By Rod Walton
The New York City Department of Buildings (NYCDB) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have extended their collaboration on a pilot study testing new approaches to energy codes.
The pilot study was launched last year. The goal is to improve big building efficiency and decarbonization goals.
In New York City, its stunning array of buildings produces nearly 70 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. More impactful energy codes and efficiency practices could avoid more of those emissions, according to the partners.
PNNL and the NYCDB are hoping the pilot study will produce findings helpful to meet the city’s Local Law 32 on tighter building energy efficiency rules; and also, the city's overall goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The NYCDB oversees and regulates the city’s zoning and coding around its 1.1 million buildings.
A 100% performance-based code
Typically, a performance-based energy code, which is a subset of the overarching building codes, determines compliance based on projected energy performance of a building.
Historically, the prescriptive approach, the longtime standard for building energy codes, considers compliance to be reached only if a checklist of requirements has been completed.
“This pilot is unique because for the very first time, we are testing the removal of the prescriptive approach that has always been used in energy codes,” said PNNL mechanical engineer and lead tool developer, Supriya Goel, on the PNNL website. “With the prescriptive approach, there is no extra credit for doing more, and if one thing is not done exactly, the whole building is considered non-code compliant.”
The impact of light and solar gain, for example, are not rewarded in the prescriptive code system, Goel added.
“For example, prescriptive codes typically limit the amount of light and solar gain allowed in by windows to reduce cooling energy. But well-planned designs that take advantage of passive heating, or those that automatically reduce the electric light required during the day, may benefit from increased solar gain. Performance-based codes can recognize these benefits, while prescriptive codes cannot.”
So PNNL developed a 100-percent performance-based code for the pilot study. One way to reach compliance is by whole building performance metrics on energy efficiency; while the other compliance tool evaluates energy at the building systems level, including heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting and “envelope system” components such as foundation, walls, roof, windows and doors, according to the report.
Lighting alone can make a significant difference. Nearly a decade ago, the NYC Fire Department completed LED retrofits and reduced energy consumption by an estimated 3 million kWh and 520 metric tons of CO2 annually.
Software tools document code compliance
For the pilot, PNNL built the COMcheck software tool to help document energy code compliance and assess building envelope systems.
Lighting systems are being evaluated using PNNL’s Lighting System Performance Spreadsheet. HVAC systems are being measured using the platform's HVAC System Performance tool.
“A performance-based code offers more flexibility in how we can evaluate a building’s energy efficiency,” concluded Goel. “A more efficient building results from making sure each building system is compliant on its own.”
ROD WALTON is senior editor of EnergyTech, SBT's sister brand in Endeavor Business Media.
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