences and system

architecture and controls

» Lack of accuracy in electrical sub-meters and difficulty in setting them up

» Lack of correlation between actual and predicted performance

» Staging of various outcomes, including the solar, is hard

» Lack of granularity


10) Emerging Trends

» Integrated and lower cost

control systems› Integration capabilities and networks

with automated control system

management are improving

› Cost of interconnectivity is decreasing

› Adaptive controls: occupant-based and

weather responsive

» Monitoring and feedback› Building dashboards and simple

monitoring systems

› Fault detection with early warning for

energy use or equipment failures

» Energy Model-based Control

» Utility Demand Response

» Other:› Robotics

› DC building systems

› Energy storage

› Protocol standardization


October 2015 cover of Building Operating

Management Magazine

Conclusions

» Controls are at the Nexus of

Energy Performance

› Merge of market, policy and

technology factors are driving zero net

energy buildings

› Controls are “critical/very important” to

ZNE outcomes – yet “controls always

have problems”

› Solutions lay in a) getting the process

right early, b) maintaining ongoing Cx

and c) stewardship of the control

performance

› Controls / sensors are in the spotlight

» New Roles and Old Relationships

› Controls contractor is a major player and

should be involved early and after

occupancy

› 86% of design teams chose their vendor

based on prior experience – existing

relationships are gateways to resolve /

improve issues

› New “ZNE Cx Agents” will have skills

that cross cut efficiency, renewables and

controls

› Increased

importance and

skills needed

in building operators


Conclusions

» ZNE is driven by good design,

High Performance Systems and

Shading

› Passive and integrated approaches first

› Existing, but leading edge, systems

and technologies

› Exterior and interior shading to reduce

initial loads

› Interior shading is a growing area of

technology evolution and automation

with over 50% of the buildings including

interior shading

» Occupants

are a new

Operator

› 74% of these buildings rely on the

occupant for part of controls success

› Occupants desire some degree of

thermal and lighting control

› Occupant control can enhance or

disable design intent of controls

› Occupants are the best ‘sensors’ so

feedback from and to them is key

› Addressing

plug load

use is critical


Conclusions: Game Changers

Game Changers:

1. Integration and low cost

sensors – I o T

2. Feedback / dashboard systems

to occupants and operators –

energy is gaining transparency

3. Utility programs and pricing – a

new model of two-way

transactions and load shifts

driven by renewables and ZNE

Industry Implications:

1. Large new market for new

products

2. Complexity and communications

issues hinder adoption and

outcomes

3. ZNE buildings will remain grid

connected and districts and

aggregation of bldgs. will increase

4. Getting to zero is both a market

and a policy trend


Five Recommendations

1. Prioritize Passive Strategies – then layer in controls to optimize the whole building

outcomes

2. Integrate the Controls Contractor – controls contractor needs to be a primary team

member from design through occupancy

3. Increase Operator Training and Support – bring controls training and improved

hand-off documentation to operators and ongoing access to the design team and controls contractor

4. Provide Occupants Control but Backup with Defaults Settings –occupants want some engagement and control access but a ‘hybrid’ system that returns controls to

default settings and “Off” is necessary

5. Build Industry Awareness and Knowledge of Emerging Trends –of a) integrated, wireless and adaptive controls, b) feedback and dashboards, c) DC systems and

renewable integration, d) utility load management, price and program issues, and e) ZNE policy drivers

ZNE©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.45

Discussion

1. Embargo Period Motion

2. Final Report Changes today

3. Individual Organization Follow-up Calls by November 20

ZNE©2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association. All rights reserved.46

Questions and Answers

Rice Fergus Miller ZNE Retrofit

Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA)

1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 210

Ottawa, ON K1J 7S6

Toll free: 888.798.CABA (2222)

[email protected]

www.caba.org

New Buildings Institute (NBI)

503-761-7339

[email protected]

www.newbuildings.org

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