David Hewitt

Codes: Building

Blocks to ZeroWho, What, Why, & How

David Hewitt

Getting to ZeroWho cares?

What is it?

Why bother?

How would I do it?

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Who’s NBI?

NBI is a non-profit “think tank” devoted to being a driving

force for efficient buildings

We focus on “What’s Next” for small and mid-size

commercial buildings: research, guidance and policy

Interest areas include:

Advancing effective building codes

Design guidance for new buildings

Optimal operation of existing buildings

Based in Vancouver, WA, NBI

works across the US and Canada

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Background on ZNE Involvement

• Worked on ZNE for about 6 years

• On the Board of International Living Futures Institute, USGBC, Seattle 2030

• Primary consultant to the CA Public Utility Commission on ZNE “Big Bold”

• Worked with NASEO on Commercial Buildings Collaborative and to accelerate efforts at the state level.

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BackgroundGetting to Zero 2012 Study

• First national status report on ZNE buildings

• Jointly funded by NASEO

• Includes:– lists of buildings

– building characteristics

– design strategies

– technologies

– costs

– energy savings

– project profiles

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2014 ZNE Study Update

• Expanded buildings

• Update 2012 info

• Expanded section

– state policies and

– program support

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Sources of

Info

• Design firms

• Articles, awards

• Utility and stateprograms

• Related programs

– USGBC LEED

– Living Buildings Challenge

– AIA

– DOE HPB database

NBI Registry:Ultra-low and

Zero Net Energy Buildings

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In this Study

• ZNE Buildings:

– ZNE-Actual - 1 year or more of measured energy

data at ZNE performance reviewed by a third party

– ZNE-Emerging – net zero targets but early in

design, operations or data not yet reviewed

• Ultra-low Energy / ZNE-Efficient Buildings– Low-energy building compared to peer energy use. Not currently

targeting net-zero performance through onsite renewables. May be

pursuing ZNE through district or renewable energy credits.

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ZNE BuildingsTotal ZNE

Ultra-low

Energy

Report Total

Yr Actual Emerging

2012 21 39 60 39 99

2014 32 115 147 53 200

What we found: Bldg. Counts

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Number of ZNE Projects from

2012 to 2014

ZNE and Ultra-Low Buildings are Possible

in Many Building Types Across the USTo

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Small-Med Commercial Offices

Large Office FacilitiesK-12 Schools

Environmental Centers Higher Education Institutions

Government Offices

IDeAs Z2 Retrofit San Jose, CA

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2007

6.,600 sf

27 kBtu/sf/yr

Aldo Leopold Legacy Center Baraboo, WI

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2007

12,000 sf

16 kBtu/sf/yr

Center for Interactive Research on SustainabilityUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

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2011

60,000 sf

Target ZNE

NREL Research Facility Golden, CO

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2010

222,000 sf

33 kBtu/sf/yr

ZNE Community, UC DavisDavis, CA

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2011 +

130 acres mixed use

Target ZNE

Richardsville Elementary School Bowling Green, KY

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2010

77,000 sf

18 kBtu/sf/yr

Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Court House, Portland, OR

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Locations:

2012 ZNE Buildings

~21 buildings in 11 states

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Locations:

2014 ZNE-Actual Buildings

~ 32 Buildingsin 17 states

2014 Preliminary Results

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~ 147 buildings in 37 states!

Locations:

2014 ZNE Buildings

2014 Preliminary Results

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ZNE Buildings by Type

Average EUI of ZNE-Actual bldgs = 20

46%20%

n=140

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75% of buildings are < 50,000 square feet (sf)

and 25% are > 50,000 sf

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Insights

• ZNE offers a clear and aspirational target

• It is hard - a process not a static outcome

• High performance first – lower energy use lowers PV cost

• Growth and opportunities in repeatable buildings (schools, banks, small offices)

• District, community, campus level offer cost and scaling efficiencies

• Actual ZNE happens downstream of design - operational focus, tenant behavior focus

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Trends

• Bigger buildings, more types, more firms, diverse climates, lower EUIs,

• Buildings use readily available technologies and integrated design

• Net Positive

• Designers and owners want measurement and feedback

• Design teams going beyond the project to policy

• Low-rise Multifamily growing

• Ultra-low energy accomplishments are accelerating

Ramona Apartments, Portland, OR

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Questions on the ZNE Market?

• Next up are policies – especially codes

related strategies – to get to zero.

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Nine Selected Policies

• Codes Roadmap

• Benchmarking

• Rate Policies

• Utility Program

• Tax Incentives

• ZNE Goals for Public Buildings

• Target Markets (Schools)

• District Scale Renewables

• Appliance Standards

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Codes Pathway Elements

• Set a long-term goal

• Align codes with voluntary or incentive programs

• Provide training and support

• Use stretch or reach codes

Info on policies at newbuildings.org under codes and policies, then zero net energy policies

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What’s a Stretch Code?

• ???

• It could be used where or to do

what???

• And, finally it ……….

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Relative to 1975 Base

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Role of Programs

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Plug Load Guide

Source: Graph created by Ecova with data from EIA 2008 Annual Energy Outlook

Plug loads are one of the largest and fastest growing end uses incommercial buildings.

We’ve got an app for that

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Core Performance

A supplement aligned around the IECC 2012

code is now available

Savings

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Lighting Power Density

45% savings

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Daylight Pattern Guide

Trends and Opportunities

1. States are utilizing ZNE as part of market transformation efforts

that can have wider impact on energy efficiency markets

2. Energy Offices can leverage convening power

3. Demonstration projects are a key first step

4. Other policies (e.g. benchmarking) help support path to ZNE

5. Progress is incremental: need to meet stakeholders where they

are

6. Partnerships, education, and persistence are key

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Questions?

Findings from the Field

Three Pilots and a

Continent

Programs Include

• “Informal, negotiated” pilot with California

IOUs/Savings by Design

• Remarkably similar Energy Trust of

Oregon pilot – with full evaluation

• Brussels Exemplary Buildings Program

• What’s the EU Up To

• Lessons Learned to Date

California Program History

• Big, Bold Goals developed in Strategic Plan

by CPUC, endorsed by CEC - 2008

– All new commercial ZNE by 2030

– 50% of existing commercial ZNE by 2030

– All residential new construction ZNE by 2020

• Subsequent utility 3 year program filing

rejected by CPUC –did not address BB Goals

• As part of second planning round, negotiated

a pilot ZNE effort as part of New Construction

California Pilot

The essential program elements of the Path to Zero pilot:

• A goal of at least 40% energy reduction beyond code

• Support for initial design charrettes or other early design

assistance

• Provision of additional technical support services beyond

typical SBD where needed

• Incentives based on savings levels

• Support for savings documentation

The IOUs were skeptical that any buildings would

participate in the Path to Zero

California Results

• About 30 buildings part of the pilot.

• The California ZNE market leads the country in terms of the number and complexity of ZNE buildings over the last few years.

• NBI documented 65 commercial buildings in CA that are ZNE, ZNE Emerging, or Ultra-Low Energy - more than one-third of building nationally.

• 2.7 million sq. ft. not including several community scale projects.

• New Strategic Plan over the next 9 months.

Energy Trust of Oregon

Pilot Program Elements• Target of 10 projects at least 50% beyond code

• Early Design Assistance (EDA): Supports the cost of an integrated design charrette

• Technical Assistance (TA): Technical support up to $50,000 is available for energy studies and building modeling

• Installation and Commissioning (I&C): Support up to $500,000 is available to install high efficiency measures. Commissioning is a required component for every project.

• Monitoring and Reporting (M&R): Technical support and up to $5,000 is available for whole building monitoring and reporting.

Results 9 projects (6 complete) with most going after ZNE. Formal evaluation available.

Field Review Findings from

Pacific Coast Pilots• ZNE has moved from an “impossible” future to a “quite probable”

future in just a few years.

• The types, number and sizes of ZNE buildings have increased rapidly, although the market is still very small.

• Program efforts have been effective at enabling new construction and renovation projects to meet ZNE goals, although owner driven.

• The market is at a very early stage, and many people in the market know little or nothing about ZNE. To date marketing and communications efforts related to ZNE have been limited and disjointed.

• Program efforts have been limited in their effectiveness to reach existing buildings to date.

• Information regarding standard practice “business case” or cost-effectiveness is still weak.

• There is nervousness at the utilities regarding how distributed generation and ZNE will impact their business.

Findings from the Field (cont.)

• Charrettes, Incentives & Technical Assistance were effective:

• Limited Marketing Success: Projects are owner driven

• Cost Barrier: Cost kept some projects from installing sufficient renewables.

• Early Adopters/Owner Motivations: Part of the “business case” of ZNE was publicity, leadership and alignment with corporate values. Interest in leadership and values will continue for some markets (e.g., schools, universities, design firms and some highly visible corporations), others may be more focused on bottom-line performance (e.g., commercial real estate). The attitudes and motivation of early adopters are likely different than those of future mainstream market participants.

• Limited Performance Data:

Brussels Exemplary Buildings

• The program did a series of calls for exemplary buildings nearly annually starting in 2007. The sixth call was finalized in 2013.

• The program provides financial and technical assistance, monitoring of consumption for five years and supportive publicity. It includes new construction and renovation.

• Projects are submitted for selection early in the design phase. There are four criteria in selecting projects:– Energy: minimum energy demand, Nearly Zero Energy

Buildings

– Environment: minimum environmental negative impact

– Profitability and Reproducibility: reasonable solutions

– Architecture and Urban Integration: appearance and respect for fit in the community

Brussels Results

• 193 buildings totaling 5.6 million ft² selected.

– 41% of all projects coming from public

authorities.

– 39% of all projects are existing building

refurbishment.

• Finished: 62 projects – 1.3 M ft2

• Under construction: 45 projects– 1.2 M ft2

• In design process: 73 projects

• Cancelled: 13 projects

Brussels Results Cont.

• The program is credited with making significant changes in the design and construction relative to standard construction.

• Financial support for the program totaled more than $28 million, a bit more than $5 per square foot.

• One measure of the success: Region of Brussels published a stipulation that after January 2015 all new public and residential buildings shall meet the PassiveHausstandard.

What’s the EU Up To

• Each of the 27 member states to draw up plans for increasing the number of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) with targets for various building categories. Plans are to include: – A definition of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings for each country.

– Intermediate targets for improving the energy performance of new buildings by 2015.

– Information on policies, financial or other measures adopted for the promotion of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings.

– Policies and measures to lead by example in public buildings

• Four of 27 Member States (Denmark, France, Germany and the Brussels region of Belgium) have made progress on the nZEB components of the EED. Only Denmark has an official commitment to a nZEB definition and plan.

• Note: Definition of what is measured in the EU is different.

Path Forward for ZNE Programs

• Extend the pilot Path to Zero effort into a more formal program element (Oregon including ZNE in new construction program).

• Conduct a detailed market characterization study of critical commercial building markets to determine how to better position and market program efforts to meet market needs.

• Already implemented an “Early Adopters” program for schools and state and local government. Corporate next year.

• Develop a long-term marketing and communications strategy. Already developed communications tool kit and messaging.

• Develop strategies to better reach the existing building market.

• Require a standard monitoring protocol and reporting system for ZNE buildings so that building performance can be tracked.

• Consider the impact of community scale renewable energy systems on meeting ZNE goals.

Innovators Already Implementing ZNE

Early Adaptors Convening

Leadership Recognition Program

Energy Code and ZNE Code Development

Stakeholder Outreach and

Communications

Utility Incentive Program Alignment

Project Pilots

ZNE Guides and Tool Development

Case Studies and Registry

Policy Maker Engagement and

Policy Development

Market and Project Research

ZNE Market Strategy SpectrumLa

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Questions and Comments?

• What does this mean for New York?

Policies