September 2015

Nonresidential CEA Exam Study Guide

Nonres CEA Exam Study Guide 2

Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Overview of the Nonresidential Certified Energy Analyst Exam ........................................................................... 3

Energy Basics.......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Objective 1.1: Heat Transfer, Thermal Comfort and Energy Units ........................................................................ 7

Objective 1.2: Reducing Energy Use .................................................................................................................... 9

Objective 1.3: Envelope Design......................................................................................................................... 12

Objective 1.4: Mechanical and Water Heating Design ....................................................................................... 13

Objective 1.5: Lighting Design ........................................................................................................................... 13

Objective 1.6: Lighting Design ........................................................................................................................... 16

Code Triggers ....................................................................................................................................................... 17

Objective 2.1: Scope and Triggers for Nonresidential Energy Standards ............................................................ 19

Objective 2.2: Analyze Nature and Scope of Proposed Project .......................................................................... 21

Objective 2.3: Application of Standards to Proposed Project ............................................................................. 23

Objective 2.4: Mandatory Measures ................................................................................................................. 24

Project Assessment .............................................................................................................................................. 26

Objective 3.1: Analyze Project for Mechanical System Modeling Data ............................................................... 26

Objective 3.2: Organize Zone-by-Zone Area Take-offs ....................................................................................... 28

Objective 3.3: Organize Zone-by-Zone Area Take-offs ....................................................................................... 30

Objective 3.4: Prescriptive Approach for Outdoor and Sign Lighting .................................................................. 32

Energy Modeling .................................................................................................................................................. 34

Objective 4.1: Create an Accurate Energy Model .............................................................................................. 34

Objective 4.2: Standards Design ....................................................................................................................... 35

Objective 4.3: Evaluate Modeling Results for Envelope Inputs........................................................................... 35

Objective 4.4: Evaluate Modeling Results for Indoor Lighting Inputs ................................................................. 36

Objective 4.5: Evaluate Modeling Results for Mechanical and Service Hot Water Inputs.................................... 38

Objective 4.6: Evaluate Compliance Documentation ......................................................................................... 39

Energy Consulting ................................................................................................................................................. 40

Objective 5.1: Recommendations for Improving Envelope Design ..................................................................... 41

Objective 5.2: Recommendations for Improving Indoor Lighting ....................................................................... 43

Objective 5.3: Recommendations for Improving HVAC and Service Hot Water Systems ..................................... 45

Objective 5.4: Reach Codes, Incentive Programs and Other Calculation Methods .............................................. 47

Appendix .............................................................................................................................................................. 48

Energy Terms ................................................................................................................................................... 49

Energy Units and Conversions .......................................................................................................................... 50

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Introduction

Overview of the Nonresidential Certified Energy Analyst Exam With the financial and administrative support of the investor owned utilities’ (IOUs) Statewide Codes and Standards team, and with encouragement from the California Energy Commission, CABEC has implemented a new Certified Energy Analyst (CEA) certification program for the residential and nonresidential 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Standards). This new certification, including a new examination, essentially replaces the Certified Energy Plans Examiner (CEPE) credential that has been supported by the California Energy Commission (CEC) since the CEPE exam was introduced in 1988.

The new exams are tailored to the specific role, knowledge and experience of energy consultants who help the building industry meet and exceed Title 24 Part 6 Energy Standards. Energy consultants seeking to become a Certified Energy Analyst will be expected to pass the new CEA exam, meet minimum certification requirements and maintain ongoing continuing education units (CEUs). This exam guide has been developed to help prepare candidates prepare for the Nonresidential CEA Exam.

Development of the New CEA Exams To ensure a credible and defensible exam, CABEC used a standard certification exam development process, beginning with an exam “blueprint” that defines the type and number of questions for the exam, followed by creation of exam questions using a rigorous method of technical review, psychometric review, and quality assurance. A total of six individuals have written, reviewed and edited each question before it is alpha tested:

• The author of the question • Two technical reviewers • Two psychometric (testing experts) reviewers • A final technical and quality assurance reviewer

Once the test questions were developed, alpha and beta tests of the exam questions were conducted. The results of the alpha and beta tests were then analyzed and the questions were revised as necessary to address the findings from the tests.

Blueprint — the exam blueprint defines the skills and knowledge the exam will test and how much “weight” (number of questions) each area should get. The blueprint is structured with the following key components:

• The major competencies associated with successful performance of the roles and responsibilities of a residential building energy analyst.

• For each competency, the primary performance objectives, which define the behaviors associated with the competency; that is, what an energy consultant must know and do to meet that competency.

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• For each objective, the essential content that should be the focus of exam questions addressing that objective

The blueprint contains a total of five competencies that generally mirror the process that an energy analyst must follow when performing his or her work, along with the objectives that support each competency.

Exam questions — each objective in the blueprint is tested by one or more exam questions. Individual exam questions were developed based on their respective objectives and essential content which have been assigned a type or level of ability associated with it. This is connected to an educational system called “Bloom” levels which can be summarized somewhat simplistically as:

• Level 1: “Remember” • Level 2: “Understand” • Level 3: “Apply” • Level 4: “Analyze” • Level 5: “Evaluate” • Level 6: “Create”

For example, an objective may require that a person demonstrate merely that he or she can remember or know where and how to look up specific information to answer a particular question. At the other end of the spectrum, an objective may require that an individual be able to create a building energy model from scratch using energy software.

Four of the five competencies are tested through multiple-choice questions only. One competency, “Model the building with approved energy compliance software”, is tested by a combination of multiple-choice questions and a “hands-on” modeling exam that requires construction of an energy model based on plans and a summary of relevant input information for a proposed project. Each multiple choice question includes a “setup”, a “question”, a “correct answer” and generally three “distractors” which are plausible, but wrong answers.

Alpha test — once the questions were approved by the review team, an alpha test was conducted to help identify likely issues with the questions and determine the approximate time required to answer the questions. Several experienced energy consultants who were not part of the development team tried out all the exam questions, and provided comments on the questions. Based on alpha tester feedback, any questions they identified as ambiguous or that raised other concerns were revised.

Beta test — all questions that passed the alpha test went through a beta test. During the beta test, a larger group of energy consultants, with a range of experience, completed the exam in a way that parallels how the exam will be administered in future. Testing experts conducted statistical analyses of the beta test results to highlight any questions that raised concerns. Then the testing experts worked with the team of subject matter experts to determine how to revise any “problem” questions. Only those questions that make it through the entire process are included in the 2013 CEA Exams.

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Multiple-choice Exam The multiple-choice exam is open book and consists of 50 questions for which examinees will have 4 hours to complete. To pass, examinees must answer at least (T.B.D) out of 50 questions correctly (%score T.B.D.). Examinees will be allowed to use any reference material normally used while on the job. This includes, but not limited to printed or electronic copies of:

• 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential Compliance Manual • 2013 Reference Appendices • 2013 Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual • Energy Code Ace – Reference ACE

All Other electronic reference material must reside on the examinee’s computer prior to the start of the exam. The use of the internet, email, cell phones and other mobile communications devices is strictly prohibited.

Modeling Exam The modeling exam consists of two parts and examinees will have 2.5 hours to complete both. The first part of the modeling exam requires examinees to accurately model a simple nonresidential building from scratch based on detailed inputs and plans. The second part requires examinees to revise an existing model with new components and features based on detailed instructions. To pass, examinees must have a combined score of (T.B.D). Examinees must provide their own computer with the most current version of the CEC approved modeling software installed. Examinees will be allowed to use any reference material normally used while on the job as listed in the multiple-choice exam section above.

Feedback on Your Results After the exams are scored and results are determined, examinees will receive an email indicating:

• Multiple choice – total number of correct answers; overall score indicating pass or fail; and the number of correct answers in each of the 5 competencies.

• ACM modeling – overall score indicating pass or fail; o ACM exam, part 1: score (T.B.D) o ACM exam, part 2: score will be based on the total number of correct inputs.

CEA Credential Requirements In order to be awarded the new Nonresidential CEA designation, a candidate must pass the new two part CEA exam (multiple-choice and modeling) for the Nonresidential Energy Standards. They also must attend a Professional Practices Workshop (offered by CABEC) and attain 100 points of combined Direct Experience, Education and Training, and/or Professional Certifications outlined in the CEA Certification Requirements (see link below).

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CEAs certified for the 2008 Standards will need to pass the exam and meet ongoing Continuing Education requirements only, since the other requirements have already been met. Please refer to the 2013 Standards CEA Certification Requirements on the CABEC website for further information.

http://www.cabec.org/newCEAexaminfo_joomla/FINAL_CABEC_New_CEA_Certification_Requirements3.pdf?lbisphpreq=1

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The following chapters represent the competencies and objectives from the Nonresidential CEA Exam Blueprint. The blueprint identifies the content areas covered on the examination. Each content area comprises the knowledge, skills, and abilities that have been determined to be essential elements of competency to become a CEA. Each content area is defined by a required competency and a set of related objectives.

Energy Basics

Competency 1: Comprehend Key Nonresidential Energy Efficiency Design Concepts and Issues Competency one focuses on the ability to demonstrate knowledge of basic heat transfer, nonresidential energy design measures and how they relate to building energy performance metrics and code compliance.

Objective 1.1: Heat Transfer, Thermal Comfort and Energy Units Understanding the basics of thermodynamics, heat transfer in and out of buildings and maintaining comfort conditions. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Conductive, convective and radiant heat flow. • Maintaining comfort conditions. • Relevant energy terms, units and conversions (see appendix).

Heat Transfer Conduction is the transfer of heat between substances which are in direct contact with each other. Conduction occurs when heat flows through a solid from hot to cold. For example, a cold cast iron skillet is placed onto a stovetop burner that is turned on. You decide to touch the handle of the skillet after it has been on for several minutes, and now the handle is hot. This is because heat was conducted through the portion of the skillet in contact with the stovetop all throughout the rest of the skillet.

Convection is the movement of gases and liquids caused by heat transfer. As a gas or liquid is heated, it warms, expands and rises because it is less dense resulting in natural convection. Cooler gas or liquid replaces the rising gas or liquid. Unlike conduction, convection relies on the circulating motion of the gas or liquid in order to transfer heat. For example, a hot air balloon uses a heater to heat air trapped inside the balloon, which is warmer that the ambient air outside the balloon. This effect causes the balloon to rise.

Radiation is the transfer of heat by means of electromagnetic waves. When radiation heat transfer occurs, the electromagnetic waves move out in all directions from the producer of the energy. All objects both emit and absorb radiant energy, although some objects are much better at this than others. For example, when you stand in front of a burning wood stove, you are warmed by its heat.

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Thermal Comfort Thermal comfort is defined as “that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment and is assessed by subjective evaluation.”1

• Air temperature – The temperature of the air surrounding the occupant

There are several environmental factors that influence thermal comfort within buildings, which include:

• Mean radiant temperature - The weighted average of all the temperatures from surfaces surrounding an occupant

• Operative temperature - The average of the air dry-bulb temperature and of the mean radiant temperature at the given place in a room

• Air speed - Rate of air movement given distance over time • Relative humidity - Percentage of water vapor in the air

Sample Question 1

Question: A new office building designed with large window areas to the north and east is to be built along the Pacific coast in Eureka (climate zone 1). It will have no mechanical cooling. Which of the following measures is most likely to provide the best thermal comfort for building occupants in this design location?

A. Cool roof B. Tinted glass windows C. Radiant floor heating D. Attic radiant barrier

Answer: C. Radiant floor heating

Because Eureka (CZ1) is in a heating dependant climate zone2

Radiant floor heating systems distribute heat by radiation, which heats occupants and surfaces directly rather than by convection. Warmer surfaces in a conditioned space result in a higher mean radiant temperature, a measure of surface temperatures in a space that influences the rate of radiant heat loss from occupants. With higher mean radiant temperatures, most people are comfortable even at lower air temperatures.

, features or measures that reduce the amount of heat gain will have little effect on providing thermal comfort for the occupant. Answer choices A. Cool roof, B. Tinted glass windows and D. Attic radiant barrier all reduce the amount of heat gain, therefore have little effect in this situation.

1 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2010 2 Based on comparison of heating and cooling Design Day Data for Eureka, CA – 2013 Reference Appendices, Table 2-3

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Objective 1.2: Reducing Energy Use Understand general energy efficiency and energy design concepts of building, and general methods of reducing end-use energy consumption with energy efficiency and energy design. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Design features and energy end use components regulated by the Energy Standards. • Energy efficiency vs. on-site power generation. • Sensitivity of building/system design, energy measures, and energy use components in

nonresidential buildings to occupancy type and climate zone. • The effect that lighting and mechanical system designs have on energy use in nonresidential

buildings.

Energy Design Features

Nonresidential energy design features regulated by the Energy Standards include: • Envelope

o Roof, wall and floor construction assemblies o Windows, skylights and shading

• Mechanical o Heating and cooling equipment, distribution and controls o Ventilation systems and controls o Service hot water equipment, distribution and controls

• Indoor, Outdoor and Sign Lighting o Lighting products, systems and controls

• Electric Power Distribution o Circuit metering, voltage drop, disaggregation, receptacle controls, demand

response systems, and energy management and control systems • Solar Ready

o Solar zone area, structural loads and interconnection pathways • Covered process

o Enclosed parking garages, commercial kitchens, computer rooms, commercial refrigeration, refrigerated warehouses, laboratory exhaust, compressed air systems and process boilers

Energy End Use Components

Energy end use components for nonresidential building regulated by the Energy Standards include: • Space Heating • Space Cooling • Indoor Fans • Heat Rejection

• Pumps and Misc. • Domestic Hot Water • Indoor Lighting

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Reduce then Generate

As a guiding principle for this project, the ZNE goals will be most beneficial to California if a proper loading order is established for pursuing any metric of ZNE for a given building. This will ensure that regardless of the metric used, the efforts towards achieving that metric are all moving in the same direction and towards a common goal3

The loading order or ‘steps to ZNE buildings’ includes:

.

• Minimizing building loads • Optimizing system efficiency based on equipment efficiency and use • Using highest efficiency appliances • Optimizing building operations to better meet occupant and energy efficiency needs • Improved occupant interactions with the building • Renewable power generation when feasible and as a last step for a ZNE building

Sensitivity of Building Energy Features

It’s important to understand how the overall building energy use is impacted by selected design measures or proposed design changes based on:

• Overall building design and orientation • Climate zone • Total and relative magnitude of specific energy use components

3 The Road to ZNE – Mapping Pathways to ZNE Buildings in California, HMG 12/20/2012

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Sample Question 2

Question: A six-story high-rise residential building is proposed in climate zone 12. As an energy consultant you are asked to provide effective energy-efficiency measures for reducing TDV energy use for the project.

Which of the following measures will likely result in the most energy-efficient building?

A. Increase the wall insulation from R-19 to R-21. B. Install fixed windows with an RSHGC of 0.25 or lower and operable windows with an

RSHGC of 0.22 or lower. C. Install low-flow plumbing fixtures in all units and fluorescent lighting in all bathrooms. D. Install windows with a U-factor of 0.40 or higher, and install 12 EER air conditioners.

Answer: B. Install fixed windows with an RSHGC4

Since CZ12 is a predominantly cooling dependant climate zone, measure that reduces the effect of solar gains will have the largest affect on reducing overall TDV energy use in buildings. Therefore, through the process of elimination, it is fairly easy to reduce the number of possible correct answers to two. Since neither plumbing nor lighting fixtures is part of the TDV

of 0.25 or lower and operable windows with an RSHGC of 0.22 or lower.

energy budget for the whole building performance method for high-rise residential construction, answer choice C can be eliminated as a possible answer. Answer choice D can also be eliminated because window U-factor only measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping a building and a 12 EER air conditioner is only slightly better than the 11.7 EER minimum efficiency requirements. This leaves only two possible answer choices, A or B. Although increasing the wall insulation from R-19 to R-21 reduces the effect of solar gains, it does not meet the minimum prescriptive U-factor requirement for wood-framed and other walls listed in Table 140.3-C, therefore would not increase the overall TDV energy use and can be eliminated as a possible correct answer. This leaves B Install fixed windows with an RSHGC of 0.25 or lower and operable windows with an RSHGC of 0.22 or lower as the only correct choice to the question. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much heat from the sun is blocked, which is particularly important during the summer cooling season in hot climates. The proposed fixed window RSHGC of 0.25 or lower and operable window RSHGC of 0.22 or lower is equal to or better that the respective RSHGCs listed in Table 140.3-C

4 Relative Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (RSHGC) is the effective solar heat gain coefficient of a fenestration product that includes the effect of an exterior overhang. If there is no overhang, they are the same value.

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Objective 1.3: Envelope Design Understand envelope design elements, including daylighting design features and explain how they affect energy design and efficiency. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Construction assemblies o Insulation (cavity and continuous) o Impacts of thermal barriers and thermal bridging o Assumptions built into the prescriptive envelope assemblies

• Cool roofs and when they have a large impact on TDV energy use. • Fenestration area, orientation, U-factor, SHGC and VT; fixed shading; and their part in energy

design strategies for various occupancy types and climate zones. • Design elements of good daylighting design, and how they can inadvertently increase energy use

if not applied properly

Construction Assemblies Building envelope components, such as framing material, masonry or concrete, cavity insulation, continuous insulation, moisture membranes, sheathing, etc. make up opaque envelope assemblies for roof/ceilings, walls and floors. The Energy Standards set the minimum insulation levels and the prescriptive requirements for construction assemblies. The requirements are expressed as maximum U-factors.

The assembly U-factor and descriptions of a particular building construction assemblies can be found in the appropriate tables listed in the Reference Joint Appendix Chapter 4 (JA4) for the prescriptive compliance approach. For the performance approach, construction assemblies are calculated based on individual assembly components representing the proposed construction assembly.

Cool Roofs A cool roof is a roofing product with high solar reflectance and thermal emittance properties, which help reduce cooling loads by lowering roof temperatures on hot, sunny days. Solar reflectance and thermal emittance are properties of the roofing surface.

Aged solar reflectance is the solar reflectance of the surface after three years, which typically is lower than the initial reflectance value. The higher the solar reflectance, the better (the more heat is reflected from the roofing material).

Thermal emittance provides a means of quantifying how much of the absorbed heat is rejected for a given material. The higher the thermal emittance value, the better (the more heat the roofing material emits back to the atmosphere).

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Fenestration The use of high performance fenestration can actually reduce energy consumption by decreasing the lighting and heating/ cooling loads in nonresidential buildings. The size, orientation, shading and types of fenestration products can dramatically affect overall energy performance. Fenestration performance values are expressed as maximum U-factors, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and visible transmittance (VT).

U-Factor is the overall coefficient of thermal transmittance of a fenestration, wall, floor, or roof/ceiling component, in Btu/(hr x ft² x ºF), including air film resistance at both surfaces. The lower the U-factor, the better (less thermal transmittance).

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the ratio of the solar heat gain entering the space through the fenestration area to the incident solar radiation. Solar heat gain includes directly transmitted solar heat and absorbed solar radiation, which is then reradiated, conducted, or convected into the space. The lower the SHGC, the better (less solar heat gain entering the space).

Visible Transmittance (VT) is the ratio (expressed as a decimal) of visible light that is transmitted through a glazing fenestration. The higher the VT rating, the better (more light is allowed through a window).

Objective 1.4: Mechanical and Water Heating Design Understand mechanical and service hot water design elements and systems, and how they affect energy design and efficiency. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Heating and Cooling systems, equipment types and efficiencies. • Duct systems, location, insulation and duct leakage (HERS measure). • Service hot water systems, types and efficiencies. • Fans and pumps • Main energy efficiency strategies in the design of typical mechanical systems

Efficiencies Heating, cooling and water heating equipment types and efficiency ratings must meet minimum state and federal appliance regulations. Heating, cooling and water heating system types and efficiencies can be referenced from any of the following sources:

• 2013 Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential Manual, Appendix B • 2015 Title 20 California Appliance Efficiency Regulations

Heating Systems Boilers are used to generate steam or hot water and can be fired by natural gas, propane, fuel oil or electricity. Efficiency performance values for small gas and oil fired boilers (rated input <300 kBtu/hr)

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are expressed as minimum AFUE, while large boilers (rated inputs ≥300 kBtu/hr) are expressed as minimum combustion efficiency.

Furnaces are often used for commercial heating systems and are available as a space heating system or central heating system types. Furnaces use natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and electricity for the heat source. Efficiency performance values for small gas and oil fired furnaces (rated inputs <225 kBtu/hr) are expressed in AFUE, while large furnaces (rated inputs ≥225 kBtu/hr) are expressed as Thermal Efficiency.

Heat pumps are devices that add heat to or extract heat from a conditioned space. Both refrigerators and air conditioners are types of heat pumps that extract heat from a cooler space and reject it to a warmer space (i.e., the outdoors). Heating can be obtained if this cycle is reversed: heat is moved from the outdoors to the conditioned space indoors. Heat pumps are available in two major types: conventional packaged (air-source) and water-source (conventional or geothermal). Efficiency performance values for small heat pumps (cooling capacity <65 kBtu/hr) are generally expressed in HSPF, while large heat pumps (cooling capacity ≥65 kBtu/hr) and water-source heat pumps are expressed as COP.

Cooling Systems Chillers are mechanical devices used to produce cool water and are commonly used in larger nonresidential buildings. The cool water produced by the chiller is pumped to air handling units to cool the air. Chillers use mechanical refrigeration, absorption or evaporative processes to cool water.

Condensers are heat exchangers that are required for air conditioning units or chillers to reject heat that has been removed from the conditioned spaces. Condensers can be either air-cooled or water-cooled. Water-cooled condensers often rely on rooftop cooling towers for rejecting heat into the environment; however, it is possible to reject the heat to the ground or river water.

Air-cooled condensers are offered on smaller, split or packaged systems. Efficiency performance values for air-cooled condensers are expressed in SEER, EER and IEER.

Water-cooled condensers use water that is cooled directly from the evaporative condenser or indirectly via a cooling tower. The lower temperature achieved by evaporating water allows chillers served by water-cooled condensers to operate more efficiently.

Economizers can be either air-side or water-side economizers. An air-side economizer consists of equipments and controls that allow outside air into the conditioned space when the outdoor temperature is low enough to satisfy the cooling need. Water-side economizers consist of controls and a heat exchanger installed between the cooling tower water loop and the chilled water loop. When the outdoor air temperature is low and/or the air is very dry (i.e., when the wet-bulb temperature is low), the temperature of the cooling tower water may be low enough to directly cool the chilled water loop without use of the chiller, resulting in significant energy savings.

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Water Heating Systems Boilers are also used to generate service hot water and can be fired by natural gas, propane, fuel oil or electricity. Boilers are typically used in conjunction with a storage take and can be directly or indirectly heated. Efficiency performance values for small gas and oil fired boilers (rated input <300 kBtu/hr) are expressed as minimum AFUE, while large boilers (rated inputs ≥300 kBtu/hr) are expressed as minimum combustion efficiency.

Storage water heaters can be fired by natural gas, propane, fuel oil or electricity. Efficiency performance values for small storage gas and oil fired water heaters (rated input <105 kBtu/hr) are expressed as minimum Energy Factor, while storage gas or oil fired water heaters (rated inputs ≥105 kBtu/hr) are expressed as minimum thermal efficiency.

Solar water heating consists of solar collectors, tank, pumps, heat exchanges and controls designed to deliver hot water produced by the sun. Solar water heating is typically connected to the buildings service hot water system and provides a portion of the hot water demand. The portion of hot water that is provided by the solar water heating system is referred to as the solar fraction.

Objective 1.5: Lighting Design Understand lighting design elements, and explain how they affect energy design and efficiency. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Light sources and fixtures (types, directional sources, high efficacy lighting, lamp types, ballast types, input watts)

• Indoor and outdoor lighting controls (mandatory control measures versus controls for compliance credit)

• Color Temperature and CRI • Illuminated area of exterior lighting • Daylighting design (integrated with envelope) • General vs. display lighting, and different kinds of lighting designs and fixture types typically

used for each • Key elements of good interior lighting design in typical nonresidential spaces

Light Source Different source technologies provide different efficacy levels. For example, incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps use different amounts of power to produce the same amount of light. Each type of lamp has a different rated efficacy, with the LED example being the most efficacious (producing the most lumens per watt). Common light sources used in nonresidential buildings include:

• Incandescent • Fluorescent • LED

• Halogen • Metal Halide • Induction

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Lighting Controls Sensors and controls can achieve significant energy savings by automatically adjusting lighting based on time of day, available task needs, daylight, occupancy, and electricity supply or cost. The 2013 Title 24 standards introduce many new requirements for lighting controls in nonresidential buildings. Power Adjustment Factors (PAF) for lighting controls may be used for compliance credit only when applicable mandatory lighting controls are not required for the primary use area. Mandatory lighting controls include:

• Area Controls • Multi-level Lighting Controls • Shut-off Controls • Automatic Daylighting Controls • Demand Response Controls

Mandatory lighting control requirements must be met regardless of the compliance approach (prescriptive or performance). Lighting control devices must be either certified to the Energy Commission as meeting California’s Appliance Efficiency Standards (Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations) or the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6).

Color Temperature and CRI Correlated color temperature (CCT) indicates the warmth or coolness of the light emitted by a given source. CCT is measured on the Kelvin scale (K). Light sources with a low CCT (2,700 – 3,000 K) give off light that is warm in appearance. Sources with higher CCT values (4,000 – 6,500 K) provide light with a cooler color appearance. Selecting light sources with consistent CCTs helps maintain some consistency in the appearance of various light sources.

Color rendering index (CRI) is the current industry standard for measuring how accurately a light source renders the colors of the objects it illuminates. The maximum CRI value is 100. Most indoor commercial applications should have a minimum CRI of 80. Specifying lamps and luminaires with similar color rendering properties helps ensure wall color, carpeting and other materials have a consistent appearance, especially in adjoining spaces.

Objective 1.6: Energy Performance Metrics Understand why different energy metrics are used for different purposes; what common building energy performance metrics measure; and what factors are included in calculation of these metrics. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Site and source energy • Energy cost (including rates/tariffs) • TDV energy • Peak demand • Cost-effectiveness of energy measures • CO2 emissions

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Energy Performance Metrics Site energy is the amount of energy brought into a site (e.g. the building)

Source energy represents the total amount of energy used to produce and transport energy to the site.

Time Dependant Value (TDV) energy is the time varying energy caused to be used by the building to provide space conditioning and water heating and for specified buildings lighting. TDV energy accounts for the energy used at the building site and consumed in producing and in delivering energy to a site, including, but not limited to, power generation, transmission and distribution losses.

Peak demand is maximum power requirement of a system at a given time, or the amount of power required to supply customers at times when need is greatest. They can refer either to the load at a given moment (e.g. a specific time of day) or to averaged load over a given period of time (e.g. a specific day or hour of the day).

Cost effectiveness of energy measures is something that is a good value, where the benefits and usage are worth at least what is paid for the measure.

CO2 emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, or carbon emissions is the release of carbon into the atmosphere through the burning of fuel. Since greenhouse gas emissions are often calculated as carbon dioxide equivalents, they are often referred to as “carbon emissions” when discussing global warming or the greenhouse effect.

Additional study resources: • 2013 Nonresidential Compliance Manual

http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/nonresidential_manual.html • 2013 Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2013publications/CEC-400-2013-004/CEC-400-2013-004-CMF.pdf • EnergyCodeAce.com Fact Sheet – 2013 Cool Roofs Nonresidential Reroofing

http://energycodeace.com/download/143/file_path/fieldList/Facts_Nonres_2013_Coolroof_2014.02.13.pdf

• EnergyCodeAce.com Fact Sheet – 2013 Nonresidential Fenestration http://energycodeace.com/download/281/file_path/fieldList/Facts_Nonres_Fenestration_2014%2007%2001.pdf

• EnergyCodeAce.com – Nonresidential Lighting Mandatory Controls 2013 http://energycodeace.com/download/140/file_path/fieldList/Facts_Nonres_Lighting_Mand_Ctrls_2014%2007%2001.pdf

• EnergyCodeAce.com – Nonresidential Lighting Controls for Credit 2013 http://energycodeace.com/download/280/file_path/fieldList/Facts_Nonres_Lighting_Ctrls_Credit_20140221.pdf

• EnergyCodeAce.com – Nonresidential Daylighting and Daylighting Controls 2013 http://energycodeace.com/download/138/file_path/fieldList/Facts_Nonres_Daylighting_2014.07.01.pdf

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• California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) – 2013 Title 24, Part 6 Retail Lighting Guide http://cltc.ucdavis.edu/publication/2013-title-24-part-6-retail-lighting-guide

• California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) – 2013 Title 24, Part 6 Lighting for Office Application Guide http://cltc.ucdavis.edu/publication/2013-title-24-part-6-lighting-office-applications-guide

• California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) – 2013 Title 24, Part 6 Outdoor Lighting Guide http://cltc.ucdavis.edu/publication/2013-title-24-part-6-outdoor-lighting-guide

• CABEC Summer 2014 Newsletter: Article by Melinda Keller • Energy Design Resources Design Brief – Options and Opportunities

http://energydesignresources.com/media/1768/EDR_DesignBriefs_options.pdf • Whole Building Design Guide – High-Performance HVAC

https://www.wbdg.org/resources/hvac.php • Autodesk Sustainability Workshop - http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/building-design • ASHRAE Standard 55; ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals • National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) http://www.nfrc.org/windowratings/Energy-

ratings.html • The Road to ZNE – Mapping Pathways to ZNE Buildings in California

http://energydesignresources.com/media/18918368/hmg-road-to-zne-final-report_withappendices.pdf

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Code Triggers

Competency 2: Conduct Initial Project Assessment and Determine How to Apply the 2013 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards Competency two focuses on the ability to gather preliminary information from drawings, related documents, and the client to determine the nature and scope of the project; and determine how to apply the Standards in establishing the correct code requirements and the available energy compliance options.

Objective 2.1: Scope and Triggers for Nonresidential Energy Standards Understand project scope and triggers for specified portions of the Title 24 Nonresidential Standards, High-rise Residential Standards and the appliance standards. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Specific scope and triggers for Nonresidential, High-rise Residential and Hotel/Motel buildings (new construction, additions and alterations); and when compliance analysis and documentation is required for a project.

• Requirements for conditioned versus unconditioned space, and indoor versus outdoor areas. • Mandatory measures, Prescriptive and Performance compliance approaches. • Federal and State appliance standards; and what types of equipment are covered in State standards

but not federal appliance standards

Scope and Triggers The project scope defines the energy measures for the buildings proposed design, but understanding what triggers certain requirements is essential in preparing compliance documentation for nonresidential, high-rise residential and hotel/motel buildings. These triggers are based on meeting requirements established by the Energy Standards and the Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Project information found in the building plans and specifications like the buildings occupancy, location, size, condition (new, addition or alteration) type, (conditioned, unconditioned and outdoors) and individual components is necessary in determining how and when the code applies.

Occupancy The Nonresidential Standards apply to all buildings of the California Building Code (CBC) occupancies of Group A, B, E, F, H, M, R, S or U. If these buildings are directly or indirectly conditioned, they must meet all mechanical, envelope, indoor, and outdoor lighting requirements of the Standards. Those buildings that are not directly or indirectly conditioned must only meet the indoor and outdoor lighting requirements of the Energy Standards. There are two occupancies NOT covered by the Energy Standards, those are Group I and L.

High-rise Residential buildings are multifamily building with four or more habitable stories. The Standards apply separately to the living quarters and to other areas within the building. Living quarters are those non-public portions of the building in which a resident lives. High-rise

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residential dwelling units must incorporate the envelope and mechanical elements of the Nonresidential Standards, with the lighting and service hot water needs of residential buildings. Outdoor lighting, including parking lots and garages for eight or more vehicles and for indoor or outdoor signs (other than exit signs) must comply with the Nonresidential Standards.

Hotel and Motel buildings are unique in that the design must incorporate a wide variety of occupancies and functions into one structure. The occupancies range from nonresidential occupancies to hotel/motel guest rooms. Design functions that affect guests range from the "experience of arrival" created through the main lobby's architectural features to the thermal comfort of the guest rooms. Other functions that hotel/motel designs must address include restaurants, kitchens, laundry, storage, light assembly, outdoor lighting, sign lighting, and other items that are necessary to the hotel/motel function. The nonresidential areas must meet the envelope, mechanical, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, and sign lighting portions of the Nonresidential Standards, and the guest room portions of hotels/motels must meet the envelope, mechanical, and lighting provisions applicable only to hotels/motel guest rooms.

Mixed and Multiple Use buildings are when a residential occupancy occurs in the same building as a nonresidential occupancy. Because the Standards are different for residential, high-rise residential and nonresidential buildings, and because mixed-use buildings occasionally include more than one type of nonresidential occupancy, there is potential for confusion in application.

Sample Question 3

Question: A tenant improvement to an existing 1,600 ft2 courtroom (occupant density = 40 ft2 per person) is proposed in climate zone 12. The mechanical contractor is installing a 5 ton packaged air source heat pump with an air economizer to serve the space.

What requirement would have to be met regardless of the compliance approach?

A. Demand control ventilation B. Supply air temperature reset controls C. Direct digital controls D. 15 SEER cooling efficiency

Answer: A: Demand control ventilation

To answer this question correctly, you must understand the code triggers for nonresidential mechanical systems. Demand control ventilation is mandatory for HVAC systems with the following characteristics:

• They have an air economizer; and • They serve a space with a design occupant density, or a maximum occupant load factor for

egress purposes in the CBC, greater than or equal to 25 people per 1000 square feet (40 square feet or less per person); and

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• They are either: Single zone systems with any controls; or Multiple zone systems with Direct Digital Controls (DDC) to the zone level. Note: Spaces with an area of less than 1,500 square feet are exempt

Since the described HVAC equipment meets all the characteristics listed for triggering the mandatory controls and mandatory requirements must be met regardless of the compliance method, A is the correct answer.

Supply air temperature reset controls are a prescriptive requirement and only apply to VAV reheat systems.

Direct digital controls are neither a mandatory nor a prescriptive control requirement, although when they are installed, they trigger further control requirements.

15 SEER cooling efficiency is not required by the Energy Regulations. Systems must meet the minimum efficiency requirements regulated by the Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Standards.

Objective 2.2: Analyze Nature and Scope of Proposed Project Analyze all available information about a proposed project (e.g., drawings, related schedules and documents, information from client) to determine overall scope; to analyze which Standards and what compliance options are available. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Reviewing and analyzing architectural, mechanical and electrical (lighting) drawings and schedules.

• Nonresidential vs. high-rise residential standards; and new construction vs. additions vs. alterations.

• Triggers for envelope, indoor or outdoor lighting and mechanical systems, ducts and service hot water systems compliance.

• Conditioned/unconditioned space. • Strengths and weaknesses of difference compliance options.

New Construction, Addition, Alteration The Standards apply to any new construction that requires a building permit, whether for an entire building, for outdoor lighting systems, for signs, or for a modernization. The primary enforcement mechanism is through the building permitting process. The Standards apply only to the construction that is the subject of the building permit application (with the exception of existing spaces that are "conditioned" for the first time, in which case existing envelope components and existing lighting systems, whether altered or not, must also show compliance with the Standards).

An addition is any change to a building that increases conditioned floor area and conditioned volume. See also “newly conditioned space.” Addition is also any change that increases the floor area and volume of an unconditioned building of an occupancy group or type regulated by the Energy Standards.

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Addition is also any change that increases the illuminated area of an outdoor lighting application regulated by the Energy Standards.

An alteration is any change to a building’s water heating system, space conditioning system, indoor lighting system, outdoor lighting system, sign, or envelope that is not an addition.

Compliance Options There are two methods for complying with the Energy Standards, Prescriptive and Performance. While the prescriptive approach provides a simple method for complying, it does not allow the flexibility of trade-offs between building components. On the other hand, the performance approach is very flexible, by allowing trade-offs, it is very complicated and requires additional knowledge of software to use. Regardless of which compliance approach is used, applicable Mandatory Measures must always be met or exceeded. See Figure 1 below.

Figure 1

Sample Question 4

Question: You are beginning work on a set of plans for a new four-story mixed-use project. The project will have three stories of residential apartments located above the ground floor parking garage. Included at the ground floor is a small amount of retail space (less than 10% of the total conditioned floor area) that is fully designed with lighting and mechanical.

Which of the following choices is the correct application of the Title 24 Standards for this project, in addition to all applicable mandatory measures?

A. Show compliance of the retail lighting under the Nonresidential Standards; show compliance of all other features of the project under the High-rise Residential Standards.

B. Show compliance of the upper floors under the Low-rise Residential Standards; show compliance of the retail space under the Nonresidential Standards.

C. Show compliance of the building envelope, HVAC system, lighting and water heating for

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the entire project under the High-rise Residential Standards. D. Show compliance of the retail lighting under the Nonresidential Standards; show

compliance of all other features of the project under the Low-rise Residential Standards.

Answer: A: Show compliance of the retail lighting under the Nonresidential Standards; show compliance of all other features of the project under the High-rise Residential Standards.

Understanding the scope and application of the Energy Standards for mixed-use buildings is necessary to determine the appropriate path for showing compliance. When a building is designed for more than one type of occupancy (residential and nonresidential), the space for each occupancy shall meet the provisions of Part 6 applicable to that occupancy5

If one occupancy constitutes at least 80 percent of the

. Since the scenario above includes only a small amount of retail occupancy (less than 10% of the total CFA) on the ground floor, you may apply exception 1 to Section 100.0(f) which states:

conditioned floor area of the building, the entire building envelope, HVAC, and water heating may be designed to comply with the provisions of Part 6 applicable to that occupancy, provided that the applicable lighting requirements in Sections 140.6 through 140.8 or 150.0(k) are met for each occupancy and space and mandatory measures in Sections 110.0 through 130.5, and 150.0 are met for each occupancy and space.

This exception allows you to show compliance of the retail lighting under the Nonresidential Standards; show compliance of all other features of the project (envelope, HVAC, and water heating) under the High-rise Residential Standards. Showing compliance of the upper floors under the Low-rise Residential Standards and compliance of the retail space under the Nonresidential Standards is not allowed. Since the retail space located on the ground floor is considered habitable space, the residential area must comply with the High-rise Residential Standards.

Objective 2.3: Application of Standards to Proposed Project Analyze proposed project information to determine if all data is correct and internally consistent, and whether relevant information is missing or incomplete. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Correctly scaled/dimensioned architectural drawings. • Mechanical plans and schedules: system and equipment types, efficiencies, water heater

efficiencies, BHP of fans. (Example: difference between manufacturer’s literature and CEC certification)

• Existing conditions for an Existing + Addition + Alteration analysis. • Finding inconsistencies within the drawings (Example: windows shown in elevation not shown in

plans or schedules). • Finding missing information in the electrical (lighting) and mechanical drawings and schedules.

5 2013 Energy Standards Section 100.0(f)

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Drawings and Specifications Project drawings and specifications are constantly in flux during design. Architectural dimensions and wall locations may shift as the architect develops the design to meet the owner’s needs within the framework of construction and code requirements. These changes travel downstream to the mechanical, electrical, structural designs including the energy compliance documentation, which must shift to accommodate them.

Key Energy Design Elements to Review • Construction Assemblies

o Roof/ceilings: type (attic or rafter), slope, framing material/spacing and insulation (cavity and continuous)

o Exterior walls: type (framed or mass), framing material/spacing and insulation (cavity and continuous)

o Floors: type (raised, slab, heated or unheated), framing material/spacing and insulation • Fenestration

o Types: windows, glass doors, skylights, manufactured, site-built or field fabricated o Performance: U-factor, SHGC and VT; NFRC rated, default values or COG calculations o Shading: permanent overhangs and side fins o Daylighting: skylit area, primary and secondary sidelit area

• HVAC systems o Equipment types, efficiencies, zoning, distribution system type and locations o Ventilation systems types and efficiencies o Fan and pump system types and efficiencies

• Water Heating Systems o Equipment types, efficiencies, distribution system type and locations

Objective 2.4: Mandatory Measures Understand mandatory envelope, mechanical, service hot water and lighting measures that apply to a proposed project. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Pick out envelope mandatory measures applicable to proposed project. • Distinguish mandatory envelope requirements from prescriptive or performance measures. • Pick out indoor and outdoor lighting mandatory measures applicable to proposed project. • Distinguish mandatory indoor lighting requirements from prescriptive credits. • Pick out mechanical and water heating mandatory measures applicable to proposed project. • Distinguish mandatory HVAC requirements from prescriptive or performance measures.

Mandatory Measures Sections 110.1 through 110.10 of the Energy Standards establish requirements for manufacturing, construction, and installation of certain systems, equipment, appliances and building components that are installed in buildings.

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Section 120.1 through 120.9 of the Energy Standards establish requirements for the design and installation of building envelopes, ventilation, space-conditioning and service water-heating systems and equipment in nonresidential, high-rise residential, and hotel/motel buildings as well as covered processes.

Section 130.0 through 130.5 of the Energy Standards establish requirements for lighting systems and equipment, and electrical power distribution in nonresidential, high-rise residential, and hotel/motel buildings.

Additional study resources:

• 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential Compliance Manual • 2015 Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Trigger Sheets • Energy Design Resources – Design Review

http://energydesignresources.com/media/1720/EDR_DesignBriefs_designreview.pdf

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Project Assessment

Competency 3: Gather, Calculate and Organize All Information Needed for Energy Modeling Competency three focuses on the ability to review drawings, specifications and information provided by the designer or client; gather, calculate and record all pertinent data to input into the energy modeling software.

Objective 3.1: Analyze Project for Mechanical System Modeling Data Analyze pertinent project data regarding mechanical systems/zones and service hot water to input into energy modeling software. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Mechanical schedules: typical vs. special system input values. • How different systems serve different parts of the building, and strategies for modeling multiple

HVAC systems serving one zone. • Getting equipment data from CEC directories and acceptable sources of other efficiencies. • Plans, symbols, organization of plan sheets, location of data. • Sub-occupancies for minimum ventilation rates. • Correctly zoning an energy model based on available mechanical system drawings and

schedules. • Mechanical system and service hot water system data often missing (e.g., fan and pump BHP).

Mechanical System Modeling Inputs Mechanical system modeling inputs must be consistent with plans and specifications submitted in the building permit application and all equipment and controls must be certified for use in California and listed in the Appliance Efficiency Database. Refer to Objective 1.4: Mechanical and Water Heating Design for more information.

Heating systems can be accomplished by heating the air within a space or by heating the occupants by radiation. Basic heating system inputs for modeling include:

• Equipment type • Heating source type • Heating coil control • Quantity

• Total heating output (kBtu/hr) • Efficiency • Supplemental heat source and output

(kBtu/hr)

Air-conditioning refers to the sensible and latent cooling of air. Sensible cooling involves the control of air temperature while latent cooling involves the control of air humidity. Room air is cooled by transferring heat between spaces, such as with a water loop heat pump system, or by rejecting it to the outside air via air-cooled or water-cooled equipment. Heat can also be rejected to the ground using geothermal exchange. Cool air is not comfortable if it is too humid. Air is dehumidified by condensing its moisture on a cold surface, such as part of mechanical cooling, or by removing the moisture through absorption (desiccant dehumidification). In dry climates, humidification may be required for comfort

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instead of dehumidification. Evaporative humidification also cools the air. Further, in such climates it is possible to use radiant cooling systems, similar to the radiant heating systems. Basic cooling system inputs for modeling include:

• Equipment type • Cooling coil control • Quantity • Total cooling output (kBtu/hr) • Efficiency • Condenser type

• Evaporative pre-cool effectiveness and pump HP (BHP)

• Economizer type • Supply/return Fan volume and HP (BHP) • Fan control type and configuration

Ventilation maintains an adequate mixture of gases in the air we breathe, controls odors, and removes contaminants from occupied spaces. "Clean" air helps keep occupants healthy and productive. Ventilation can be accomplished passively through natural ventilation, or actively through mechanical distribution systems powered by fans. Basic ventilation system inputs for modeling include:

• Required ventilation rate • Equipment type • Fan type and configuration

• Flow control type • Design power (HP) • Controls

Controls ensure occupant comfort, provide safe operation of the equipment, and in a modern HVAC control system enable judicious use of energy resources. Basic HVAC control inputs for modeling include:

• Zone thermostatic controls • Shut-off and temperature setup/setback • Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) • Occupant sensor controls

• Automatic demand shed controls • Economizer fault detection and diagnostics

(FDD) • Direct digital controls (DDC)

Service hot water systems provide hot water for domestic uses. Basic Service hot water system inputs for modeling include:

• Equipment type • Storage volume • Intput (kBtu/hr)

• Efficiency • Tank insulation • Number of systems

Distribution systems conveying either mechanically heated or chilled fluids for space conditioning or service water heating. Basic distribution system inputs for modeling include:

• Heating/cooling distribution type • Location and insulation • Heating/cooling duct losses • Supply/return air path

• Hot water distribution type • Location and insulation • Recirculation pump flow rate and control • Pump design power (HP)

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Objective 3.2: Organize Zone-by-Zone Area Take-offs Organize and perform envelope and daylighting zone-by-zone area take-offs in accordance with the scope, type, and compliance approach for the project. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Reading plans, sections, elevations and architectural details. • Using the appropriate construction assemblies from JA4 tables. Refer to Objective 1.3: Envelope

Design for more information. • Using the correct fenestration U-factor, SHGC and VT; CMA software calculations; and use of

COG calculations. • Defining what are the skylit, primary sidelit and secondary sidelit zones. • Organizing and coordinating envelope take-offs with HVAC Systems/Zones and lighting Area

Category areas. • Envelope data often missing or inconsistent between plans, sections and elevations (e.g.,

fenestration shown in the plans and elevations that does not match window and door schedules).

Zone-by-zone and Take-offs Use water heating and HVAC zones to organize input data for the building components collected from the drawings and specifications. Although most computer programs require the same basic data, some information, and the manner in which it is organized, may vary according to the particular program used. Refer to the user manual that comes with each program for additional details.

• Project name and address, site location, “Front” orientation, building rotation from true north, climate zone, principal heating source.

• General zone or room characteristics o Occupancy and/or area category o Ceiling Height o Floor Elevation o Floor to Floor Height o New, Altered or Existing

• Calculate conditioned floor area for each zone • Perform opaque surface area take-offs

o Roofs/ceilings, exterior walls, floors o Aggregate by assembly type, orientation

• Perform fenestration (glazing) area take-offs o Areas based on nominal sizes or rough openings (i.e., both glazing and frame) o Vertical glazing and skylights o Determine appropriate performance value method for the type of fenestration o Orientation o Include fixed shading as appropriate

• Any special envelope conditions to consider? o Unusual construction assemblies or materials

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o Unusual architectural geometry • Keep track of New, Altered or Existing

Fenestration The Energy Standards require that all fenestration products have labels that list the U-factor, SHGC, VT and the method used to determine those values. The methods for determining these values vary based on the type of fenestration products: manufactured, site-built and field-fabricated. Fenestration U-factor and SHGC can be determined from the following source:

• NFRC rated fenestration products or NFRC label certificate CMA (Component Modeling Approach) Developed by NFRC for nonresidential fenestration.

• Table 110.6-A and B Default Fenestration Product U-factors and SHGC • Alternate Default U-factor Calculation from Nonresidential Appendix NA6 Converts a center-of-

glass U-factor to an overall fenestration U-factor and SHGC for site-built fenestration. Note: NFRC rating or default U-factor and SHGC MUST be used if building has ≥ 1,000 ft2 of new site-built fenestration.

Fenestration VT values can be found in manufacturer’s literature, which may also be calculated from Nonresidential Appendix NA6 center-of-glass values for site-built products. There are no maximum area restrictions for using the NA6 center-of-glass calculation to determine VT for site-built products.

Zoning Spaces Daylit Zone is the floor area under skylights or next to windows. Types of Daylit Zones include Primary Sidelit Daylit Zone, Secondary Sidelit Daylit Zone, and Skylit Daylit Zone. General lighting in areas under skylights and adjacent to windows must have daylighting controls and must be controlled independently from all other luminaires.

Thermal zones are a space or collection of spaces within a building having sufficiently similar space conditioning requirements so that those conditions could be maintained with a single thermal controlling device. A thermal zone is a thermal and not a geometric concept: spaces need not be contiguous to be combined within a single thermal zone. However, daylighting requirements may prevent combining noncontiguous spaces into a single thermal zone.

HVAC zones are a physical space within the building that has its own thermostat and zonal system for maintaining thermal comfort. HVAC zones are identified on the HVAC plans. HVAC zones should not be split between thermal zones, but a thermal zone may include more than one HVAC zone.

Space function is a sub-component of a thermal zone that has specific standard design lighting requirements and for which there are associated defaults for outside air ventilation, occupancy, receptacle loads, and hot water consumption. An HVAC zone may contain more than one space function. Daylit areas should generally be defined as separate space functions, even if they have the same classification, so that lighting reductions due to daylighting can be determined at the appropriate resolution.

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Objective 3.3: Organize Zone-by-Zone Area Take-offs Organize and perform indoor lighting prescriptive calculations including sub-zone area take-offs in accordance with the scope, type, and compliance approach for the project. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Allowed Total Watts vs. Adjusted Installed Watts in the Prescriptive and Performance approaches.

• Calculating Allowed Watts including selection of appropriate LPDs and relevant definitions of Complete Building, Area Category and Tailored Lighting areas.

• Use of Tables 140.6-E and 140.6-F. • Power Adjustment Factors (PAFs) and lighting control credits; and control credits vs. mandatory

lighting controls. • Calculating display lighting areas, relevant rules and definitions. • Tailored Method: Allowed LPDs based on RCR and Table 140.6-G. • Calculating Adjusted Installed LPD. • Use of lighting fixture schedules, CEC defaults for installed fixtures and when they can be used. • How to divide the floor plan into Area Categories; and what to do when room labels do not

clarify which Area Category to select. • Indoor lighting information on RCPs or fixture schedules often missing (e.g., number, type and

wattage of lamps per fixture; standard fixture types with default input wattages vs. specific manufacturer cut sheets for particular lamp/ballast combinations).

Lighting Power Densities Lighting power density (LPD) represents the total lighting power (Watts/ft2) for a defined area. All nonresidential buildings must meet LPD requirements through either the prescriptive or performance approach. LPDs are used to define the total allowed lighting power as well as the total installed lighting power. There are three methods to determine the allowed LPD. These are:

Complete Building Method is allowed when all areas in the building are complete and when there is only one type of use for a minimum of 90 percent of the floor area of the entire building. LPD values for use types areas are defined by Table 140.6-B.

Area Category Method allows the use of a single LPD that is applied to all lighting in a primary use area. Different primary function areas allow different LPDs. LPD values are for primary function areas are defined by Table 140.6-C. Additional lighting power is available for specialized task work, ornamental, precision, accent, display, decorative, and white boards and chalk boards, in accordance with the footnotes in this table. These additional lighting power credits are “use-it-or-lose-it” credits, which means the lower of the additional lighting power or the actual additional lighting power.

Tailored Method provides separate lighting power on a room-by-room or area-by-area basis for general lighting, task lighting, ornamental lighting, and different types of display lighting in each space. Lighting power allowances for primary function areas are defined by Table 140.6-D.

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After choosing a compliance method, calculate the allowed lighting power by multiplying the LPD by the area (ft2) for each function area. The total allowed lighting power for the project is the sum of the allowed lighting power from all function areas in the building.

The actual lighting power of the proposed building area is the total sum of all planned permanent and portable lighting systems, after any lighting power adjustments. Luminaire power can be determined by two different methods. The first method is to use the default tables contained in the Nonresidential Appendices NA8, which include a limited list of luminaire power values for common lamp and ballast combinations. The second method is to use the actual rated luminaire power as defined by Section 130.0(c) in the Energy Standards.

Power Adjustment Factor (PAF) is an adjustment, or credit, to the actual installed lighting power in a space, so that when completing the compliance documentation, some of the installed lighting power is not counted toward the building’s total installed lighting load. PAFs can be applied when specific lighting controls are installed, provided those lighting controls are not required by the Standards. PAF credits are defined by Table 140.6-A in the Energy Standards.

The total adjusted actual lighting power should not exceed the total allowed lighting power. If the lighting design does not comply, then it will have to be revised to achieve a lower total lighting power.

Sample Question 5

Question: A barber shop is planned which includes a 200 ft2 waiting area, a 75 ft2 restroom, a 75 ft2 storage room and 650 ft2 for the barber chairs.

What is the total allowed wattage for the general lighting?

A. 600 watts B. 1,110 watts C. 1,330 watts D. 1,415 watts

Answer: D. 1415 watts

Based on Table 140.6-C Area Category Method – Lighting Power Density Values (Watts/ft2) and Section 100.1(b) definitions We can come to the following conclusion:.

Primary Function Area (ft2)

Allowed Lighting Power (W/ft2)

Allowed Wattage

Waiting Area 200 ft2 X 1.1 W/ft2 = 220 Watts Restroom 75 ft2 X 0.6 W/ft2 = 45 Watts

Storage 75 ft2 X 0.6 W/ft2 = 45 Watts Beauty Salon X 1.7 W/ft2 = 1105 Watts

Total = 1415 Watts

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Objective 3.4: Prescriptive Approach for Outdoor and Sign Lighting Organize and perform prescriptive calculations for exterior hardscape lighting and signage lighting including area take-offs in accordance with the scope, type, and compliance approach for the project. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Outdoor Lighting Zone. • How to calculate illuminated area within the hardscape. • Allowed Total Watts vs. Adjusted Installed Watts for Hardscapes. • Calculating Allowed Watts including selection of appropriate LPDs and relevant rules and

definitions in applying Table 140.7-B. • Use of Tables 147-B and 140.7-C. • Allowed Total Watts vs. Adjusted Installed Watts for signs. • Exterior lighting information needed (e.g., mounting height, property lines) but sometimes

missing.

Outdoor Lighting Outdoor lighting requirements set the maximum allowable power levels, minimum control and cutoff requirements. These requirements can only be met prescriptively and not tradeoffs with other building components are allowed. The Outdoor lighting requirements apply to all outdoor lighting in the following areas:

• Attached buildings, poles, structures • Self supporting, such as lighting for:

o Hardscape areas, including parking lots o Building entrances and facades

• All outdoor sales areas

Allowed lighting power is determined based on how bright the surrounding conditions are, which is dependent upon which Lighting Zone (LZ) the project is located. Lighting Zones are based on U.S. Census Bureau boundaries for urban and rural areas as well as the legal boundaries of wilderness and park areas. These lighting zones are listed in Table 10-114-A of the Energy Standards.

General Hardscape is the area of an improvement to a site that is paved or has other structural features such as curbs, plazas, entries, parking lots, site roadways, driveways, walkways, sidewalks, bikeways, water features and pools, storage or service yards, loading docks, amphitheaters, outdoor sales lots, and private monuments and statuary.

Allowed lighting power within general hardscape areas are calculated based on the sum of the Area Wattage Allowance (AWA), Linear Wattage Allowance (LWA) and the Initial Wattage Allowance (IWA) for its respective LZ.

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Illuminated Area is defined as any hardscape area within a square pattern around each luminaire or pole that is 10 times the luminaire mounting height, with the luminaire in the middle of the pattern.

Additional Lighting Power for Specific Applications provides additional lighting power that can be layered in addition to the General Hardscape lighting power allowances as applicable. These allowances are listed in Table 140.7-B in the Energy Standards. Allowed lighting power for specific applications are “use-it-or-lose-it” credits and shall not be traded between specific applications, or to hardscape lighting.

Similar to the indoor lighting requirements, the total actual outdoor lighting power should not exceed the total allowed outdoor lighting power. If the lighting design does not comply, then it will have to be revised to achieve a lower total lighting power.

Sign Lighting Sign lighting requirements set the maximum allowable power levels, minimum control and minimum efficacy requirements. These requirements can only be met prescriptively and not tradeoffs with other building components are allowed.

Additional study resources:

• 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual • Whole Building Design Guide – High-Performance HVAC • EnergyCodeAce.com – Energy Plan Review Checklist • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Trigger Sheets • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Fact Sheets

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Energy Modeling

Competency 4: Model the Building with Approved Energy Compliance Software Competency four focuses on creating an energy model of the building from all information gathered. Check to see if on-screen and report results are reasonable, and if not, correct the source of the error(s).

Objective 4.1: Create an Accurate Energy Model Create an accurate energy model of a proposed project using state-approved energy compliance software. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Organize correct hierarchies of Plant, System, Zone, Room, Surfaces and Fenestration. • Input mechanical and service hot water systems, and zones by occupancy type. • Input zone areas, envelope surfaces and assemblies, and fenestration including shading. • Input indoor lighting by area categories. • Input outdoor lighting by lighting applications.

Performance Method The performance method is considered the most detailed and flexible compliance path. The energy performance of a proposed building design can be calculated according to actual building geometry and site placement. Credit for certain energy features, such as a high efficiency mechanical system, cannot be taken in the prescriptive approach, but can be evaluated with an approved compliance software program.

The following steps are a general outline of the energy modeling process: • All detailed data for the building component or components must be collected including

fenestration areas and energy properties, wall, door, roof/ceiling, and floor areas, construction assemblies, solar heat gain coefficients, mass characteristics, equipment specifications, lighting, and service water heating information from the drawings and specifications.

• Although most computer programs require the same basic data, some information, and the manner in which it is organized, may vary according to the particular program used. Refer to the user manual that comes with each program for additional details.

• Be sure that the correct climate information has been selected for the building site location. Compliance software also adjusts outside heating and cooling design temperatures for local conditions using ASHRAE design data.

• Prepare an input file that describes the other thermal aspects of the proposed design according to the rules described in the program’s user manual.

• Input values and assumptions must correctly correspond to the proposed design and conform to the required mandatory measures.

• Run the computer program to automatically generate the energy budget of the standard design and calculate the energy use of the proposed design.

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Certain modeling techniques and compliance assumptions applied to the proposed design are fixed or restricted. That is, there is little or no freedom to choose input values for energy compliance modeling purposes. However, there are other aspects of energy modeling where some professional judgment may be acceptable or even necessary. In those instances, the compliance software user must exercise proper judgment in evaluating whether a given input is appropriate.

Objective 4.2: Standard Design Apply how the Standard Design that sets the energy budget is established based on the proposed envelope, indoor lighting, HVAC and service hot water. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Overall geometry, zoning and occupancy features of the Standard Design. • Envelope features: how the ACM “decides” what construction assemblies and fenestration to

put in the Standard Design. • Indoor lighting: how the ACM “knows” what LPD to use in the Standard Design. • HVAC system: equipment, fan power and other features; how the ACM picks the Standard

Design HVAC system type based on the Proposed Design.

Standard Design The compliance software calculates TDV energy for three main components: the space conditioning energy use, the indoor lighting energy use, and the service water heating energy use. The proposed building energy budget includes the envelope, space conditioning and ventilation, indoor lighting and water heating systems assigned to the building. The standard design budget is defined by replacing all of the energy features of the proposed building with a combination of the envelope features listed in the prescriptive requirements in Section 140.3(a) and Table 140.3-B, C or D and the lighting and mechanical values associated with the building occupancy and design defined in the Alternative Calculation Reference Manual. The basic procedure is to show that the Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) energy of the proposed design is less than or equal to the TDV energy of the standard design. The difference between the proposed design TDV and the standard design TDV is the compliance margin.

Objective 4.3: Evaluate Modeling Results for Envelope Inputs Evaluate the results of a building energy model to determine whether the results shown in reports and on screen are reasonable with respect to envelope and daylighting design inputs. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Reasonable TDV energy per square foot for Standard and Proposed. • Reasonable relative size of TDV energy use components given the building occupancy, climate

zone, fenestration, et al; and between Standard and Proposed Designs. • Compliance margin. • How the Prescriptive calculations can be used to assess the reasonableness of performance

approach results.

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Envelope Inputs Understanding that the standard design budget for the building envelope is defined by the prescriptive requirements in Section 140.3(a) and Table 140.3-B, C or D is important when determining whether the modeling results are reasonable. Individual proposed envelope features found on the compliance documentation (see Figure 2 below) can be compared to their relative prescriptive requirements found on Table 140.3-B, C or D. See Objective 1.3: Envelope Design for more information.

Figure 2

Objective 4.4: Evaluate Modeling Results for Indoor Lighting Inputs Evaluate results of a building energy model to determine whether the results shown in reports and on screen are reasonable with respect to the indoor lighting inputs. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Reasonable Allowed LPD. • Reasonable Adjusted Installed LPD. • Display lighting watts.

Lighting Inputs The indoor lighting budget consists of the lighting power used by a building based on one of the following criteria:

• When no lighting plans or specifications are submitted for permit, and the occupancy of the building is not known, the standard lighting power density is 0.6W/ft².

• When no lighting plans or specifications are submitted for permit and the occupancy of the building is known, the standard lighting power density is equal to the corresponding Watt per ft² value derived in the Complete Building Method of Section140.6(c)1 in the Energy Standards.

• When lighting plans and specifications are submitted for permit, the standard lighting power density is equal to the corresponding total allowed lighting power (in watts) that was used in calculating the proposed lighting level which can be based on either the Complete Building Method, the Area Category Method, or the Tailored Method (see Objective 3.3: Organize Zone-by-Zone Area Take-offs for more information).

For all occupancies except hotel guest rooms and high-rise residential living quarters, the proposed lighting power density is expressed in W/ft². For residential occupancies (hotel guest rooms or high-rise

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residential buildings), the approved computer program will set the proposed lighting power density and the standard design LPD at the same value as specified in the Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual.

6 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Section 140.3(c)

Sample Question 6

Question: You have completed the modeling of a 9,000 ft2 single story gymnasium designed at 0.95 watts/ft2 of lighting with all walls, roof, and HVAC designed to prescriptive requirements for climate zone 2. The project has a 20' ceiling height. The designers have decided to provide no windows or skylights in order to try to be as energy efficient as possible.

Which statement best describes the compliance margin you can expect to see based upon a performance analysis of the building?

A. No credit or penalty on total energy usage B. A penalty on the heating and cooling energy usage C. A penalty on the lighting energy usage D. A credit on the lighting energy usage

Answer: C. A penalty on the lighting energy usage

Understanding how Prescriptive requirements can be used to assess the reasonableness of modeling results is an essential part of an energy consultant’s job. In Climate Zones 2 through 15, conditioned enclosed spaces, and unconditioned enclosed spaces, that are greater than 5,000 ft² and that are directly under a roof with ceiling heights greater than 15 feet, shall meet the following requirements6

1. A combined total of at least 75 percent of the floor area, as determined in

building floor plan (drawings) view, shall be within one or more of the following:

a. Primary Sidelight Daylight Zone in accordance with Section 130.1(d)1B, or b. Skylit Daylit Zone in accordance with Section 130.1(d)1A.

2. All Skylit Daylit Zones and Primary Sidelit Daylit Zones shall be shown on building plans. 3. General lighting in daylit zones shall be controlled in accordance with Section 130.1(d). 4. Skylights shall:

a. Have a glazing material or diffuser that has a measured haze value greater than 90 percent, tested according to ASTM D1003 (notwithstanding its scope) or another test method approved by the Commission; and

b. If the space is conditioned, meet the requirements in Section 140.3(a)6.

We can determine from the description of the building that the conditions listed in Section 140.3(c) trigger the prescriptive minimum daylighting requirements, which affects the overall lighting energy budget. We can also determine by the occupancy type (gymnasium) and the proposed LPD (0.95 watts/ft2) that none of the exceptions apply. Since the performance approach uses the prescriptive requirements as the basis of the standard design; not installing windows or skylights will result in a penalty on the lighting energy usage.

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Objective 4.5: Evaluate Modeling Results for Mechanical and Service Hot Water Inputs Evaluate the results of a building energy model to determine whether the results shown in reports and on screen are reasonable with respect to the mechanical and service hot water inputs. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Reasonable heating and cooling energy in Standard and Proposed. • Reasonable fan power in Standard and Proposed: likely causes of large discrepancies between

the two. • Reasonable pump energy use in Standard and Proposed. • Reasonable equipment efficiencies, use of economizers.

HVAC System Inputs The space conditioning standard design energy budget is automatically determined from the user inputs and the corresponding elements of the proposed design associated with the building occupancy and design defined in the Alternative Calculation Reference Manual. Individual proposed mechanical and service hot water features found on the compliance documentation (see Figure 3 below) can be compared to the applicable standard design values found in the relative sections of the Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual.

Figure 3

Service Hot Water Inputs The service water heating standard design energy budget consists of the same layout and configuration of the proposed design system, but will have one gas storage water heater.

For high-rise residential and hotel/motel buildings, the water heating standard design TDV energy budget is calculated using the methods and assumptions documented in the Residential ACM Reference Manual.

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Sample Question 7

Question: You have completed the analysis of an office building. The designer has specified a standard 50 gallon electric water heater.

Which answer describes the results you would expect to see for service hot water energy use when comparing standard and proposed results?

A. Proposed energy use will be less since the baseline would include a gas water heater. B. Proposed energy use will be greater since the baseline would include a gas water heater. C. Similar energy use will occur since the baseline would include an electric water heater. D. There is not enough information given to properly assess the water heater energy use.

Answer: B. Proposed energy use will be greater since the baseline would include a gas water heater.

It’s important to understand that when the construction documents show a water heating system, the layout and configuration of the baseline building (standard design) system shall be the same as the proposed design, e.g. the baseline building shall have the same number of water heaters and the same distribution system7

The question setup stated that the designer has specified a standard 50 gallon electric water heater. Therefore, since the standard design includes a gas water heater and the proposed design include an electric water heater, the water heating energy use for the proposed design will be greater than the standard design and an energy penalty will occur.

, but the baseline building will have one gas storage water heater.

Objective 4.6: Evaluate Compliance Documentation Compare the Certificate of Compliance and other relevant compliance forms relative to known or listed project information (e.g., drawings, schedules and other data from client) to determine any modeling or data entry errors. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Where to find specific software input values for proposed construction assemblies and fenestration values.

• Where to find specific software input values for proposed indoor lighting measures such as wattage of each fixture type, number of fixtures, types and locations of lighting controls.

• Where to find specific software input values for proposed HVAC and service hot water system measures such as equipment types and efficiencies and fan power.

Compliance Documentation When analyzing buildings for compliance with the Energy Standards using the performance method, it’s important to review the compliance documentation for consistency with the plans and specification as

7 2013 Nonresidential Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual – Section 5.9.1 Water Heating

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well as identify any errors them may have occurred while entering data into the software. The primary documents that lists all the building envelope, lighting and mechanical features is the NRCC-PRF-01. This document is divided into several different tables, with each table representing a specific purpose or measure. These tables include:

• Project General Information • Compliance Results For Performance

Components • Priority Plan Check/ Inspection Items • Exceptional Conditions, HERS Verifications

and Remarks • Compliance Path & Certificate Of

Compliance, Installation, Acceptance and Verification Summaries

• Envelope General Information • Fenestration Assembly Summary • Opaque Surface Assembly Summary

• Roofing Product Summary • HVAC System Summary • Economizer & Fan Systems Summary • Equipment Controls • System Distribution Summary • Indoor Conditioned Lighting General Info • Indoor Conditioned Lighting Schedule • Covered Process Summaries • Unmet Load Hours • Energy Use Summary (kWh/Yr And

therms/Yr)

Additional study resources:

• 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Trigger Sheets • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Fact Sheets

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Energy Consulting

Competency 5: Consider Recommendations for Improving Energy Performance and Comfort Competency four focuses on using knowledge of the project design and climate zone to make recommendations for improving energy.

Objective 5.1: Recommendations for Improving Envelope Design Evaluate the energy model for a proposed project to determine recommendations for improving envelope and daylighting design to meet or exceed code. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Areas of greatest potential improvement with respect to total TDV energy use. • Given a specific Item setup that defines the project climate zone, occupancy, building envelope

features and Energy Use Summary: pick the best envelope improvement measure of those listed.

Improving the Envelope When considering recommendations for improving the envelope of a building, it’s important to consider where the building is geographically located. Since energy use depends partly upon weather conditions, which differ throughout the State, the CEC had established 16 climate zones representing distinct climates within California. Climate zones play a major role in the decision of construction assembly features for buildings, which are the interface between the interior of the building and the outdoor environment. The building envelope can affect the overall heating, cooling and lighting energy use. Things to consider when making recommendation for improving the envelope include:

• Magnitude of annual heating and cooling loads • Overall building design

o Total fenestration area, orientation and window to wall area ratio (WWR) o Fenestration performance (U-factor, RSHGC, VT) o Opaque surface insulation levels (cavity and continuous insulation) o Roofing products (cool roof) o Daylighting

The effects of envelope improvements can be evaluated based on the results from the Energy Use Summary on the compliance documentation (see Figure 4 below). Test one or more envelope options at a time which are most likely to improve the compliance margin. See Objective 1.3: Envelope Design for more information.

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Figure 4

Sample Question 8

Question: A square two-story 7,200 ft2 office building in Sacramento (climate zone 12) has a 40 percent window wall ratio on each side of the building, with all glazing 6'-0" high. Exterior walls are R-21 wood frame, the roof is R-30 attic with cool roof solar reflectance = 0.30, and the floor is slab-on-grade. All glazing is unshaded with an NFRC-rated U=0.37 and SHGC=0.30. Calculating envelope and lighting compliance only with the Performance Approach, the building shows an annual TDV energy use summary as follows:

Which of these envelope design strategies is most likely to produce the greatest improvement in the compliance margin?

A. Add a 5'-0" (50 degree cutoff angle) overhang to all glazing in all four orientations. B. Add 16" vertical R-7 slab edge perimeter insulation. C. Reduce the glazing U-factor to 0.34. D. Replace the R-30 attic insulation with R-38.

Answer: A. Add a 5'-0" (50 degree cutoff angle) overhang to all glazing in all four orientations.

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Buildings in hot climates, such as CZ12 (Sacramento) with a high window to wall ratio (WWR) will cause a significant energy penalty on the cooling budget. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that better fenestration RSHGC will produce the greatest improvement in the compliance margin. The standard design uses a RSHGC of 0.26 at worst. The project is installing SHGC=0.38, which is nearly 50% higher than the baseline, but adding a significant overhang will greatly reduce the RSHGC and likely eliminate most of the cooling penalty.

The option of adding insulation to the slab perimeter in answer choice B will only impact perimeter zones of the first floor and it’s unlikely to have a significant impact on reducing the proposed energy use. Since U-factor measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping a building, it’s not likely that reducing the window U-factor from 0.37 to 0.34 in answer choice C will have an effect on reducing the cooling budget. Changing the U-factor to 0.34 is a relatively small improvement from the proposed 0.34, therefore will have a small affect on reducing the heating budget.

The roof is already well insulated and increasing insulation will see diminishing gains.

Objective 5.2: Recommendations for Improving Indoor Lighting Evaluate the energy model for a proposed project to determine recommendations for improving indoor lighting to meet or exceed code. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Opportunities to improve fixture optical characteristics, lamps and ballast efficiencies. • Opportunities for additional lighting controls for PAF credits. • Possible use of alternative light sources / lamp types. • Given a specific Item setup that defines the project RCP, fixture schedule and Energy Use

Summary: pick the best lighting design improvement of those listed.

Improving Indoor Lighting When making recommendations to improve the TDV energy use for indoor lighting, it’s important to consider some basic principles:

• The standard design for lighting is based on the prescriptive requirements, therefore: o Use high-efficient luminaires to reduce the proposed LPD below the prescriptive

requirements. • Utilize PAF control wherever possible; keep in mind that PAF credits are not allowed if the

controls for the space are mandatory. • When using the Area Category Method, take advantage of applicable “use-it-or-lose-it”

additional lighting power footnotes on Table 140.6-C. for specialized task work, ornamental, precision, accent, display, decorative, and white boards and chalk boards.

The effects of indoor lighting improvements can be evaluated based on the results from the Energy Use Summary on the compliance documentation (see Figure 5 below). Test one or more indoor lighting options at a time which are most likely to improve the compliance margin. See Objective 4.4: Evaluate Modeling Results for Indoor Lighting Inputs for more information.

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Figure 5

Sample Question 9

Question: You are completing a performance analysis of a new 5,000 ft2 auditorium. The lighting plan shows a fixture count that totals to an LPD of 1.5 watts/ft2 for general lighting. Another 0.28 watts/ft2 of lighting is documented on the plans as ornamental wall sconces. The client’s goal is to achieve at least 15 percent better than code for each building component (envelope/lighting/mechanical).

Which of the following recommendations will achieve this goal for the lighting?

A. Increase the allowed LPD using the Area Category Method ornamental lighting footnote. B. Use demand responsive lighting controls. C. Use multiscene programmable dimming controls. D. Use both demand responsive lighting controls and manual dimming controls.

Answer: C. Use multiscene programmable dimming controls.

In order to determine which of the answer choices will achieve the client’s goal of 15% better than code for lighting, we have to determine what the allowed lighting power for this project. According to Table 140.6-C the allowed lighting power for an auditorium is 1.5W/ft2, which equates to the total allowed lighting power for the general lighting to be 7500 watts. 1.5W/ft2 x 5000 ft2=7500W

Footnote 3 allows an additional 0.50W/ft2 for ornamental lighting as defined in Section 100.1 and in accordance with Section 140.6.(c)2. Keep in mind that using footnote allowances are use-it-or-lose-it when using the Area Category Method of compliance. This means the smallest of the added lighting power listed in each footnote, or the actual design wattage, may be added to the allowed lighting power. The added lighting power for ornamental lighting according to footnote 3 is 2500W. 0.50W/ft2 x 5000 ft2=2500W

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The actual design wattage for the ornamental lighting is only 1400W. 0.28W/ft2 x 5000 ft2=1400W

Since the actual design wattage for the ornamental lighting is lower than the added lighting power from footnote 3, the allowed additional lighting power for ornamental lighting is 1400W. Therefore, the total allowed lighting power for the auditorium is 8900W. 7500W general lighting + 1400W ornamental lighting = 8900W

Unfortunately, this does not meet the client’s goal of 15% better than code since the allowed wattage of 8900W is equal to the actual design wattage for general and ornamental lighting (0% better than code). The next step is to determine if any power adjustment factors (PAF) from Table 140.6-A can be applied. The Demand responsive control PAF in answer choice B, applies to all buildings less than 10,000 ft2 and allows an additional 0.05W/ft2. 0.05 x 7500 = 375 375/8900 = 4.2%

If we were to add a manual dimming control PAF (0.10W/ft2) to the previous PAF (answer choice D), 0.10 x 7500 = 750 750W/8900W = 8.4% savings

This only leaves answer choice C, use a multiscene programmable dimming control PAF which allows an additional 0.20W/ft2. 0.20 x 7500 = 1500 1500W/8900W=16.9%

Objective 5.3: Recommendations for Improving HVAC and Service Hot Water Systems Evaluate the energy model for a proposed project to determine recommendations for improving HVAC and service hot water systems to meet or exceed code. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Fault Detection and Diagnostics. • Demand control ventilation for occupancies not mandatory • Duct testing and HERS verification • Evaporative pre-cooling on DX units • Equipment output capacities and efficiencies • Fan BHPs • Given a specific Item setup that defines the project mechanical system, equipment schedule and

Energy Use Summary: pick the best mechanical design improvement of those listed.

Improving HVAC and Service Hot Water Systems

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When making recommendations to improve the TDV energy use of HVAC and service hot water systems, it’s important to understand basic mechanical system goals. These goals are achieved by:

• Maximizing equipment efficiency, both at design conditions and during part load operation. • Minimizing distribution losses of heating and cooling energy. • Optimizing system control to minimize unnecessary operation and simultaneous use of heating

and cooling energy.

The proportion of space-conditioning energy consumed by various mechanical components varies according to system design and climate. For most buildings in hotter climates, fans and cooling equipment are the largest components of HVAC energy use. Space heating energy is usually less than fans and cooling, followed by service water heating. In this example, higher efficiency cooling equipment would produce the greatest amount of TDV energy savings. Other potential cooling improvements include:

• Application of economizers where they are not required. • Over-sizing of heat exchangers for water-side economizers to exceed the minimum prescriptive

requirement. • Over-sizing ducts and pipes to reduce fan and pump energy. • Providing demand based controls for reset of supply temperature and pressure for air and water

systems. • Use of heat recovery for space or water heating. • Use of thermal energy storage systems or building mass to move cooling off peak. • Reduce reheating and recooling.

The effects of HVAC and service hot water improvements can be evaluated based on the results from the Energy Use Summary on the compliance documentation (see Figure 6 below). Test one or more HVAC or service hot water options at a time which are most likely to improve the compliance margin. See Objective 4.5: Evaluate Modeling Results for Mechanical and Service Hot Water Inputs for more information.

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Objective 5.4: Reach Codes, Incentive Programs and Other Calculation Methods Understand the general characteristics and requirements of local Tier 1 energy codes, various utility incentives, tax credits and other energy programs; and energy-related calculation methods other than the Title 24 performance approach. Essential content in this objective may contain concepts such as:

• Tier 1 building energy performance (Title 24, Part 11), and whether local green building or energy ordinances (reach codes) incorporate the CALGreen Tier 1 energy performance requirements.

• LEED, and whether LEED energy pre-requisite and EAc1 requirement use the same or a similar energy metric as Title 24, Part 6.

• Green Point Rated (GPR) for High-rise Residential Buildings. • Utility Savings By Design incentive program, and whether it uses the same or similar metric as

Title 24, Part 6.

Beyond Code There are several above code and incentive programs throughout California that require building to exceed the Energy Standards. Some of these programs require exceeding the code by meeting prescriptive requirements for individual measures, while others require a certain percentage of TDV energy saving better than the standard design. It’s important to understand the energy metrics and documentation used to meet these program requirements.

Reach codes are local ordinances that are more stringent than statewide Energy Standards. Local governments adopting more stringent standards are required to apply to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for approval. It’s important to check with the local jurisdiction for particular reach codes prior to finalizing compliance documentation.

The Green Building Code (Title 24, Part 11 or CalGREEN) states that buildings shall be designed to include the green building measures specified as mandatory in the application checklists. Voluntary measures may also be included in the design and construction of buildings covered by the code.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program organized by the US Green Building Council. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project.

Green Point Rated is a green building certification program for new multifamily buildings. Green Point Rated buildings recognize performance in five categories: Community, Energy Efficiency, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Health, Resource Conservation, and Water Conservation. Points are earned by complying with the specific standards for any of the given measures in the system. Projects are scored on overall performance and performance in each category.

Savings-By-Design is an incentive program designed to encourage owners to invest in energy efficiency as a major goal in their new buildings, financial incentives are available to owners when the efficiency of

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their new building exceeds the minimum Savings-By-Design threshold (generally 10% better than Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards).

Sample Question 10

Question: What is the primary metric used in the USGBC LEED for New Construction rating system to document the efficiency of a proposed project relative to the baseline?

A. Total electricity cost ($/yr-ft2) B. Total energy cost ($/year) C. Total electricity use (kWh/year) D. Total energy use (kBtu/ft2-yr)

Answer: B. Total Energy Cost ($/year)

Energy compliance software programs approved by California to perform Title 24 compliance analysis can automatically generate the energy budget for the standard design and calculate the energy use of the proposed case after the design inputs are complete. LEED Version 2 requires the use of cost ($/year) rather than time-dependent valuation (TDV) energy as the metric to document the efficiency of a proposed project relative to the baseline.

Additional study resources:

• 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards • 2013 Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual • EnergyCodeAce.com – 2013 Nonresidential Lighting Controls for Credit Fact Sheet • California Green Building Standards Code California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11

(CALGreen) • Savings By Design – 2015 Participant Handbook

http://www.savingsbydesign.com/pdfs/2013-SBD-Participant-Handbook.pdf • USGBC – Advanced Energy Modeling for LEED Technical Manual v2.0 September 2011 Edition

http://www.usgbc.org/resources/advanced-energy-modeling-leed-technical-manual-v20

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Appendix

Energy Terms AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) – A measure of heating efficiency, in consistent units, determined by applying the federal test method for furnaces.

AMPERE (Amp) – The unit of measure that tells how much electricity flows through a conductor.

BTU (British Thermal Unit) – The amount of energy necessary to raise one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit (F).

CFM (cubic feet per minute) – A measure of flow rate.

COP (COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE) – Used to rate the performance of a heat pump, the COP is the ratio of the rate of useful heat output delivered by the complete heat pump unit (exclusive of supplementary heating) to the corresponding rate of energy input, in consistent units and under specific conditions.

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) – The ratio of cooling capacity of an air conditioning unit in Btus per hour to the total electrical input in watts under specified test conditions.

FAHRENHEIT – A temperature scale in which the boiling point of water is 212 degrees and its freezing point is 32 degrees.

GIGAWATT (GW) – One thousand megawatts (1,000 MW) or, one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW) or one billion watts (1,000,000,000 watts) of electricity.

HEAT GAIN – An increase in the amount of heat contained in a space, resulting from direct solar radiation, heat flow through walls, windows, and other building surfaces, and the heat given off by people, lights, equipment, and other sources.

HEAT LOSS – A decrease in the amount of heat contained in a space, resulting from heat flow through walls, windows, roof and other building surfaces and from ex-filtration of warm air.

kBtu – One-thousand (1,000) Btus.

JOULE – A unit of work or energy equal to the amount of work done when the point of application of force of 1 Newton is displaced 1 meter in the direction of the force.

KILOWATT (kW) – One thousand (1,000) watts. A unit of measure of the amount of electricity needed to operate given equipment.

KILOWATT-HOUR (kWh) – The most commonly-used unit of measure telling the amount of electricity consumed over time. It means one kilowatt of electricity supplied for one hour.

LOW-E – A special coating that reduces the emissivity of a window assembly, thereby reducing the heat transfer through the assembly.

MEGAWATT (MW) – One-thousand kilowatts (1,000 kW) or one million (1,000,000) watts.

R-VALUE – A unit of thermal resistance used for comparing insulating values of different material.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) – The total cooling output of a central air conditioning unit in Btus during its normal usage period for cooling divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours during the same period, as determined using specified federal test procedures.

SITE ENERGY – The energy consumed at a building location or other end-use site.

THERM – One hundred thousand (100,000) British thermal units (1 therm = 100,000 Btu).

UA – A measure of the amount of heat that would be transferred through a given surface or enclosure (such as a building envelope) with a one degree Fahrenheit temperature difference between the two sides.

U-value or U-factor – A measure of how well heat is transferred by the entire window - the frame, sash and glass - either into or out of the building. U-value is the opposite of R-value.

VOLT – A unit of electromotive force. It is the amount of force required to drive a steady current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm.

WATT – A unit of measure of electric power at a point in time, as capacity or demand. One watt of power maintained over time is equal to one joule per second.

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Energy Units and Conversions 1 Btu = 1,055 joules 1 Btu = 1.055 kilojoules 1 Btu per hour = .293 watts 1 therm = 100,000 Btus 1 kilowatt hour of electricity = 3,412 Btu 1 watt = 1 joule per second 1 watt = 3.412 Btu per hour 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 watts 1 kilowatt = 3,412 Btu per hour 1 kilowatt = 1.341 horsepower 1 horsepower = .746 kilowatts

1 horsepower = 2,545 Btu per hour 1 megawatt (MW) = 1 million watts 1 gigawatt (GW) = 1 billion watts 1 iwc (inches of water column )= 249.088 Pa (pascals) 1psi (pounds per square inch) = 6894.757 Pa (pascals) 1 Mile = 5280 ft 1 Square Mile = 27.878 million square feet 1 square yard = 9 square feet