CS-2009 EAc5.1: Measurement and verification - base building 1-3 points

To meet the requirements of LEED-NC Version 2.2, EA Credit 5, we would like to use IPMVP Option C. This option is considered a low rigor option by the IPMVP because the baseline comparison in this case is with a group of buildings that are located on various sites and are supposedly similar in usage and type. In our case two identical buildings on the same campus are next to each other and have the same square footage, number of stories, size, orientation, type of use (office), the same owner and the same maintenance staff. The first building is under renovation to achieve Gold certification and the second building will be renovated in three years. It appears to us, that metering the two identical buildings simultaneously and using the actual old non-renovated building metrics as a baseline for the retrofit of the second renovated building, follows the intent, philosophy and purpose of the LEED EA Credit 5. In addition, this will give an incentive to the owner to continue with the renovation of the second building when energy savings are evaluated during the first year of operation. Is the use of the IPMVP Option C acceptable in this particular case?

Our question pertains to is a mixed use residential - commercial highrise; 15 stories, 159,646 GSF total; 147,364 GSF housing, 46,994 GSF parking below grade; 4,204 GSF retail at the ground floor. Our M&V plan was developed in accordance with the IPMVP Option D. Energy savings calculations are to be validated by calibrating the original energy simulation model developed for projecting savings during design of the project. This calibration will be accomplished by using information from the following sources: Permanently installed metering: monthly gas and electric utility billing data and key submetered gas and electric end-uses. This will enable accounting of domestic hot water energy, heating energy, cooling energy consumption, and on-site energy production. Baseline measurements on public area electrical lighting loads that will be effected by lighting control strategies to verify baseline energy loads. Periodic temporary metering: periodic metering using data loggers to confirm actual electrical energy consumption by lighting in public areas effected by lighting control strategies. Sampling of residential lighting using a strategy based on the California HERS sampling strategy. In the preparation of the M&V plan we have concentrated our effort on the specification of sufficient data to provide adequate tools for the future verification energy modeler. The engineering calculations, operational estimates, utility meter-billing analysis, statistical sampling methods, metering and monitoring techniques outlined in this plan are commonly used sources of information used to perform the analysis prescribed by the Option D protocol, demonstrating compliance with the credit requirements. Please confirm that the plan as described plan satisfies the intent of EAc5. Thank you.

Our project is a multiple buildings project on a historic site in California. This proposal requests approval of the following Measurement and Verification (M&V) approach for this project to satisfy LEED-NCv2.2 AGMBC EA credit 5. The project scope covers 34 buildings in total with a mix of new construction and renovation. Features of the building systems include, but are not limited to, the following: New Lodging (13 buildings): in-floor radiant heating toilet exhaust fans boiler, pumps, expansion tanks HVAC controls gas fireplace inserts domestic water systems lighting controls split-system air-cooled DX heat pumps (in 2 of the buildings only) New Healing Arts Center (HAC) building: in-floor radiant heating & cooling toilet exhaust fans boiler, pumps, expansion tanks chiller heat recovery ventilator fan coils relief air system radiant ceiling panels hydronic panel radiators HVAC controls domestic water systems lighting controls fire/smoke dampers Historic Buildings 547, 549, 546: gas-fired duct furnace exhaust fans domestic water systems lighting controls HVAC controls Historic residential buildings (15 buildings): boiler, pumps, expansion tanks radiators, hydronic & gas-radiant exhaust fans radiant ceiling panels domestic water systems lighting controls HVAC controls Historic common buildings (5 buildings): boiler, pumps, expansion tanks boiler power ventilators radiators exhaust fans make-up air units split-system air-cooled DX heat pumps relief air system fire/smoke dampers unit heaters HVAC control The project team, in working with the owner, has identified that the best approach to perform M&V on this project will be to use Option B. However instead of developing an M&V plan per building as prescribed by the IPMVP Volume 3, the project team intends to develop a single M&V plan based on system type. This reduces the number of M&V plans generated to drop from 34 (at one per building) to 6 (one per system type and one variation) as identified below - 1. In-floor radiant heating systems 2. In-floor radiant heating systems with DX cooling 3. In floor radiant heating and cooling systems with heat recovery ventilators 4. Gas-fired duct furnaces 5. Radiators and gas radiant heating system 6. Hydronic radiators combined with air-cooled DX heat pumps The following items will be included as standard elements to all M&V plans - 1. All auxiliary energy consuming equipment attached to any system as applicable 2. HVAC control points and controls applicable to each system In addition to the above mentioned inclusions, the team will also generate a separate system level plan to address - 1. All lighting system and lighting controls 2. Water consumption - split by domestic and heating water 3. Gas consumption for fire place inserts. As a general guideline all M&V plans will cover all aspects of the sections 3.2 and 4.3 of the IPMVP Volume III (2003). Given the unique nature of this project (historical, 34 buildings) the owner requests the USGBC\'s permission to use this alternative compliance path. The proposed approach is the most effective (cost and performance) means to capture data that supports systems evaluation and building operation decisions.

Is it acceptable for LEED NC 2.2 EAc5 M&V Plans to follow the concepts of the IPMVP but limit the savings analysis in an effort to control costs, if they provide ongoing accountability and meet or exceed owners\' M&V objectives?

Question: Will the following M&V components meet the EAc5 requirements for a lab building (sophisticated owner)? The 6-story building (consistent floor layout) contains labs, offices, conference rooms (~170,000 s.f.) A Central Utility Building (CUB), not a part of submission, provides chilled water and steam to the building. A Building Automation System (BAS) monitors and controls the building . The majority of calibration data is gathered by BAS, however other approaches for data collection (CIR Ruling 10/26/2005) are being implemented (described below). The sophisticated owner\'s (operates numerous lab buildings & acting commissioning agent) approach is Option D of 2001 (IPMVP) Volume I & III incorporating: energy model Collection of calibration data - 12 months Incorporate data into energy model Calibrate simulation data Use calibrated energy model to assist facilities Collection of Calibration Data - Required M&V categories 1&2- Lighting Systems & Controls & Building related process energy and equipment The master panels incorporate smart breakers that provide numerous metrics for evaluation of the different sets of sub-panels servicing banks of labs and other spaces. The sub panels are divided primarily by space type so therefore incorporate both lighting and process energy. To isolate these loads spot meters will be incorporated so that data can be collected on a monthly basis. By subtracting this load from the overall loads from the smart meters the process energy can be isolated. The control system will monitor the Lighting Systems & Controls: All lighting circuits routed through this system Occupancy sensors and photocells BAS can communicate with it and share all monitoring points The activity of the occupancy sensors and photocells are also trended through the BAS to provide additional diagnostic capability to assist trouble shooting. Option B - A proposed alternative to the above (that requires a significant number of spot meters) a set of typical spaces (ex. Lab) will be metered using portable instrumentation for a period of time (ex. Month per season) to identify relevant information about the different loads and uses within the space to establish trends and refine performance. 3 - Constant and Variable Motor Loads The BAS has two main power meters for each of the feeds into the building that are capable of trending consumption (kWh) and demand (kW). The motors that are metered comprise ~90% of the modeled motor use identified by the energy model results. Metering each motor for the project was cost prohibitive. 4 - Variable Frequency Drive Operation (VFD) The BAS controls the VFD operation and trends their operation (% speed). 5 - Chiller Efficiency at variable loads (kW/ton) The chiller control panel in the CUB is capable of calculating the efficiency real time and sharing it with the BAS for the units that are servicing the building. 6 - Cooling load The BAS monitors both the Cooling GPM and supply/return temperatures for the building at the CUB. The cooling load for the Science Center is calculated by these points outside of the BAS, which is calculating the loads for the building and other buildings, and trended by the BAS. 7 - Air and water economizer and heat recovery cycles The BAS controls/monitors the outside air (OA) damper operation, OA temperature, and supply air temperature. The chiller operation is in summer mode only (control panel linked to the BAS and can provide feedback on the chillers serving the building, and their capacity of use) Heat recovery - the air and water temperatures in/out of the coils are controlled/monitored by the BAS, which can are trended to display that heat recovery is occurring. 8 - Air distribution static pressures and ventilation air volumes The flow rates and static pressure (SP) for the main supply air volume for each unit are measured via the BAS. 9 - Boiler efficiencies The boiler control panel measures the boiler efficiency and reports this information to the BAS. 10 - Indoor water risers and outdoor irrigation systems All of the water supplied to the Science Center is from the Central Utility Building (CUB). A meter will be installed to measure the overall quantity of the water being supplied to building. The (5) end uses for the water will be metered and calculated as follows: o RODI - meter o Lab and Non-potable - meter o Kitchen - meter o Irrigation - meter o Building Potable - calculation - quantities from all of the meters above will be summed and subtracted from the overall quantity meter.