Green buildings are vital for controlling CO2 emissionsMany buildings do not perform as predicted or as neededWithout reporting actual performance, the entire exercise will be wastedEnergy use best practices metrics are well known; make them your design standards
Green building vital in global carbon pictureGreen building growing rapidly in all sectorsGreen building business case is provenBUT, many green buildings are not performing as predictedBuilding energy & water performance reports vitally neededBuildings must measure total carbon performanceZero-net-energy buildings feasible today
By reducing energy and water use as well as transportation energy use
Reducing energy use in buildings is the only Life Cycle Cost-positive carbon mitigation solution25% of total carbon solution can come from buildingsKey stumbling block today is finance, not economics; practice not technology
Business case for green building is proven via research and practice. How? (next slide)
More than 2 billion sq.ft. certified projects, more than 7 billion sq.ft. registered (maybe as much as 9 billion sqft), as of September 1st.
14% reduction in CO2, 2025 vs. 2005NPV of green building: $650 billion in U.S.5x to 10x cost premium2020 Prediction: Green buildings 95% of new constructionGreen retrofits are 75% of all retrofits
50,000+ LEED registered projects (Jan. 2013)135 countries use LEED13,700+ LEED certified projects (July 2012)200,000+ LEED Accredited Professionals
If building energy use is this important to our collective future, why not know what’s going on?
“What gets measured, gets managed”Without reports, we are flying blind/can’t fixWhy should governments put their faith in green building without performance reports?
Here’s the problem: quite a few green building projects are not meeting their projections.
The first major study of LEED projects gave this result.
Issue: Average savings is 35% vs. standard (Kats)BUT, about 25% actually underperformOne LEED Platinum building:Modeled at 61% savingsPerforms at 48% savingsUnderperforming buildings hurt validity of green building premise
Importance of embodied energy; forms a barrier to further carbon reductions
EU Energy Performance in Buildings Directive: in force since 2010; here’s a UK example.
The Question is: HOW to Get to Zero Net Energy Buildings?Lean ThemesBoeing 767: $130 million ea.; each one functions sameReduce energy & water use/carbon footprintEliminate waste;make champagne on a beer budget!=>Change design processKey issue: get green cost premium down to zero, using integrated design process
Zero Net Energy Buildings are Feasible today; here’s an example:35,000 Btu/sq.ft./year (measured 2011)
Where SHOULD WE be aiming? I decided to find out!LEED Platinum (or equivalent)Built since 2003>50,000 sq.ft. (>5,000 sqm)Non-residential useMust provide energy data for one yearWater data, as available
European stretch goal: 100 kWh/sqm/a PRIMARY energy useEuropean site use median: 135 kWh/sq.m.; 43,000 EUIU.S. Average: 400 kWh/m2/a (2003)50% better than average still not good enough!75% (or more) required2030 Challenge (next slide)Solon: 34,000 Btu/sq.ft./year energy use
2030 Challenge:DOE Annual Energy Outlook; Business As UsualAEO (expanded codes)AEO (best available technology)
Here is a chart of actual performance of 15/19 buildings (no labs/hospitals)Median use = 139 kWh/sq.m. (EUI = 44,000)
2000 workers in bldg.; 700,000 sq.ft.Difficult climate:-35C to +35C (-31F – 95F)22-story solar chimney Passive solar designUrban regenerationGreen roofsPassive moisture control111 kWh/sqm/year;35,000 Btu/sq.ft./yr
800 workers in bldg.; 360,000 sq.ft.Design/build; $254/sq.ft.Cold, dry climate - Passive solar design1600-kW Solar PVLabyrinth thermal massDaylighting designControl plug loads111 kWh/sqm/year;35,000 Btu/sq.ft./yr
Integrated Design Process Critical to SuccessStarted with the Procurement ProcessSet BSAGs – Big, Scary, Audacious Goals
200,000-sq.ft., commercial officeVedic architectural designLEED-CS/CILong axis north/south, to maximize morning sunHVAC: Enthalpy wheel, frictionless chillerSpace H/C only 13% 41% less water use182 kWh/sq.m./year;58,000 Btu/sq.ft./yr
56,000 sq.ft. academic building; narrow floorplateCold winters, humid summers100-KW BIPV system; 16% of annual electricity4 solar DHW collectorsGeothermal wells; four at 400’ deepRainwater harvesting91 kWh/sq.m./year; 29,000 Btu/sq.ft./yr
130,000-sq.ft., 2-story academic buildingSF Bay Area; mild climate35,000-sq.ft. BIPV system; 450 kW (peak)PV >50% of energy use26 miles of horizontal geothermal tubingTwo 16-ft dia., enthalpy (heat recovery) wheels102 kWh/sq.m./year;32,000 Btu/sq.ft./yr
Double LEED Platinum, CS/CIFour stories commercial office, with17 stories rental apartmentsUnderfloor air w/chilled beamsDesigned to meet 2030 Challenge targets for 20104 turbines produce 1% of demandSolar water heaters provide 24%Operable windowsHarvested rainwater; 6500 sq.ft. green roofEnergy: 138 kWh/sq.m./year; 44,000 Btu/sq.ft.
Every building should be beautifulEvery building LEED PlatinumEvery building should aim at “BSAGs”Achieve measured 35 to 45 kBtu/sq.ft. (EUI) performanceDon’t settle for less!BE WILLING to SAY: If it doesn’t perform, it’s not a green building!
If you want to score, run to where the ball is headed, not to where it is.Ask yourself and your clients: how green will the built environment be in 2015 to 2020?Non-performing green buildings will pay a penalty in that market!2010 FIFA World CupIf you want to score, run to where the ball is headed, not to where it is.Ask yourself and your clients: how green will the built environment be in 2015 to 2020?What will be the competing buildings over the next 5-10 years?Non-performing green buildings will pay a penalty in that market!
Green buildings are vital for controlling CO2 emissionsMany buildings do not perform as predicted or as neededWithout reporting actual performance, the entire exercise will be wastedEnergy use best practices metrics are well known; make them your design standards
ARE YOU WILLING to SAY: If it doesn’t perform, it’s not a green building?