Energy Code Changes: What the Design Team Needs to Know -- Session 1
The Urban Green Council (New York Chapter of U S Green Building Council) has teamed up with ASHRAE and AIA to offer a five-part lecture series that focuses on the changes that we need to be keenly aware of regarding the energy code -- especially for New York City.
In this first session, an overview of the Code changes was given. At this time, we need to be aware of four main items that have been significantly changed, or will be by July 1 of this year.
Buildings account for 80% of all CO2 emissions as of now, but we have had an energy code at the state level in New York since 1979.
As of now, the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (version 2004) is the back-bone of the code, but there is talk of possibly taking all or parts of ASHRAE 189 P and incorporating into the state code in the future. If done, this would have the possible effect of increasing the level of energy efficiency by at least 30% from today's levels. Global warming and climate changes are the driving force behind these current changes. While the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)Code is often referenced by energy efficiency experts, it is NOT the law in New York State at this time.
It MUST be noted that while the NYS code must be followed, any municipality may adapt a more stringent code. NYC has chosen to do this, as it is felt that it accounts for such a large amount of energy usage that combines to produce such a large CO2 footprint..
NYC has adapted a plan earlier last year that will, by 2030, reduce carbon emissions by 30%. Buildings that are over 50,000 Square Feet in size face the largest brunt of the new Code, and these amount to 22,000 buildings city-wide. These 22,000 buildings amount to only 2% of the total buildings city-wide, BUT make up over half the total city-wide energy usage.
The Audit and Retro-Commissioning requirements are TWO SEPARATE procedures but can be completed in one step. They will be done on a ten-year cycle. The aim here is to ensure that that buildings are performing energy-wise, as they were designed to do.
Lighting alone, amounts to 20% of energy use, and thus, this why lighting retrofits are now part of the new law. Each building has until 2025 to make the upgrades to the now (or future) current code.
Supporting Documentation has also been addressed in the revised code. It will include an energy analysis (RES Check or COM Check) that MUST be signed by a licensed professional. This can also be done by a more sophisticated energy modeling or simulation process. Also part of the submittal will be Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) R-Values for roof, wall and foundations, (U-values if simulation modeling is done in place of RES or COM Check) and the need for these items to be clearly set out on the submitted drawings, in tabular form, or where appropriate, on the drawing area as well. Documentation is KEY here; as of now 75% of all submittals to the NYC DoB fail to provide the needed information to pass the inspection process.
Regarding the lighting upgrades, if they are done by June 30 of this year, they will allowed to meet the current NYS code, and be good for the 2025 requirement; after that date, they MUST meet whatever the new NYS code will be.
Sub Metering for electrical usage is now required for ALL commercial tenant occupied space, but due to the current NYS Public Service laws, the landlord may only charge a separate bill for this in newly created spaces. Thus, for existing spaces, this will serve as an incentive for the tenant, once his/her usage is known, to attempt to reduce it.
As we can well see, this will create a need for more green jobs, especially for that of a Certified Energy Manager. It must be noted that a Certified Energy Manager will NOT be able to sign off on a set of submittal documents; this MUST be done by a licensed professional, such as a Professional Engineer.
Part 2 through 5 of this series will deal with the specifics of the Building Envelope, Lighting, Mechanical Systems, and Energy Modeling.
In this first session, an overview of the Code changes was given. At this time, we need to be aware of four main items that have been significantly changed, or will be by July 1 of this year.
- The renovation exemption has been eliminated in NYC on ALL projects where any change has been made to a part of a building. Prior to this, any building that undertook renovations was exempt if less than 50 percent of the building was not altered. Now, the part of the building undertaking ANY structural change, regardless of the size of the area, WILL need to meet the energy code; the remaining untouched areas will not be affected. This takes effect on July 1 in NYC; the remainder of NY State will keep the 50% threshold for now.
- Audits and retro-commissioning are now part of the new requirements, as are retrofits for buildings 50,000 SF and larger.
- Benchmarking of energy and water usage is now required for buildings 50,000 SF and larger. This starts on May 1, 2010, and will be disclosed to public by September, 2011.
- Lighting System Upgrades MUST be made in ALL commercial buildings by 2025.
Buildings account for 80% of all CO2 emissions as of now, but we have had an energy code at the state level in New York since 1979.
As of now, the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (version 2004) is the back-bone of the code, but there is talk of possibly taking all or parts of ASHRAE 189 P and incorporating into the state code in the future. If done, this would have the possible effect of increasing the level of energy efficiency by at least 30% from today's levels. Global warming and climate changes are the driving force behind these current changes. While the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)Code is often referenced by energy efficiency experts, it is NOT the law in New York State at this time.
It MUST be noted that while the NYS code must be followed, any municipality may adapt a more stringent code. NYC has chosen to do this, as it is felt that it accounts for such a large amount of energy usage that combines to produce such a large CO2 footprint..
NYC has adapted a plan earlier last year that will, by 2030, reduce carbon emissions by 30%. Buildings that are over 50,000 Square Feet in size face the largest brunt of the new Code, and these amount to 22,000 buildings city-wide. These 22,000 buildings amount to only 2% of the total buildings city-wide, BUT make up over half the total city-wide energy usage.
The Audit and Retro-Commissioning requirements are TWO SEPARATE procedures but can be completed in one step. They will be done on a ten-year cycle. The aim here is to ensure that that buildings are performing energy-wise, as they were designed to do.
Lighting alone, amounts to 20% of energy use, and thus, this why lighting retrofits are now part of the new law. Each building has until 2025 to make the upgrades to the now (or future) current code.
Supporting Documentation has also been addressed in the revised code. It will include an energy analysis (RES Check or COM Check) that MUST be signed by a licensed professional. This can also be done by a more sophisticated energy modeling or simulation process. Also part of the submittal will be Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) R-Values for roof, wall and foundations, (U-values if simulation modeling is done in place of RES or COM Check) and the need for these items to be clearly set out on the submitted drawings, in tabular form, or where appropriate, on the drawing area as well. Documentation is KEY here; as of now 75% of all submittals to the NYC DoB fail to provide the needed information to pass the inspection process.
Regarding the lighting upgrades, if they are done by June 30 of this year, they will allowed to meet the current NYS code, and be good for the 2025 requirement; after that date, they MUST meet whatever the new NYS code will be.
Sub Metering for electrical usage is now required for ALL commercial tenant occupied space, but due to the current NYS Public Service laws, the landlord may only charge a separate bill for this in newly created spaces. Thus, for existing spaces, this will serve as an incentive for the tenant, once his/her usage is known, to attempt to reduce it.
As we can well see, this will create a need for more green jobs, especially for that of a Certified Energy Manager. It must be noted that a Certified Energy Manager will NOT be able to sign off on a set of submittal documents; this MUST be done by a licensed professional, such as a Professional Engineer.
Part 2 through 5 of this series will deal with the specifics of the Building Envelope, Lighting, Mechanical Systems, and Energy Modeling.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 1/9/2010 10:30 PM 
Categories: Benchmarking, IECC Code, Audits, Energy Code, Retro Commissioning, Submittal Requirements, Lighting System Upgrades
Categories: Benchmarking, IECC Code, Audits, Energy Code, Retro Commissioning, Submittal Requirements, Lighting System Upgrades
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