Identify all interior spaces (those without an exterior wall) to be separately zoned. 

Identify each solar exposure and the spaces that correspond to those exposures that have to have a separate control zone. An “exposure” is an external wall that’s included in your project scope. Identify all the external walls in your floor plan, and indicate which direction each faces: north, south, east, or west.

A “zone” implies an area with independent control of mechanical HVAC that typically includes its own thermostat and sensors to control air flow or temperature in a space. 

Note: If the base building HVAC system can’t be modulated in response to space demand, as with many VAV systems where one zone cannot be the control point of the entire air-handler’s outside air damper minimum position, the design has to meet the following criteria.

Review the zoning and controls requirements to see what it will take to achieve these five points (you have to meet all three requirements to earn any points):

Each solar exposure (interior space with an exterior wall) has to have a separate control zone.
All interior spaces separated by full, floor-to-ceiling partitions have to be separately zoned.  
Private offices and other spaces with special occupancies must have active controls that can sense occupancy and modulate the HVAC system in response to demand, such as a CO2 monitor or occupancy sensor.

To achieve the first five points in Option 1 the design engineer has to demonstrate that the HVAC system in the space can maintain minimum temperature and humidity ranges that meet ASHRAE-55. This requirement makes those points tricky for projects that do not have humidity control, especially in regions with high humidity.

You can only count HVAC components that are within the CI scope of work.

Review sections 1.4, 2.9, and 3.10 in the Advanced Buildings: Core Performance Guide (CPG) to understand the requirements and how they relate to the systems to be installed in the project:

Option 1: Equipment Efficiency & Appropriate Zoning and Controls 

Decide which option best suits your project. Either way, you can only achieve 5 or 10 points, and nothing in between.

Under Option 1 you can earn points for using efficient equipment (5 points) and/or zoning and controls (5 points).
Under Option 2 you have to show energy savings using a computer-based energy model demonstrating a 15% cost savings from the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline building for 5 points or a 30% savings for 10 points.