Our project includes the renovation of and an addition to an existing butterfly house which is a facility for the exhibition of exotic and indigenous butterfly species. The facility is currently comprised of two distinct functions/types of building systems. One, a glass enclosed green house environment which is required to maintain humidity between 60 and 80% and a constant 78 degrees; the second environment, a visitors center which fits under the measurements as outlined in the EA Credit 1. In comparing the facility for energy usage, can we split the two functions and measure the energy usage of the greenhouse environment as measured by the requirements under the USDA PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTAINMENT OF INSECTS IN ZOOS AND BUTTERFLY HOUSES using a volume basis (60 to 80% humidity and a constant 78 degrees temperature), and follow the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 for the visitors center. We would model the renovated facility and compare it to the current documented energy usage of the existing facility to measure energy savings on a volume basis.
ASHRAE 90.1 is applicable to the greenhouse, and thus a different standard need not be referenced. Within each distinct area modeled, simply set the temperature and humidity the same in both the proposed and budget cases. ASHRAE 90.1-99 addresses renovations to existing buildings and states in section 4.1.2 that the renovation must comply with sections 5, 6, 7, 8 9 and 10, or section 11 (energy cost budget method). The renovation and addition must be modeled in accordance with the ASHRAE 90.1-99 energy cost budget method (section 11). The energy simulation of the renovation to the existing butterfly house can use the actual operating conditions; however, the energy cost budget is defined as a renovation that complies with ASHRAE 90.1-99, not the current documented energy usage of the existing facility.