Energy Efficiecy in RFP for New Buildings Jan 2013

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Energy Efficiencyin

Request for Proposalsfor

New Buildings

Arctic Energy Alliance

December 2012


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Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings 1

Contents1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 2

o Who is this guide for? ...................................................................... 2

o Why demand energy efficient terms? ........................................... 2

o How do you use this guide? ........................................................... 2

2. Required Energy Efficiency Terms .................................................. 3

o Contractor Requirements ................................................................ 3

Architects............................................................................................... 3

Building Contractors.............................................................................. 3

Sub-Contractors..................................................................................... 4

Inspections............................................................................................. 4

Commissioning Agent............................................................................ 4

o Building Performance Requirements ............................................ 5

Overall Building Rating ..................................................................... 5

Design Requirements Report................................................................ 6

Building Envelope.................................................................................. 6

Electrical Efficiency................................................................................ 7

Mechanical Systems.............................................................................. 9

Water Efficiency.................................................................................. 11

Building Operation & Maintenance.................................................... 11

Fuel Preferences.................................................................................. 12

3. Criteria to Evaluate Proposals ........................................................ 14

o Comparing General Contractors Qualifications....................... 14

o Support Local Business .................................................................. 14

o Comparing Whats Efficient and Whats Not............................ 15

4. Response Guidelines ........................................................................ 16

o Declaration of Terms ...................................................................... 16

o More Word Definitions & Acronyms .......................................... 20


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1. Introduction

o Who is this guide for?This has been written for people in the North who are going to ask architects,

engineers, builders and building systems contractors to submit proposals fornew buildings. It will help you write your Request for Proposals (RFP), evaluate

the proposals and ensure you are getting what you asked for. Use this guide with

the Arctic Energy Alliances (AEAs) Model National Energy Code for Buildings +

40 Toolkit (MNECB +40 Toolkit), when you are ready to write your RFP.

This guide is not meant to replace theGood Building Practice for Northern

Facilities prepared by the Department of Public Works and Services, GNWT. Your

architects and engineers should still be using the Good Building Practice for

Northern Facilities for all aspects of the building and should use their best

judgment to create a building that is as efficient as possible for your particular

application. Most of the recommendations in this guide apply to all building

types. Please contact AEA for additional recommendations for special building

types at 867-920-3333 or 1 877-755-5855.

o Why demand energy efficient terms?Demanding energy efficiency terms in your RFP will ensure that you are provided

with quotes for high efficiency buildings. This means that your building will cost a

lot less to operate (heat, light, etc) and will produce less greenhouse gas

emissions. Although the building may have a slightly higher initial cost, the

reduced operating cost will more than compensate for that if the building is well

designed.

o How do you use this guide?You will find a set of tables throughout the Required Energy Efficiency Terms

(Section 1) that will help you to determine what to ask for in your RFP for an

energy efficient building (a building that AEA would consider energy efficient),

and for an excellent energy efficient building (a building that goes beyond just

being energy efficient). Include the sections of the tables that apply to your

building. You will also find text in blue boxes that you should include in your RFP

to ensure you are receiving the highest quality.

The Criteria to Evaluate Proposalsin Section 2 outlines what you need to look

for when comparing how proposed energy efficient buildings are constructed.

When writing your proposal, ensure that you include the appropriate Response

Guidelinesoutlined in Section 4.


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2. Required Energy Efficiency Terms

o Contractor RequirementsYou need to take great care when selecting the people who will be designing and

constructing your new building. Choose people with proven experience innorthern building. It is also important that they are available for you to talk to

and that you get along with them well. If you have problems communicating

with them before you award the contract, you should solve those problems

immediately or hire someone else. You do not want to get halfway through the

building project and realize that the people working for you are doing whatever

they want and ignoring you and your requests.

Architects

The architect is responsible for the initial building design.

You should request the highest standards that your budget can afford. Look for a firm that specialises in efficient northern buildings or has

LEED certified architects and talk to their previous clients. LEED

certified architects may be more expensive so more suited to large

projects, but they still need to have experience with northern buildings.

See the link below to get a list of architects certified to design in the

NWT. You will still need to check to see if they are LEED certified (if

thats the route you want to go) and check their energy efficiency design

experience.www.nwtaa.ca/

Building Contractors

The building contractor is responsible for carrying out the construction of

new buildings.

It is important that high standards are followed during construction so

that the building matches the quality of the design.

Be sure the contractor is aware of your demand for a high efficiency

building, and look for a contractor that has previous experience or

specialised training in energy efficient buildings. Attention to detail is

essential!

Many contractors are listed on the NWT Construction Association

website.www.nwtca.ca/
http://www.nwtaa.ca/http://www.nwtaa.ca/http://www.nwtaa.ca/http://www.nwtca.ca/http://www.nwtca.ca/http://www.nwtca.ca/http://www.nwtca.ca/http://www.nwtaa.ca/


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Sub-Contractors

Sub-contractors may include mechanical system installers, electricians,

plumbers or any other specialists.

Your building contractor will probably contract these people to do some

of the work on your building.

Make sure you find out who they are. They should have the best energyefficiency qualifications for their area of expertise. If you are not sure, ask

them about their energy efficiency experience.

Correct installation of building systems is essential for efficient operation!

Inspections

Make sure there is a strict commissioning process, and third party

inspections, when the building is getting built and after it is finished.

An inspector will not be able to see all of the detail once the building has

been completed, and it is much easier to fix a missing piece of insulation,

or improve air tightness before the finishing touches have been done. If having third party inspections is not realistic for this project in your

community, the AEA can help; call us at 867-920-3333 or 1-877-755-5855.

Commissioning Agent

The commissioning agent (CA) is responsible for coordinating and

carrying out the commissioning process.

For complex projects, the CA should be brought on as part of the design

phase. However, for most projects, commissioning may not be needed

until construction begins, and knowledgeable in-house personnel may fill

the role of the CA.

Commissioning should continue after the building is occupied, and be

integrated into the operations and maintenance plan.


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o Building Performance RequirementsYour RFP needs to be clear about exactly what all of your requirements are so

that everyone understands. This makes awarding the contract easier because it

allows you to see clearly which proposals meet your requirements and which

dont.Not all buildings are the samesome have special requirements. If you

are told that the requirements you have put in your RFP are impossible, contact

the AEA or another third party consultant to verify that.

Overall Building Rating

Your RFP should require an overall building rating so that the architect

and contractors will ensure that the building meets the overall design

requirement.

Using a recognised rating system will also enable third party review of

building designs.

Use the following table as a guide to choosing a building rating. A buildingis over 600 m

2when the total area of all the floors is more than 600m

2or

6458 sq. ft.

Requiring that the building be certified to LEED standards may add

significantly to the cost of the building.

If it is important to your community, you should also specify that the

building be designed to reflect your culture: for example building shape,

height, colour, materials, etc.

Table 1: Some Possible Building Ratings

Building Rating Building Size Minimum Excellent

EnerGuide for

Homes (EGH)

Smaller than 300 m2

(3,229 sq ft)

EGH80 EGH85

National Energy

Code (NECB) 2011

Larger than 300 m2

(3,229 sq ft)

NECB 2011 + 20% NECB 2011 + 30%

Leadership in

Energy and

Environmental

Design (LEED)

Bigger than 600 m2

(6,458 sq ft)

Silver Platinum

You should include the following statement in your RFP:

1. Final payment is contingent on meeting these requirements and

receiving verification that the completed building has met them.


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Design Requirements Report

Detailing specific building requirements in a Design Requirements Report

will help to ensure that all parts of the building design are at a high

standard, and can be easily identified in the proposal submissions.

It is up to you to decide what the requirements should be.

As the building owner, you should prepare and attach to the RFP a list ofall the requirements for the building, including energy efficiency targets.

Specify that you, as the building owner, will retain the services of a

Commissioning Agent (CA). The CA will review design submissions,

regularly inspect installations throughout the construction phase, and,

prior to the Substantial Completion Inspection, carry out Performance

Verification Testing of all systems to confirm that the final building meets

all your requirements as stated in the Design Requirements Report.

Building Envelope

The building envelope is the buildings parkaand just like a parka, theenvelope determines in part how much energy the building needs to stay

warm.

The higher the quality of every component of the building envelope, the

lower energy and operating costs will be every year.

Proper installation of all building components is essential to achieve good

building performance. The money spent on high quality building

materials will be wasted if they are not installed correctly with a high

level of attention to detail.

The building components in the table below should all be easy to identify

in the details of the building plans.

Your RFP should require that all building envelope components meet the

minimum requirements outlined below.

You may want to request that some building envelope components meet

the excellent requirement for improved efficiency.


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Table 2: Suggested Structural Requirements

Building Envelope

Component

Minimum Excellent

Ceiling Insulation R60 (RSI 10) R80 (RSI 14)

Wall Insulation R40 (RSI 7) R60 (RSI 10)Floor Insulation R60 (RSI 7) R80 (RSI 10)

Doors ENERGY STAR Climate

Zone D

South Wall Window % 30% or less of wall area

is window

20% or less of wall area

is window

East/West Wall Window % 20% or less of wall area

is window


is window

North Wall Window % 10% or less of wall area

is window


is window

Window Structure ENERGY STAR ClimateZone D

Quadruple GlazedENERGY STAR Zone D

Natural Lighting 20% average over year

(as demonstrated by

engineering calculations)

50% average over year

(as demonstrated by

engineering

calculations)

Air Tightness

(Buildings Smaller Than

600m2)

1.5ACH @50Pa 1.0 ACH @50Pa

Air Tightness

(Buildings Larger Than

600m2)

0.15 litre/sec/m2@75 Pa 0.05 litre/sec/m

2@75

Pa

Electrical Efficiency

Electricity is very expensive in the Northwest Territories, which is a good

reason to install efficient electrical systems and appliances.

Some communities have hydro-electricity, with very low greenhouse gas

emissionsmostly from when the backup diesel generators turn on - but

other communities have diesel or natural gas generators which have a

high level of greenhouse gas emissions, so there is even more reason to

reduce electrical loads. You should request that all relevant documentation be provided with the

proposals. All appliances should be ENERGY STAR

(http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-appliances.cfm?attr=4)

approved.
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Table 3: Suggestions for Electrical Efficiency Requirements

Electrical System or

Appliance

Minimum Excellent

Interior Lighting Less than 10 W/m2

(fixtures provide atleast 60 lumens/watt)

Less than 7 W/m2

(fixtures provide at least 60lumens/watt) & be dimmable

Interior Lighting

Controls

Well placed manual

switches AND controls

such as timers and

occupancy sensors

Manual switches AND

automatic controls such as

timers, daylight sensors and

occupancy sensors

Exterior Lighting At least 70 lm/watt

(with automatic

daylight sensor)

At least 90 lm/watt (with

daylight, motion sensors and

timers where applicable)

Exit Signs LED lighting; 5 watts 0 watts - photo luminescent

(glow-in-the-dark) if practicalPumps, Motors,

Machines Under

7.5kW (10 HP)

ENERGY STAR

85% efficiency

ENERGY STAR

90% efficiency

Pumps, Motors,

Machines over 7.5kW

(10 HP)

ENERGY STAR

90% efficiency

ENERGY STAR

95% efficiency

Refrigerators, Cooking

and Other Appliances

ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR

Lowest kWh/year available in

the size that you require

Clothes Dryers EnerGuide rating

425 kWh/year or less

EnerGuide rating

400 kWh/year or less with

sensor to turn it off when

clothes are dry

Office/Entertainment

Equipment

ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR automated

hibernation and shutdown

Parking Receptacle Timer and temperature

controlled

With automatic timer and

temperature control

You should include the following statements in your RFP:

Lighting

1.

All lighting systems shall be carefully designed to have small areas withindividual controls in accessible places.

2. Daylight and occupancy sensors and timers should be used where

possible, and lighting level must be adjustable (not just on/off) in areas

where natural lighting is present.

3. Manual controls should override automatic controls for a period of no

more than 2 hours at a time.


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Appliances

1. All electrical appliances must be ENERGY STAR rated, if available.

Motors and Pumps

2. All motors and pumps must be ENERGY STAR rated and must be no

larger than the required peak capacity.

Mechanical Systems

Furnaces, boilers, ventilation systems, water heaters and other

mechanical systems all have detailed specifications that outline their

efficiency.

Appliances, where applicable, should be, at a minimum, ENERGY STAR

approved, if available for the size/type of appliance.

For even more efficient appliances you can request specific efficiency

ratings.

You should request that the proposals document and highlight

mechanical system efficiency ratings.

Table 4: Suggested Mechanical System Efficiencies

Mechanical

System

Minimum Excellent

Boiler Wood Pellet ULC/CSA certified ULC/CSA certified and less

than 4.5g/hr of smoke (EPA

test method)

Boiler Oil ENERGY STAR

AFUE 85%

ENERGY STAR

AFUE 90%

Boiler Gas ENERGY STAR

AFUE 90%

ENERGY STAR

AFUE 96%

Furnace Oil ENERGY STAR

AFUE 85 %

ENERGY STAR AFUE 90%

Furnace Gas ENERGY STAR AFUE 92% ENERGY STAR AFUE 98%

Wood Stove EPA 40 CFR Part 60 or CSA

B415.1M92 approved

EPA 40 CFR Part 60 or CSA

B415.1M92 approved and

less than 4.5g/hr of smoke

(EPA test method)

Pellet Stove Less than 2g/hour of

smoke (EPA test method)

Less than 1g/hour of smoke

(EPA test method)Ventilation Fans ENERGY STAR low sone

(low noise)

ENERGY STAR low sone (low

noise)

Heat Recovery

Ventilation Units

for Building Less

Than 600m2

Required everywhere

HVI Certified,

Recovery Efficiency 45% @

-40C

Required everywhere

HVI Certified,

Recovery Efficiency 50% @ -

40C


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Mechanical

System

Minimum Excellent

Heat Recovery

Ventilation Units

for Building Larger

Than 600m2

Required everywhere -

100% outdoor air units

with heat recovery

Required everywhere -100%

outdoor air units with heat

recovery

Oil Hot Water Tank ENERGY STAR EF .60 ENERGY STAR EF .68

Gas Hot Water

Tank

ENERGY STAR EF .80 ENERGY STAR EF .98

Electric Hot Water

Tank (Hydro

Communities Only)

ENERGY STAR EF .90 ENERGY STAREF .98

Oil Instantaneous

Hot Water Heater

ENERGY STAR EF .85 ENERGY STAR

EF .90

Gas Instantaneous

Hot Water Heater

ENERGY STAREF .90

ENERGY STAREF .96

Electric

Instantaneous Hot

Water Heater

(Hydro

Communities Only)

ENERGY STAR EF .96 ENERGY STAREF .98

Hot Water From

Boiler

See boiler efficiencies See boiler efficiencies

Room Air

Conditioning

ENERGY STAR

EER 10.8 or higher

None, ENERGY STAR

ceiling fans

Central Air

Conditioning

None, except where

absolutely needed (such as

computer rooms). Design

using shading and natural

ventilation. ENERGY STAR

ceiling fans or economisers

using outdoor air cooling.

None, except where

absolutely needed (such as

computer rooms). Design

using shading and natural

ventilation. Economisers

using outdoor air cooling.

Control Systems Programmable control

systems for heating and

ventilation are required

(for example

programmablethermostats). Outdoor

reset required on

furnace/boilers.

Direct digital controls. In

addition to the minimum,

sensors such as CO2and

occupancy sensors must be

integrated.Outdoor reset required on

furnace/boilers.


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1. All Mechanical systems must be designed by a Professional Engineer

licensed to practice in the NWT.

2. Documentation of heat loss/gain calculations must be provided.

3. Energy efficiency ratings for mechanical systems must meet those

specified based on minimum and excellent ratings in the table above.

Water Efficiency

Reducing water use cuts your water bills, reduces your heating bills

because less water needs to be heated, and reduces the amount of waste

water to be managed.

Table 5: Suggested water efficiencies

Water System Minimum Excellent

Faucets 5.6 L/min 3.5 L/minToilets Dual flush (4.8 L/ flush max) 0L composting toilet

Urinals Low flush (0.9L/ flush max) Low flow (0.5 L/flush max)

Showers 6.6 L/min 5 L/min

Dishwashers ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR

Lowest kWh/year available

in the size that you require.

Washing Machines ENERGY STAR front

loading

ENERGY STAR and less than

38 litres per load.

Building Operation & Maintenance Once the building has been built and commissioned, it is important to

operate it as it was designed to be operated.

To enable this contractors must provide a complete and detailed

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Manual and As-Built Drawings.

These are used to train the people who will operate the building, provide

them with instructions on what to do, and when to do it; and how to

monitor the systems to see how the building is performing.

The most important documentation is the Controls System As Built

drawings and literature, which governs how all mechanical systems

operate. These should be thoroughly covered in training, and it is vital

that your maintainers understand them.

It is essential that copies of all instruction manuals for installed systems

be kept with the documentation that the building maintainer/operator

has access to.

If equipment requires spare parts that are difficult to obtain in your

community, it is a good idea to specify the number of replacement parts

that are to be left in the building for future use.


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Table 6: Suggested operations and maintenance practices

O&M Minimum Excellent

Training Building operators/maintainersmust be trained to maintain

and operate the building.

Specify in writing how much

on-site training provided by the

contractors/engineers is

required. A guideline to start

with is 1 day per 400 m2

of floor

area. Written directions must

also be provided.

In addition to the minimum,building

operators/maintainers

attend formal O&M training

sessions.

Documentation All documentation pertaining

to the building and its systems

must be kept. Set points and

operating instructions must be

recorded.

Design philosophy and As

Built drawings should also be

required in writing, including

Sequences of Operation.

Same as the minimum.

Monitoring The building and systems are

monitored; results are

recorded and are reviewedperiodically to find

improvements.

In addition to the minimum,

the building undergoes a re-

commissioning processevery two years.

Fuel Preferences

In additional to reducing energy use, it is important to choose sustainable

energy sources. Not only will the energy that you use create less pollution

and greenhouse gasses, cleaner or renewable energy sources are usually

safer to store and transport, and might make better use of local

resources. You should checkAEAs Renewable Yardstick

(http://www.aea.nt.ca/communities)for your community as a starting

point to see what alternative energy sources might be good to use in

your community.
http://www.aea.nt.ca/communitieshttp://www.aea.nt.ca/communitieshttp://www.aea.nt.ca/communitieshttp://www.aea.nt.ca/communities


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Table 7: Suggested fuel substitutions

Energy Use Replace With

Building Heating Heating oil

(as much as possible)

Wood pellets, wood chips, recovered

waste heat, solar wall and design for

solar gain where possible.Water Heating Electricity

(in diesel generator

communities)

Fuel-fired on-demand heater or

boiler loop (conduct analysis first

since best option depends on factors

such as hot water consumption) or

solar hot water.

Electricity Diesel generator Co-generation (to produce building

heat at the same time), solar panels,

wind turbine, micro hydro.

Building Cooling Electric

(refrigerated airconditioner)

Window shading,

electric fans, natural window crossventilation (design for wind), solar air

conditioner, electric (evaporative air

conditioner)

Commercial

Refrigeration

Electric Systems that use outdoor air to cool

when possible

Lighting Electric (using

incandescent or

halogen fixtures)

Sunlight, electric (using fluorescent,

LED or ceramic metal halide fixtures)


Solar

1. The building should be oriented to take full advantage of passive solar

heat and designed to be solar-ready to facilitate the addition of solar

energy systems in the future.


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3. Criteria to Evaluate Proposals

o Comparing General ContractorsQualifications

Table 8: Contractor Qualifications

Qualification Why Its Required Verification

Experience You want to know that

your contractor can

complete the project as

designed, on time and

budget.

At least two references

from similar completed

projects. Call these before

deciding on the contractor.

HRAI (Heating,

Refrigeration and

Air Conditioning

Institute of Canada)

Certified to perform design

calculations and/or

equipment installation.

http://www.hrai.ca/contrac

torlocator.html

WETT (Wood Energy

Technology Transfer

Inc.)

Certified to ensure safe

installationsand provide

standards for inspections

and insurability of wood

burning appliances, such as

wood stoves and open

fireplaces.

http://www.wettinc.ca/sear

ch.html

LEED (Leadership in

Energy and

EnvironmentalDesign)

Indicates they have

knowledge of energy

efficient buildingtechniques, but may not

have knowledge essential

to building in the North.

o Support Local Business

Another requirement stated in the RFP could be to employ and train local people

for certain tasks. If it is necessary to bring in people who have the experience to

build the facility properly, it is an excellent practice to have local people involved

so they understand the building better and are able to perform as much of the

routine maintenance as possible. It will also help them develop their skills so

they will be able to do more on the next building or may be able to get work in

neighbouring communities. Buying from local suppliers when possible can help

keep money in the community and helps build local businesses.
http://www.hrai.ca/contractorlocator.htmlhttp://www.hrai.ca/contractorlocator.htmlhttp://www.hrai.ca/contractorlocator.htmlhttp://www.wettinc.ca/search.htmlInserthttp://www.wettinc.ca/search.htmlInserthttp://www.wettinc.ca/search.htmlInserthttp://www.wettinc.ca/search.htmlInserthttp://www.wettinc.ca/search.htmlInserthttp://www.hrai.ca/contractorlocator.htmlhttp://www.hrai.ca/contractorlocator.html


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o Comparing Whats Efficient and Whats Not

You are saying that all of the minimum energy efficient recommendations MUST

be met in the building design, above any other minimum building coderequirements. All of the recommended minimum values in this guide are

commercially feasible, and there is no reason why they should not be used in

your building regardless of which community you live in. When you evaluate the

proposals, you should check each proposal against the requirements you have

set out in your RFP. Your final selection should be narrowed down to only those

who meet ALL of the requirements you have listed in your RFP.

You should include the following statement in your RFP:

1. All Energy Efficiency Terms outlined in this request for proposals MUST

be met for a design to be approved.


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4. Response Guidelines

o Declaration of Terms

Once you receive proposals to design and build your new building, you will haveto compare them to see which one best meets your needs. Because the

proposals can be complicated, AEA is available to help you understand them.

Understanding the proposals that you receive to do the work outlined in the RFP

is important; you will need to be able to identify that all your requests have been

met, and be sure that it can be tested or proved throughout design, approval

and commissioning. Asking for the right details will ensure that you have all the

information to get more advice if you are not sure about a building component.

Table 9: Guide to documentation requirements

Terms Required

Documentation

Accountability

Method

Ask For:

Planning Phase of Project

NECB 2011

Ratings

Report Third Party

Screening

Can-Quest, EE4 results or

NECB 2011 Screening

Results in a report from the

architect or a third party

LEED

Ratings

Report Third Party

Detailed

Assessment

Assessment of plans

procedures, etc., by a

LEED qualified consultant

Insulation

Levels

Building Plans Stated in Building

Plans

A clear and easy-to-read

table of insulation values

for each structural

component in the Building

Plans

Windows

and Doors

Building Plans,

Window

Specifications

Window and

Door

Specifications

A copy of the specifications,

clearly stating that the

model number is ENERGY

STAR rated to Climate

Zone DLighting Building Plans Stated in

Electrical Plans

and fixture

specifications

Lighting Power Density (LPD

W/m2) to be stated in the

Electrical Plans, and fixture

specifications showing

lumens per watt


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Terms Required

Documentation

Accountability

Method

Ask For:

Heating

and

Ventilation

Systems

Heat Loss

Calculations

and Equipment

Specifications

Equipment

Specifications

Request that a report

outlining the heat loss and

ventilation calculations be

supplied by an HVACconsultant or professional

engineer. Also request a

copy of the equipment

specifications clearly stating

the capacity of the system,

showing an ENERGY STAR

rating and the operating

efficiency.

Hot Water

Systems

Volume

RequirementCalculations

and Equipment

Specifications

Equipment

Specifications

A report outlining the

calculations determiningthe capacity of the hot

water system. Also request

the system specifications

clearly stating the capacity

of the system, showing an

ENERGY STAR rating and

the operating efficiency.

Appliances Appliance

Specifications

Specifications Ask for the specifications of

all appliances to be

provided clearly stating the

capacity of the system,

showing an ENERGY STAR

rating and the operating

efficiency.

During Building Phase

Insulation

Levels

Inspection

Report

Third Party

Inspector

Have a building inspector

check the building against

the agreed plans before

interior or exterior cladding

has been fitted and provide

you with a compliancereport.*


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Terms Required

Documentation

Accountability

Method

Ask For:

Windows

and Doors

Inspection

Report

Third Party

Inspector



the agreed plans before

interior or exterior claddinghas been fitted and provide

you with a compliance

report. The building

contractor will need to keep

proof of window and door

model numbers.*

Air

Tightness

Test Results Third Party

Testing

Have a Blower Door Test

performed on the building

before air and vapour

barriers are covered withinternal and external

cladding, to make sure the

minimum required levels

have been met. If they have

not, more air sealing is

easier to perform at this

phase of the building

project.* A thermographic

scan of the building

envelope may be

performed in combinationwith the blower door test.

Commissioning of the Building

Air

Tightness

Test Results Third Party

Testing by

Commissioning

Agent (CA)

Have a Blower Door Test

performed upon

completion of the building

in addition to during

construction, to make sure

the minimum required

levels have been met.

LEEDRatings

Certification Third PartyDetailed

Assessment (CA)

Upon completion of yourbuilding you should receive

your final LEED

assessment and receive

your certification.


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Terms Required

Documentation

Accountability

Method

Ask For:

Lighting Inspection

Report

Third Party

Inspector (CA)



the agreed plans and

provide you with acompliance report.*

Heating

and

Ventilation

Systems

Installation

Report/

Checklist

Third Party

Inspector (CA)




provide you with a

compliance report.*

Hot Water

Systems

Installation

Report/

Checklist

Third Party

Inspector (CA)




provide you with acompliance report.*

Training Manual and

Certification

Design Team and

CA


check training certification

against the manual and

provide you with a report.*

On-Going

Monitoring

Log Book Design Team and

CA


check the log against the

manual and provide you

with a report.*

Document-

ation

Manual Design Team and

CA


check the manual against


provide you with a report.*

* If you are unable to get a building inspector, please contact AEA for support.


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o More Word Definitions & Acronyms

ACH (Air Changes per Hour)

This is a way of measuring the air tightness of a building. ACH is often expressedas ACH50, which is the air changes per hour when the house is depressurized to -

50 pascals during a blower door test.

AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilisation Efficiency)

The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a furnace or boiler. It takes into

account the cyclic on/off operation and associated energy losses of the heating

unit as it responds to changes in the load. This is the efficiency you should always

use to compare whole building heating appliances.

ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Engineers)International organization dedicated to the advancement of heating, ventilation,

air conditioning, and refrigeration through research, standards writing,

publishing, and continuing education.

Blower Door Test

Test used to determine a homes airtightness: a powerful fan is mounted in an

exterior door opening and used to pressurize or depressurize the house. By

measuring the force needed to maintain a certain pressure difference, the

homes airtightness can be determined. Operating the blower door also

exaggerates air leakage and permits a weatherization contractor to find and sealleakage areas.

Btu(British Thermal Unit)

The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water (about a pint) one

degree Fahrenheit in temperatureabout the heat content of one wooden

kitchen match. One Btu is equivalent to 0.293 watt-hours or 1,055 joules.

CAN-QUEST

CAN-QUEST is a computer program developed by Natural Resources Canada to

automate energy use assessments and compare proposed buildings to the new

NECB 2011 building design rules.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp)

CFLs are typically three to four times as efficient as incandescent light bulbs, and

last eight to ten times as long. They contain a small amount of mercury.


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CSA (Canadian Standards Association)

CSA is accredited by theStandards Council of Canada,acrown corporation

mandated with promoting efficient and effective standardisation in Canada, as a

standards development organisation and as a certification body.

DaylightingUse of sunlight for daytime lighting needs. Daylighting strategies include solar

orientation of windows as well as the use of skylights, clerestory windows, solar

tubes, reflective surfaces, and interior glazing to allow light to move through a

structure.

EE4

EE4 version 1.7 is a computer program that automates energy use assessments

and applies all of Natural Resources Canadas (NRCans)validation of new

building designs rules to verify that a design is at least 25% more energy efficient

than if constructed to meetModel National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB)

1997 requirements.

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)

Energy-efficiency rating or energy-efficiency ratio. As most commonly used, EER

is the operating efficiency of a room air conditioner, measured in Btus of cooling

output divided by the power consumption in watt-hours; the higher the EER, the

greater the efficiency.

EF (Energy Factor)

Efficiency measure for rating the energy performance of dishwashers, clothes

washers, water heaters, and certain other appliances that heat water. The higherthe energy factor, the greater the efficiency. In some appliances EF reflects the

percentage of energy going into the appliance that is turned into useful energy.

EGH (EnerGuide for Houses) Natural Resources Canada program

An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of your home's energy

performance. It shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy efficient your

home is. The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions so

that you can compare the energy performance of one house against another.

The home's energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0

represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely highenergy consumption.

ENERGY STAR

Labeling system sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US

Department of Energy for labeling the most energy-efficient products on the

market; applies to a wide range of products, from computers and office

equipment to refrigerators and air conditioners.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards_Council_of_Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_corporationhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/newbuildings/validation.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/newbuildings/validation.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/newbuildings/validation.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/programs/energycode.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/programs/energycode.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/newbuildings/validation.cfmhttp://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/newbuildings/validation.cfmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards_Council_of_Canada


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ENERGY STAR Zone D (refers to windows)

Windows required for a colder climate.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Is anagency of thefederal government of the United States charged withprotecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing

regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The agency conducts

environmental assessment, research, and education. It has the responsibility of

maintaining and enforcing national standards under a variety of environmental

laws, in consultation with state, tribal, and local governments.

HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada)

A national association that represents more than 1,300 heating, ventilation, air

conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) manufacturers, wholesalers and

contractors, and which provides Canadians with the tools and information

necessary to ensure their total indoor environment comfort.

HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator)

Balanced ventilation system in which most of the heat from outgoing exhaust air

is transferred to incoming fresh air via an air-to-air heat exchanger; a similar

device, an energy-recovery ventilator, also transfers heat from water vapour.

HRVs recover 50% to 80% of the heat in exhausted air. In hot climates, the

function is reversed so that the cooler inside air reduces the temperature of the

incoming hot air.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)Collectively, the mechanical systems that heat, ventilate, and cool a building.

HVI (Home Ventilating Institute)

HVI today represents a wide range of home ventilating products manufactured

by companies in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe, producing the

majority of the residential ventilation products sold in North America. The

Certified Rating Programs of HVI were created to provide a fair and credible

method of comparing ventilation performance of similar products.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)A type of light bulb that produces light by running electrical current through a

semiconductor diode. LED lamps are much longer lasting and much more energy

efficient than incandescent lamps; unlike fluorescent lamps, LED lamps do not

contain mercury and can be dimmed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_agencieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_agencies


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LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

An internationally recognized green building certification system, providing

third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built

using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy

savings, water efficiency, CO2emissions reduction, improved indoor

environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to theirimpacts.

LPD W/m2(Lighting Power DensityWatts per square metre)

A measure of electrical power used to provide lighting to a space - expressed in

watts per square foot (or watts per square metre).

Lumens per Watt (lm/W)

A measure of light produced to the amount of power providing the light. A 60

watt incandescent bulb provides as much light (lumens) as a 13 watt CFL

(compact fluorescent light) which means that the CFL provides about 4 times

more lumens (light) per watt than the incandescent bulb. The CFL uses about 4

times less power than the incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of

lumens (light).

MNECB (Model National Energy Code for Buildings) 1997

This document includes detailed information on building envelope, lighting,

electrical power, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,

which can offer major energy savings. It is not a requirement in the NWT and has

been replaced by NECB 2011. In the Northwest Territories NECB 2011 buildings

require about 30% less energy than MNECB 1997 buildings.

NECB (National Energy Code for Buildings) 2011

This document includes detailed information on building envelope, lighting,

electrical power, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,

which can offer major energy savings. Builders in the NWT may choose to but are

not required to meet these requirements (as of December 2012).

Pa (Pascal)

The pascal (Pa) or kilopascal(kPa) as a unit of pressure measurement is widely

used throughout the world and largely replaces thepounds per square inch (psi)

unit, except in some countries still using theImperial measurement system.

Passive Solar Heating

Heating of space or water that uses heat from the sun and does not require

electricity or fuel consumption. The most common type of passive solar heating

system is space heating which depends on solar gain through windows, thermal

mass, and insulation. Unlike an active solar heating system, a passive system has

no pumps or blowers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounds_per_square_inchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_measurement_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_measurement_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pounds_per_square_inch


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R-Value

Measure of resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the lower the heat

loss. The inverse of U-factor. RSI is the metric measurement equivalent (multiply

RSI by 6 to get approximate R-Value).

ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada)An independent product safety testing, certification and inspection organization.

U-Value

Measure of the heat conducted through a given product or materialthe

number of British thermal units (Btus) of heat that move through a square foot

of the material in one hour for every 1 degree Fahrenheit difference in

temperature across the material (Btu/ft2F hr). U-factor is the inverse of R-value.

Watt (W)

Defined as onejoule persecond,measures the rate ofenergy conversion.

Watts per meter squared (W/m2)

Power required to light an area one meter by one meter. In RFPs, give ranges or

a maximum. A higher W/m2means more energy is used on lighting.

WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer)

A non-profit training and education association managed by a volunteer Board of

Directors elected by holders of valid WETT certificates. Through its

administrative designate, WETT Inc. functions as the national registrar of the

WETT program. Through professional training and public education, WETT Inc.

promotes the safe and effective use of wood burning systems in Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule

Documents

Energy Efficiecy in RFP for New Buildings Jan 2013