Shanti Pless, LEED AP NREL, Commercial Buildings Research

Shanti Pless, LEED AP

NREL, Commercial Buildings Research Group

10/18/2013

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

WHO IS PURSUING NET ZERO ENERGY?

Let’s Review

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• NREL background

• What is Net Zero?

• Energy performance based acquisition

• Net Zero design

• Construction innovation for Net Zero

• How is it working?

• Additional NREL projects and industry uptake

• Questions

Maximum Efficiency with Deep Integration

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Snapshot

• Leading clean-energy innovation for 34 years

• 1740 employees with world-class facilities

• Campus is a living model of sustainable energy

• Owned by the Department of Energy

• Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy

• Golden, Colorado Main Campus • Wind Technology Site

Only National Laboratory Dedicated Solely to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Scope of Mission

Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Systems Integration Market Focus

Residential Buildings

Commercial Buildings

Personal and Commercial Vehicles

Solar

Wind and Water

Biomass

Hydrogen

Geothermal

Grid Infrastructure

Distributed Energy Interconnection

Battery and Thermal Storage

Transportation

Private Industry

Federal Agencies

Defense Dept.

State/Local Govt.

International

What We Do

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Advanced Commercial Buildings Research, through applied research and demonstration, supports DOE’s speed-and-scale goals to reduce building energy use.

Focus areas:

• Whole-building systems integration

• Comprehensive building energy modeling

• Cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies

• Systematic performance metrics and monitoring

Our team’s key strength lies in combining all

these tools to design well-integrated new

buildings and cost-effective retrofits.

Net Zero Energy Guiding Concepts

• Buildings can meet all of their energy needs from renewable sources

• Demand side first, then supply side

• Net zero using grid for energy balance

• Prioritize renewable energy options • Within Footprint

• On-site

• Off-site?

• Operations goal to align full project delivery

• Lots of Room for Interpretation…

Definitions of NZEB’s

Net Zero Site Energy

Net Zero Source Energy

Net Zero Emissions

Net Zero Energy Cost

Boundaries and metrics

ZEB:A – ZEB:D

The Definition used WILL impact the ZEB design strategies!

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy06osti/39833.pdf

NZEB Approach

• Maximize space efficiency • Envelope and orientation to reduce loads

– Well insulated roofs, walls, floors, windows (with shading)

• Envelope and orientation to meet loads – Daylighting – Passive solar heating, Trombe walls – Natural ventilation

• Lighting design to match daylighting • Plug loads

– Design vs. owner loads

• Climate specific HVAC designed for the remaining loads • Commissioning (making sure the building works) • Metering and evaluation • Make it simple

• Site specific renewable generation

• within footprint, site, off-site

California PUC 2030

ASHRAE Vision 2020

Federal / EISA 2030

Massachusetts 2030

Living Building Challenge

2030 Challenge

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New Buildings Institute

Getting to Zero 2012 Status Update: A

First Look at the Costs and Features of

Zero Energy Commercial Buildings

(March 2012)

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(March 2012)

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(March 2012)

13 1K-5K

11 5K-10K 10K-25K 25K-50K

50K-100K >100K

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8 4 New Buildings Institute




(March 2012)

Image courtesy of NREL PIX

13,600 SF

Higher Education

Oberlin, OH

3,600 SF

Interpretive Center

Kona, HI

Image courtesy of EHDD Architecture

10,000 SF

Office Building

San Jose, CA

Image courtesy of inhabitat.com

2,968 SF

Higher Education

Eureka, MO

Image courtesy of BNIM

6,246 SF

Interpretive Center

Rhinebeck, NY

220,00 SF

Office Building

Golden, CO Image courtesy of RNL

138,000 SF

Office Building

Golden, CO Image courtesy of RNL

335,000 SF

Office and Shop Buildings

Sacramento, CA Image courtesy of RNL and Stantec

Image courtesy of EHDD Architecture and Integral Group

330,000 SF

Museum

San Francisco, CA

Image courtesy of EHDD Architecture and Integral Group

40,000 SF

Office Building

Los Altos, CA

Image courtesy of Bullitt Foundation and Miller Hull Partnership

50,000 SF

Office Building

Seattle WA

40,000 SF

Historic Renovation

GSA Courthouse

Grand Junction, CO Image courtesy of GSA, Beck Group and Westlake Reed Leskosky

500,000 SF

Office Building

Singapore Image courtesy of RNL

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DOE / NREL: Client

Haselden Construction: General Contractor

RNL: Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, Lighting

Stantec: MEP Engineering, Energy Modeling

KL&A: Structural Engineering

Martin/Martin: Civil Engineering

AEC: LEED, Daylight Modeling, Commissioning

Namaste Solar: Solar Consultant

NREL Campus 2007

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Research Support Facility Vision

• A showcase for sustainable, high-performance design

o Incorporates the best in energy efficiency, environmental performance,

and advanced controls using a “whole-building” integrated design

process

• Serves as a model for cost-competitive, high-performance

commercial buildings for the nation’s design construction,

operation, and financing communities

Credit: RNL

NREL Campus Today

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NREL Research Support Facilities (RSF)

• More than 800 people in DOE office space on NREL’s campus

• 220,000 ft2

• Design/build process with required energy goals

• 35 kBtu/ft2

• 50% energy savings

• LEED Platinum

• Replicable • Process

• Technologies

• Cost

• Site, source, carbon, cost ZEB:B • Includes plugs loads and datacenter

• Firm fixed price of ~$64 million for first phase • $259/ft2 construction cost (not including $27/ft2 for PV from PPA/ARRA)

• Open first phase June 10, 2010

DOE/NREL Research Support Facility:

Project Goals

Cre

dit: H

aseld

en

Constr

uction

NREL Campus Growth with Design-Build

Procurement process attributes pre-2007: o Design-bid-build project delivery

o LEED-driven sustainability goals

Procurement process attributes post-2007: o Design-build project delivery with firm fixed price for >$400 Million of new

facilities

o Specific energy performance requirements in the Request for Proposal

– RSF, office example: 35 kBtu/ft2/yr

– SEB, guard house example: net zero energy

o Energy modeling required to substantiate goals

o Energy end-use metering requirement

o Voluntary incentive ($) program to ensure measurement and verification outcome has a chance to meet predicted performance

Owner Best Practices

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Select a project delivery method that balances performance, best

value, and cost savings.

• Encourages innovation

• Reduces owner’s risk

• Faster construction and

delivery

• Better cost control

• Makes optimal use of

team members’ expertise

• Establishes measurable

success criteria

Owner Best Practices

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Incorporate measureable energy use performance requirements

into a performance-based design-build procurement process.

• Measurable goals are better

• From bad to good… o I want a green building

o Design a LEED <rating> building

o Design a building to use 30% less energy than ASHRAE 90.1-2004

o Design a building to use less than 35,000 Btu/ft2

o Design a [NET] ZERO ENERGY BUILDING

• Influencing purchasing decision—the owner

Developing a Performance Based Request for Proposals

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• Up-front planning drives

success o Design charrettes

o Based on industry best

practices

o Owner’s representatives

• Design challenge o Suite of performance

goals to challenge team

o Substantiation criteria

Tier 1: Mission Critical Goals • Attain safe work/design • LEED Platinum • ENERGY STAR® “Plus”

Tier 2: Highly Desirable Goals • 800 staff capacity • 35 kBtu/ft2·yr • Architectural integrity • Honor future staff needs • Measurable ASHRAE 90.1 • Support culture and amenities • Expandable building • Ergonomics • Flexible workspace • Support future technologies • Documentation to produce “how to” manual • Allow secure collaboration with visitors • Completion by 2010

Tier 3: If Possible Goals • Net-zero energy • Most energy-efficient building in the world • LEED Platinum Plus • 50% better than ASHRAE 90.1 • Visual displays of current energy efficiency • Support public tours • Achieve national and global recognition and awards

• Performance based design-build with absolute energy use requirements o These are NOT bridging documents.

– Owner has significant input into the preliminary design

– Some overlap of A/E costs

o These ARE performance specifications.

– What something must do, not what it must be

– Subcontractor must substantiate that the design meets requirements

– Owner must not give the subcontractor technical direction

No drawings/plans in RFP!

Don’t change your mind

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Energy Performance Based Design-Build Process


A Value Addition Process

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A value engineering process that adds value

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How Much Did It Cost?

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• $259/ft2 construction costs for site work, infrastructure,

and building

o Includes interiors, furniture, and cabling

o Does not include PV, land, or design costs

• Third-party-owned power purchase agreement for PV

o $29/ft2 or 11% additional cost if NREL had purchased

all PV without tax breaks or subsidies (at $5/Watt)

o At 2009 PV dollars…

o $2.50/Watt installed today!

Compare

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$201

$215

$240

$246

$247

$253

$254

$259

$259

$266

$266

$271

$273

$275

$281

$284

$288

$291

$293

$298

$308

$311

$316

$318

$326

$354

$369

$371

$384

$393

$412

$418

$442

$460

$503

$521

$530

Heifer International Center - Platinum

NVCI Cancer Research - Silver

Kitsap County Admin Building - Other

RSF Expansion - Total Construction Cost without PV - Platinum

The Signature Centre - Platinum

Great River Energy Headquarters - Platinum

Ft. Carson Brigade/Battalion HQ - Gold

RSF - Total Construction Cost without PV - Platinum

International Fund for Animal Welfare - Gold

Omega Center - Platinum

Chevron Office - Other

Bremerton BEQ - Certified

University of Denver Sturm College - Gold

RSF Expansion - Total Construction Cost with PV - Platinum

Naval Facilities Southeast Engineering Operations Center - Other

Ft. Lewis Barracks and Dinning - Silver

RSF - Total Construction Cost with PV - Platinum

RSF - Total Project Cost without PV - Platinum

Dillard University - Gold

EPA Region 8 Headquarters - Other

Fernald Visitors Center - Platinum

Commerce City Civic Center - Silver

Leo Trombatore Office - Silver

Arizona State University School of Journalism - Silver

Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health - Gold

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - Other

Leprino Building - Other

San Joaquin Admin Building - Gold

1800 Larimer - Platinum

Las Cruces Courthouse - Other

NASA Sustainability Base - Platinum

Applied Research & Development - Platinum

Aircraft RSF - Silver

National Association of Realtors - Silver

Fort Bragg Forces Command HQ - Gold

San Joaquin Comm. College - Other

DC Federal Building - Other

Data used by permission from the Design-Build project database hosted by DBIA at www.dbia.org

http://www.dbia.org/

• Firm fixed price with required energy goals in design-

build contract

• Integrated architecture and envelope as efficiency

measures

• Simple and commercially viable

• No unique technologies required

• Modular precast wall panels with minimal finishes

• Optimized glazing area

• Repeatable office floorplate

• Takes a coordinated effort with the owner (and all user

groups), architect, builder, and engineers

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Replicable – Cost Control Review

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Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Floor Plans

Credit: RNL

1 60 ft. Wide Office Wings

2 Interior Thermal Mass

3 Thermal Labyrinth

4 Daylighting

5 Natural Ventilation

6 Low Window to Wall Ratio

7 Transpired Solar Collectors

8 Open Workplace

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2

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6 7

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Energy driven form

115,000 SF

Conventional form

65,000 SF

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Thermal Mass in Envelope • Incorporates many passive

heating and cooling techniques.

• Six inches of concrete on the interior provides thermal mass that helps moderate internal temperatures year round.

• Nighttime purges in summer months trap cool air inside, keeping temperatures comfortable for the warm summer days.

<30%

Window to Wall Ratio

>70%

Window to Wall Ratio

Daylighting and Direct Gain

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• Daylight re-directed to cold ceiling

• No direct solar gain on occupants

• 47% savings in plug loads

• 0.40 W/ft2 peak office equipment

Daylighting and Internal Gain Reductions




HVAC Systems

•Radiant space heating and cooling in office spaces

•Dedicated outdoor air with underfloor delivery

•VAV and Displacement Cooling in conference spaces

•Natural ventilation

• Automatic and manual windows

• Security waiver



Construction Innovation

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5 days per deck allowed

– 2 days per deck

– 85% faster

Offsite pre-fab of zones

Offsite pre-pressurized

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RSF Addition

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RSF Addition • 138,000 sq. ft.

• 525 occupants

• $39 million expansion

• Building 17% more

efficient than the RSF

• Cost savings of 5%

• $14/ft2 cheaper

Off-Site Glazed Wall Panels

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RSF Addition Daylighting Enhancements

User Friendly Windows


Photovoltaics

•PV contractor involved with installation

•Installation technique improvements

•Standing Seam Roof

C-Wing PV

RSF Addition PV RSF PV

PRODUCTIVITY Please estimate how your productivity is increased or decreased by the environmental conditions in this building (e.g., thermal, lighting, acoustics, cleanliness):

76% of the respondents felt that their productivity

was improved by the IEQ conditions in the building

Credit: CBE (Gail Brager and Margaret Pigman)

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION

SAVE A SEAT FOR

YOUR DESIGN-

BUILD TEAM?

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World Class Efficiency is Possible within our

Construction Budgets!

• Spend the time to get RFP right

• Include absolute EUI requirements if possible

• Set up acquisition process to “force” integrated design

• Energy modeling guides conceptual design decisions

• Architecture and envelope are also efficiency measures

• Unwavering commitment to problem statement

• Unleash power of design/build team of experts to meet your

needs – true value engineering

• Commit to your objectives and don’t adjust

Process for Replication at Scale

DOE/NREL Research Support Facility

RFP Design/Build Requirements:

• 50% energy cost savings over

ASHRAE 90.1

• 35.1 kBtu/ft2/yr

• Net zero energy use

• Performance assurance plan

with incentives

Design/Build Results:

• Net zero energy use

• 36 .4 kBtu/ft2/yr

• Demonstration of max efficiency in an institutional office building on typical construction budgets using energy performance based design/build delivery and procurement methods

• $259/sqft construction costs – $250/sqft - $300/sqft typical

DOE/NREL RSF 3rd Wing


• 27 kBtu/ft2/yr

• 50% Energy Cost Savings


with incentives


• 20 kBtu/ft2/yr measured

• Demonstration of additional

cost savings, energy

efficiency, and schedule gains

over phase 1

• 17 % more efficient than the

RSF

• Cost savings of 5% ($14/ft2

cheaper)

DOE/NREL 1800 Car Staff Parking Garage

Design/Build Requirements:

• 0.5 kBtu/ft2

• 175 kBtu/stall

• Net-zero energy Site

Entrance Building


• 90% Energy cost savings

• 138 kBtu/parking stall

• $14,172 per parking space

• $15,500 to $24,500 for

typical parking space in

Denver area

DOE/NREL Cafeteria


• 35% energy cost savings over

ASHRAE 90.1

• Best in class commercial

kitchen equipment


with incentives

• LEED Gold


• 36% energy savings

• Demonstration of max

efficiency in a commercial

kitchen using energy

performance based

design/build delivery and

procurement methods

• LEED Platinum

DOE/NREL Energy Systems Integration Facility

Design/Build Requirements:

• 27 kBtu/ft2 Office wing

• 1.06 PUE Super computer

• No mechanical cooling

• Waste heat reuse

• 30% savings for all labs


• 26 kBtu/ft2 Office wing

• World class efficient super

computer

• 36% savings in labs

Influencing New High Performance Buildings

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"It may sound corny, but after seeing the RSF, it really was the

first day of the second half of my career. I saw the integration at

RSF, the total comprehensive thinking, and thought, 'I've got to

get involved in a project that's going in this direction.'”

— Kenner Kingston Director of Sustainability for ARCHITECTURAL NEXUS, INC.

Designing an administrative office space in the area of Salt Lake City, Utah.

"We've had quite a bit of input from NREL, and my visit to the

RSF showed me the opportunities to be deeply energy efficient.

The New York State Energy Research and Development

Authority is partnering with us and contributing funding to the

design effort.”

— Robert R. Bland Senior director for energy and sustainability with Cornell University

"It was very impressive, the degree to which NREL is monitoring

the things that people are doing on their side of the plugs. We'd

known that we could do dramatic things with efficient

refrigerators, dishwashers, and lighting, but the fact that NREL

was paying so much attention to the real work side of the house

— the computers, monitors, printers, and task lights — caused

us to go back and look at our IT really carefully.”

— Denis Hayes

Bullitt Foundation President

Credit: Dennis Schroeder

Courtesy of Kilograph 2012

Credit: Dennis Schroeder, 19911

Final Thoughts…

• Net zero energy

• Easy to understand

• Important to define

• Evolving industry

• Small to large

• Varied value justification

• Energy security

• Market leadership

• Mission alignment

• Federal and state requirements

• LEED Platinum PLUS net zero energy?

Thanks and Questions

Shanti Pless

[email protected]

www.nrel.gov/rsf

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mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Shanti Pless, LEED AP NREL, Commercial Buildings Research