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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 [email protected]
http://www.theburnscompanies.com
Linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/in/theburnsco
John [email protected]
http://www.theburnscompanies.com
Linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/in/jovidownie
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