My read on ASHRAE-90.1 and numerous forums, is that USGBC may allow for an exceptional calculation to be performed for elevator energy savings, provided that;
1) Schedule of operation remains the same baseline and proposed.
2) Cut sheets indicating energy demand for both options is included
3) Calculations supporting the energy savings.
4) Demonstrate that "acceptable conventional practice" supports my baseline design case.
For elevators there are no minimum efficiencies published nor are there any "standard practices" for new elevators in new facilities. I am essentially left with the word of the elevator supplier that the baseline design for my two story building would be a hydraulic elevator and that I can show energy savings for my Ecospace and Monospace elevators.
Does anyone have any recent experience in submitting on this type of ECM and what have been the results and/or comments back from the LEED reviewer? There is a signifigant energy savings betweent the baseline and proposed that I am hoping to include in my model.
Thank you in advance.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
March 14, 2012 - 11:56 am
There is some elevator modeling guidance in COMNET - http://www.comnet.org/ - but I don't see that it has established a baseline.
There are standard elevator types for buildings depending upon height, etc. Working with a manufacturer should lend support to your claim of savings. Perhaps you could also find some comparables to similar buildings recently constructed to see what they installed.
A well documented exceptional calculation should be accepted by the reviewer.