Our project is a science and technology lab building on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Campus of approximately 181,000 sf, with a 1200 sf greenhouse for experiments. The greenhouse has four cells which will mimic the exact environmental conditions of the Nevada (nuclear) Test Site as they occur in the open desert. Thus the greenhouse cells will be conditioned to match the exact temperature and humidity conditions at the test site; lighting will also match the conditions at the test site. This is being accomplished with a system separate from the rest of the lab building. Since the greenhouse conditioning and lighting is for the purpose of carrying out experiments, it is similar to a lab hood or other lab process equipment. We will treat the energy use from lighting and conditioning the greenhouse as a process load in the Energy Cost Budget Method model and subtract it for calculating the percent energy savings. Please confirm that this approach is acceptable.
Based on the description above, it appears that the energy use would most likely be considered process related and therefore could be excluded from the Energy Cost Budget (ECB) Method model. ASHRAE 90.1-1999 defines process energy as "energy consumed in support of manufacturing, industrial, or commercial process other than conditioning spaces and maintaining comfort and amenities for the occupants of a building." Please note that if any of the energy use in the greenhouse is deemed as necessary for the comfort of occupants (lighting, auxiliary heating, etc.) and is not associated with the lab related experiments, then it would need to be included in the ECB calculations as a regulated energy use. Applicable Internationally.