Hi Christopher, hi everybody,
I've juste seen the two first posts on this page but it does not help.
We are purchasing heat from a district heating plant (100% green). The USGBC's DES technical guidance is a bit confusing.
- District Energy System (DES) is defined as a central energy conversion plant and transmission and distribution system that provides thermal energy to a group of buildings (e.g., campus). Does this definition apply for one building connected to a district heating regional plant?
- Rf. EA c1. Option 1: Energy simulation. We are targeting to obtain a maximum of points. Is it correct we have to run 2 energy simulations (Building stand-alone scenario + virtual DES-equivalent plant scenario)?
- Is there any beneficial effect to use the virtual DES-equivalent plant scenario? Is there any beneficial effect to be connected to a 100% green district heating system?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Kind regards,
Nicolas
Christopher Schaffner
CEO & FounderThe Green Engineer
LEEDuser Expert
963 thumbs up
July 28, 2010 - 8:38 am
The USGBC will be issuing the new DES guidance document in the next few days. Watch for that, it will clarify and simplify things.
Your specific questions:
1) Does this definition apply for one building connected to a district heating regional plant?
Ans - yes. Anytime you are getting steam, hot water, or chilled water from a source outside your project it is considered DES.
2) Is it correct we have to run 2 energy simulations
Ans - this is the big change coming. In the new guidance you don't have to run it both ways, however, there is a cap on the number of points if you model a stand alone building. Stay tuned.
3) Is there any beneficial effect to use the virtual DES-equivalent plant scenario?
Ans - if the plant is more efficient than the code minimums, yes.
4) Is there any beneficial effect to be connected to a 100% green district heating system?
Ans - don't know what "100% green" means, but if it is more efficient than a conventional plant, it should help. If it something exceptional, be prepared to prove it to the reviewers.