NECB-2011 and CAN-QUEST

The new energy code and the tools available for

compliance

DRAFT November 2013

 2

Presenter

<To be filled in by the presenter: short bio,

establish you are the expert>

Course Developer
 Natural Resources Canada
 3

Course objectives
 Target audience:
 compliance reviewers, code officials, those who hire energy
modellers (e.g. architects), new energy modellers
 Overview of NECB-2011
 prescriptive requirements
 trade-off paths
 performance path
 overview
 managing the process
 reviewing energy model reports
 Introduction to CAN-QUEST
 4

Overview and schedule

Morning Afternoon
Introduction 8:30 Performance Path 1:00
Energy Codes 9:00 Introduction to CAN-QUEST 1:20
Reference Materials 9:15 Compliance Modelling 2:00
Compliance Paths – Overview 9:30 Break 2:15
Break 10:00 Proposed and Reference 2:30
Building
Prescriptive Requirements 10:20
Wrap-up 3:10
Trade-off Path 11:20
Performance Path – Factors 3:40
Lunch 12:00
for Success
Finished 4:00
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Why do we need
ENERGY CODES FOR PART 3
COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
BUILDINGS?
 6

The path to NECB-2011

 1997 – Model National Energy Code for
Buildings (MNECB)
 Not widely adopted
 Suggested as “best practice” by some provincial
codes
 Required by some provinces for the buildings
they own and/or occupy
 NECB-2011 target was an average of 25% less
energy than MNECB & was shown to be
practical:
 Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP)
 LEED 1.0
 7

The path to NECB-2011 (cont’d)

 2008 – Council of the Federation

(Province + Territories) called for a new
energy code that used 25% less energy
than MNECB
 Nov 2011 – National Energy Code for
Buildings (NECB)
 Adoption/adaptation across Canada
anticipated 2013-2016
 8

What the energy code for buildings

means for part 3 buildings
 Code must be adopted by jurisdiction to
become law
 NECB is not a part of National Building
Code (NBC), but a separate document
 Note: Part 9 Housing Energy Code is part of
NBC
 The worst you will be legally allowed to
build from an energy perspective
 9

Buildings don’t appear to be

getting better
 2009 data
 Why is this happening?
 data does not come with
explanation
 most older buildings
have been renovated
with newer HVAC
 most older buildings
have a “computer on
every desktop”
 Energy codes will help
Ref: Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use
– Buildings 2009, NRCAN
 10

Today’s energy use of all Canadian buildings – by

region and year of construction

Ref: Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use – Buildings 2009, NRCAN
 11

Overall effective enclosure

—many old buildings are better than we think
1864 2008
Province House, Charlottetown Everywhere
R-4, 30% FDWR R-3, 80% or greater FDWR

Note: New double glazed windows, but no Note: High performance windows and R15
insulation in the walls spandrel panel in curtain wall.
 12

Energy Codes over time…

This graph is illustrative only

 13

Adoption of building energy codes

in Canada as of December 2013
 Minimum requirement:
 British Columbia and Vancouver
 ASHRAE 90.1-2010 or
 NECB-2011
 Ontario
 SB-10 with 3 paths
 ASHRAE 90.1-2010
+ 189.1-2009 envelope
 5% less energy use than
ASHRAE 90.1-2010
 25% less energy use than
MNECB-1997
 LEED 2009
 23% better by cost than MNECB
 Includes process loads
 14

US adoption of energy codes

 Why is this important?
 US market drives
available equipment
and technologies
 Examples:
 Minimum boiler/chiller
efficiencies
 Occupancy/daylight
sensors for lighting
 Lighting technology
(e.g. LEDs)
 15

NECB-2011 adoption/adaptation
as minimum code as of Dec. 2013
 These jurisdictions are
considering adoption/adaptation
of NECB-2011

 Newfoundland & Labrador

 New Brunswick
 Prince Edward Island
 Quebec
 Saskatchewan
 Alberta
 Yukon
 Nunavut
 16

Waste is waste, no matter how

efficiently you produce it…

 Energy codes provide

guidance, but they
don’t necessarily
prevent excessive
energy use
“We used low-flow shower heads”
-- Title 24 (California) is considering adding a
clause to limit to 1 shower head per shower
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NATIONAL ENERGY CODE

FOR BUILDINGS – NECB-2011
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NECB-2011
 Available from National Research
Council
 http://tinyurl.com/a5hknhf
 Google: “NRC Virtual Store”
 Hard copy, PDF or online subscription
 French and English versions available
 Cost:
 $220 – personal version (hard copy or PDF)
 $140 – 1-year online version (single user)
 $150 – 1-year online version (concurrent
users)
 $455 – 5-year online version (single user)
 $465 – 5-year online version (concurrent
users)
 19

Application of NECB-2011

 NECB-2011 is a voluntary code, as are all

national model codes, unless/until
adopted/adapted by an authority having
jurisdiction (AHJ)
 NECB-2011 provides recommended
regulations and tables of minimum
efficiencies
 Where regional standards or regulations exist,
they take precedence
 20

NECB-2011 background
 Developed between 2007 and 2011 by the
National Research Council with funding from
Natural Resources Canada
 Update to MNECB-1997
 Target of NECB-2011 was to achieve 25%
average energy savings over MNECB in
commercial/institutional buildings across
Canada
 5-year cycle of continuous improvement
 2015, 2020, 2025…
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NECB-2011 User’s Guide

 Release date – December 2013
 Available for a fee from NRC web site
 Helps users understand "how" to use the code
 Describes basic modelling approaches
 Includes general information about how CAN-
QUEST works
 Includes information on assumptions made in
CAN-QUEST
 Includes NECB-2011 interpretations, limitations
 Provides example calculations and designer
checklists
 22

Recommended documents
 ASHRAE Handbooks
 load and energy calculations
 climate design information
 fenestration performance
 energy estimating and
modelling methods
 physical properties of materials
 available from
http://www.techstreet.com
 IESNA Lighting Handbook
 available from
http://www.iesna.org
 23

Other recommended documents

(cont’d)
 Also nice to have…
 HRAI Digest
http://www.hrai.ca
 Hydronics Institute Manuals
http://www.ahrinet.org
 ISO 13790 – Energy
performance of buildings,
calculations of energy use
for space heating and
cooling
http://www.iso.org
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NECB-2011 COMPLIANCE PATHS

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Abbreviation Glossary - 1
 AHU Air Handling Unit
 ARI American Refrigerant Institute
 CAV Constant Air Volume
 CHW Chilled Water
 DHW Domestic Hot Water
 EER Energy Efficiency Ratio
 EIR Energy Input Ratio
 ERV Energy Recovery Ventilation
 FDWR Fenestration-and-Door-to-Wall Ratio
 IGU Insulated Glazed Unit
 AHJ Authority Having Jurisdiction
 26

Abbreviation Glossary - 2
 LPD Lighting Power Density
 MNECB Model National Energy Code for Buildings (1997)
 NBC National Building Code
 NECB National Energy Code for Buildings (2011)
 NEUD National Energy Use Database
 NFRC National Fenestration Rating Council
 OC On-Centre
 SHGC Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
 SWH Service Water Heating
 VAV Variable Air Volume
 VFD Variable Frequency Drive
 VSD Variable Speed Drive
 27

NECB-2011 compliance paths

 Prescriptive
 Must meet all prescriptive requirements
 Checklists will be available from jurisdictions that adopt NECB-
2011
 NECB Compliance Forms will be available in 2014

 Trade-off paths
 Simplified calculations for envelope, HVAC, DWH and lighting
 Proposed value must be less than or equal to reference value
 Spreadsheet tools available from NRCan

 Performance path
 Requires a detailed hourly energy model
 Proposed consumption must be less than or equal to reference
 CAN-QUEST energy modelling tool BETA available from NRCan
27
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Prescriptive path – overview

 Relatively easy to implement

 Must comply with all requirements
 Common for simpler and smaller buildings
 e.g. hotels, schools, retail, etc.
 Requires high-performance building
envelope
 R-18 to R-32 walls (RSI-3.2 to RSI-5.6),
depending on climate
 29

Prescriptive path – sample

requirements
 Maximum U-value for wall, roofs, window elements
and other envelope elements
 Maximum fenestration-and-door-to-wall (FDWR) ratio
of 20-40%, depending on climate region
 Maximum installed lighting power density
 occupancy and daylighting controls in some spaces
 HVAC plant minimum performance requirements
(boilers, chillers)
 HVAC distribution performance requirements (fans,
pumps)
 Exhaust air heat recovery required in some cases
 30

Trade-off path – overview

 Can only trade-off within each part
 Trade-off available for:
 Part 3: Envelope
 Simple trade off
 Detailed path (use CAN-QUEST Wizard)
 Part 4: Lighting Spreadsheet
 Part 5: Heating, Ventilation and tools available
from NRCan
Air Conditioning
 Part 6: Service Water Heating
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Performance path – overview

 Requires energy modelling
 CAN-QUEST specifically developed for NECB-
2011
 energy modelling software tool
 based on eQuest 3.63
 automatically creates reference building according to
NECB-2011 rules at the same time that the modeller
develops the proposed building model
 “Full trade-off path” – In other words, you can
trade off between different parts of the code.
This is the most flexible path from a design
perspective
 32

NECB-2011 compliance paths

NECB-2011 Path Tools Documentation

• Checklists from authority

Prescriptive Checklists having jurisdiction
• Letter of assurance
• Software output
Checklists and software tools file/document
(Excel) • Checklists for non trade-off
Trade-off • HVAC elements
• DHW • Calculation for envelope
• Lighting (simple trade-off)
• Letter of assurance
• Software output file
Energy modeling software:
Performance • Software compliance report
CAN-QUEST
• Letter of assurance
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PRESCRIPTIVE PATH DETAILS

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Prescriptive requirements –
envelope
 Minimum performance requirements
depend on climate and envelope assembly
type (calculations may be required – e.g.
opaque wall U-value, window U-value)
 For example:
 R-31 roof and R-23 walls in Ottawa
 R-25 roof and R-18 walls in Vancouver
 35

NBC table C-2 determines heating

degree days (HDD)

Climate Heating Degree-

Zone Days (@18°C)

Zone 8 >7000

Zone 7B 6000 to 6999

Zone 7A 5000 to 5999

Zone 6 4000 to 4999

Zone 5 3000 to 3999

Zone 4 <3000
Climate zones based on ASHRAE Zone 1 = Miami

Source: NECB 2011, Div B Appendix A 1.1.4.1(1)

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Above-ground opaque assemblies

maximum U-values
Heating Degree-Days of Building Location
Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8
Zone 4
3000 to 4000 to 5000 to 6000 to 7000 to
<3000
3999 4999 5999 6999 7999
Maximum Overall Thermal Transmittance (U-value), in W/(m²-K)
NECB-2011 Table 3.2.2.2
Walls 0.315 0.278 0.247 0.210 0.210 0.180
Roofs 0.227 0.183 0.183 0.162 0.162 0.142
Floors 0.227 0.183 0.183 0.162 0.162 0.142
Approximate Minimum Overall R-value / RSI-value
Walls 18 / 3.2 20 / 3.6 23 / 4.0 27 / 4.8 27 / 4.8 32 / 5.6
Roofs 25 / 4.4 31 / 5.5 31 / 5.5 35 / 6.2 35 / 6.2 40 / 7.0
Floors 25 / 4.4 31 / 5.5 31 / 5.5 35 / 6.2 35 / 6.2 40 / 7.0
 37

Above ground opaque assembly

calculation
 Example:
 climate zone 7A
 5000 to 5999 HDD
 opaque wall
 max U-Value
0.210 W/m²-K
 U-value = thermal transmittance of wall
system
 RSI = 1 / U-value: R-value = 5.678 x RSI
 0.210 W/m²-K becomes R-27
 38

Status quo does not meet

NECB-2011
Example: wood stud wall with 13 mm
400 mm OC drywall; air/vapour barrier; 140 mm
(16” OC)
wood stud @ 400 mm on-centre with
R-20/RSI-3.5 batt; 13 mm exterior
sheathing; air cavity; brick façade

U-value
R-value
(W/m²-K)
Nominal R-20 / RSI-3.5 0.28
Actual (see NECB
R-15.6 / RSI-2.76 0.36
User’s Guide)
NECB-Zone 4
R-18 / RSI-3.2 0.315
(Table 3.2.2.2)
NECB-Zone 8
R-31.5 / RSI-5.6 0.180
(Table 3.2.2.2)
 39

Continuous exterior insulation

required for prescriptive performance
400 mm OC
(16” OC)
Example: wood stud wall with continuous
exterior insulation with 13 mm drywall;
air/vapour barrier; 140 mm wood stud @
400 mm on-centre with R-20/RSI-3.5 batt;
13 mm exterior sheathing; vented air
cavity; brick façade
U-value
R-value
(W/m²-K)
Nominal R-30 / RSI-5.3 0.19
R-10/RSI-1.76
Actual (see NECB
R-27 / RSI-4.8 0.21
exterior
User’s Guide)
insulation – still
NECB-Zone 4 R-18 / RSI-3.2 0.315
not adequate
NECB-Zone 7B R-27 / RSI-4.8 0.21
NECB-Zone 8 R-31.5 / RSI-5.6 0.180
for Zone 8
 40

Status quo z-girt wall not compliant

Example: horizontal z-girt wall with semi-
rigid insulation with 13 mm drywall; 140 mm
steel stud @ 400 mm on-centre; air/vapour
barrier; 13 mm exterior sheathing; 100 mm
horizontal z-girts @ 600 mm on-center with
R-15/RSI-2.64 semi-rigid insulation; vented
air cavity; metal façade

U-value
R-value
(W/m²-K)

Nominal R-15 / RSI-2.64 0.38

Actual (see NECB

R-8.62 / RSI-1.52 0.659
User’s Guide)

NECB-Zone 4 R-18 / RSI-3.2 0.315

NECB-Zone 8 R-31.5 / RSI-5.6 0.180

 41

Z-girt walls and prescriptive

requirements
200 mm (8”) of rigid XPS insulation
horizontal and vertical z-girts Example: horizontal z-girt wall with
semi-rigid insulation with 13 mm
drywall; 140 mm steel stud @ 400 mm
on-centre; air/vapour barrier; 13 mm
exterior sheathing; vented air cavity;
metal façade
100 mm horizontal
R-value
U-value z-girts + 100 mm
(W/m²-K) vertical z-girts @
Nominal R-40 / RSI-7.04 0.14 600 mm on-centre
Actual (3D heat
R-20.7 / RSI-3.65 0.270 with R-40/RSI-7.04
transfer model)
rigid XPS insulation
NECB-Zone 4 R-18 / RSI-3.2 0.315
– still not adequate
NECB-Zone 5 R-20 / RSI-3.6 0.278 for Zone 6 and
NECB-Zone 6 R-23.0 / RSI-4.05 0.247 above
 42

Status quo spandrel panel not

compliant
Example: spandrel panel in
window wall or curtain wall
constructions (curtain wall shown in
image) with 13 mm drywall (not shown in image);
100 mm steel stud @ 400 mm on-centre (not shown in
image); curtain wall framing system with R15 insulation
outboard of back pan; glass shadow box

U-value
R-value
(W/m²-K)

Nominal R-15 / RSI-2.64 0.379

Actual (2D heat

R-4.0 / RSI-0.70 1.43
transfer model)

NECB-Zone 4 R-18 / RSI-3.2 0.315

Source: LBNL Software
NECB-Zone 8 R-31.5 / RSI-5.6 0.180
 43

Spandrel panel will be challenging

condensation likely to form
Example: spandrel panel in window
and likely to void the warranty
of curtain wall
wall or curtain wall constructions
(curtain wall shown in image)
with 13 mm drywall (not shown in image); 100 mm steel
stud @ 400 mm on-centre (not shown in image) with 75
mm of spray polyurethane foam; curtain wall framing
system with R-15 insulation outboard of back pan; glass
shadow box
U-value
R-value
(W/m²-K)
Nominal R-33 / RSI-5.81 0.172
Actual (2D heat
R-23 / RSI-4.05 0.247
transfer model)
Actual (3D heat
R-9.2 / RSI-1.62 0.617
transfer model)
R-23.0 / RSI-
NECB-Zone 6 0.247
4.05
Source:
LBNL Software NECB-Zone 7a R-27 / RSI-4.8 0.21
 44

Some common wall systems will

require careful consideration

 Performance path may be preferable for

buildings that use these wall systems
 z-girt walls
 steel stud walls
 curtain/window wall spandrel panel
 pre-fabricated steel buildings
 45

Fenestration and door requirements

are climate dependent
City/Town HDD Max FDWR
Yellowknife 8170 20%
Whitehorse 6580 23%
Winnipeg 5670 29%
Edmonton 5120 33%
Quebec 5080 33%
Calgary 5000 33%
St. John’s 4800 35%
Fredericton 4670 36%
Ottawa 4500 37%
Montreal 4300 38%
Halifax 4000 40%
Toronto 3520 40%
NECB: 3.2.1.4 Vancouver 2900 40%
Source: ASHRAE Victoria 2700 40%
 46
Overall envelope (window and wall)
system R-value is strongly affected by
FDWR
Wall system (wall + windows) overall R-value is strongly affected by FWDR

NECB
Weighted
Climate
Average
Zone
R/RSI-value
minimum
4 4.9 / 0.86
5 5.4 / 0.95
6 5.9 / 1.04
7A 7.0 / 1.23
7B 8.4 / 1.48
8 12.2 / 2.15
 47

Effect of FDWR on daylighting

 Adequate daylighting is
easy to achieve with
20-40% FDWR

 35% FDWR ratio yields

90% of the daylight and
energy savings of
100% FDWR

Source: Athanassios Tzempelikos, Concordia

 48

Minimizing building energy

consumption – impact of FDWR
 Research is
unanimous

Energy Cost
 modest window-to-
wall ratio (20-40%)
provides high levels
of daylighting while
using the least
amount of energy FDWR

Energy model results (office

building example shown)
Source: LBNL
Software
show minimum energy usage
between 20-40% FDWR
 49

Fenestration and door maximum

U-values
Heating Degree-Days of Building Location
Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8
Zone 4
3000 to 4000 to 5000 to 6000 to 7000 to
<3000
3999 4999 5999 6999 7999
Maximum Overall Thermal Transmittance (U-value), in W/(m²-K)
NECB-2011 Tables 3.2.2.2 and 3.2.2.4
All
Fenestration 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.6
All Doors 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.6
Approximate Minimum Overall R-value / RSI-value
All
Fenestration 2.4 / 0.4 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 3.5 / 0.6
All Doors 2.4 / 0.4 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 2.6 / 0.5 3.5 / 0.6
 50

Determining fenestration
performance
Curtain Wall Plan View
 Centre-of-glass is not
sufficient
 Fenestration overall
thermal transmittance
shall be determined in
glazing
accordance with system
standard CSA A440.2 U-value
or NRFC 100
 see NECB 3.1.1.5(3)
 NFRC/CSA standards
calculate the thermal
transmittance of the
entire glazing system Source: Unknown
 51

Tools for estimating CSA/NFRC

fenestration performance
 Drawings and specifications
rarely include CSA/NFRC
ratings
 Typically, centre-of-glass
and/or descriptive
specifications are included
 Tools that can help
 ASHRAE Fundamentals
 Frameplus Online
http://tools.enermodal.com/web
frameplus
 NFRC Component Modeling
Approach (CMA) Software Tool
http://cmast.nfrc.org
 52

Punched aluminum window typical performance

Punched windows will need to be triple glazed in Climate Zone 8

Climate Zone 4 maximum U-value

Climate Zone 5 thru 7B
maximum U-value

Climate Zone 8 maximum U-value

Source: Unknown
 53

Curtain wall window typical performance

Curtain wall windows will need high performance thermal breaks

Climate Zone 4 maximum U-value

Climate Zone 5 thru 7B
maximum U-value

Climate Zone 8 maximum U-value

Source: Unknown
 54
Operable window (casement or awning)
typical performance
Operable windows will be a challenge, and may require
trade-off or performance path

Climate Zone 4 maximum U-value

Climate Zone 5 thru 7B
maximum U-value

Climate Zone 8 maximum U-value

Source: Unknown
 55

Fiberglass window performance

Fiberglass windows may be required, depending on climate zone
and whether or not operable windows are desired.
U-value
Climate Zone 4 2.4
Climate Zones 5, 6, 7A & 7B 2.2
Operable window (casement or awning)
2.07
double glazed, low-e and argon gas fill
Punched window
1.62
double glazed, low-e and argon gas fill
Climate Zone 8 1.60
Operable window (casement or awning)
1.58
triple glazed, low-e and argon gas fill
Punched window
1.00
triple glazed, low-e and argon gas fill
 56

Prescriptive requirements – lighting

 NEBC-2011 values taken from ASHRAE 90.1-2010
 Illumination Engineering Society (IES) had input into
ASHRAE 90.1-2010
 IES recommends minimum illuminance levels based on
task performed in space
 lighting allowances are more than adequate to provide
minimum illuminance
 NECB-2011 defines maximum installed lighting power
densities (W/m²)
 Two methods available:
 building area method (NECB-2011 Table 4.2.1.5)
 space-by-space method (NECB-2011 Table 4.2.1.6)
 57

Lighting power density:

building area method
 Overall building maximum lighting power density
varies by building type
 Examples from NECB-2011 Table 4.2.1.5
 hospital: 13 W/m²
 retail: 15.1 W/m²
 office: 9.7 W/m²
 Allows lighting power density flexibility for each
space within building
 Compliance is calculated on whole building, not on
individual spaces
 See NECB-2011 4.2.1.5
 58

Lighting power density:

space-by-space method
 Lighting power density varies by space type
 Overall building maximum lighting power
allowance is the sum of allowance for all spaces
 Maximum lighting power allowance must be met
for the entire building
 Example: dining areas
 14.1 W/m² for bar, lounge and leisure dining
 9.6 W/m² for family dining
 7.0 W/m² for other dining areas
 See NECB-2011 4.2.1.6
 59

Prescriptive requirements -
lighting control
 Enclosed spaces require a method for
turning off lights within 30 minutes of
vacancy (e.g. occupancy sensors, timers)
 Required in:
 classrooms and lecture halls, excluding shop Wall-mounted
and laboratory classrooms motion sensor and
 conference, meeting and training rooms light switch

 employee lunch and break rooms

 storage and supply rooms up to 100 m²
 rooms used for document copying and printing
 office spaces up to 76 m²
 washrooms
 dressing, locker and fitting rooms
 See NECB-2011 4.2.2.2 30-minute timer
light switch
 60

Prescriptive requirements -
daylighting control
 If good daylight is provided, a dimming
daylight control is required for lights in “daylit
zones”
 Multi-level daylight controls are required
when top-lighting (skylights) or side-lighting
(windows) exceeds minimum threshold of
“daylight area” (NECB-2011 4.2.2.4(1) and
4.2.2.8(1))
 See details in NECB-2011 4.2.2.4 to 4.2.2.10
for calculations of daylight area
 61

Prescriptive requirements – HVAC

 NECB-2011 defines performance

parameters such as:
 minimum heating/cooling equipment
performance
 maximum fan power allowance
 when exhaust air heat recovery is required
 when variable speed fans/pumps are required
 control requirements
 62

Prescriptive requirements - multiple

and modulating boiler
 Small boiler plants of less than 176 kW (600
MBH) are exempt
 Mid-size boiler plants of 176 kW to 352 kW
(600 to 1200 MBH) require either:
 more than one boiler
 two-stage boiler
 multi-stage boiler
 Large boiler plants > 352 kW (1200 MBH)
 must have a fully modulating boiler plant
 See NECB-2011 5.2.11.4
 63

Minimum performance requirements -

HVAC heating/cooling equipment

Minimum efficiency (examples shown, actual values

Equipment
depend on equipment size and type—NECB-2011 Table
(examples)
5.2.12.1)

Air Conditioners COP ≥ 2.78

COPc ≥ 3.04
Heat Pumps
COPh ≥ 2.05

Chillers As per CAN/CSA-C743

Furnaces ≥ 81% (duct furnaces ≥ 92%)

Boilers ≥ 82.5% to 85.5% depending on fuel and size

 64

Prescriptive requirements - free

cooling
 Free-cooling, taking advantage of outside air for
indoor cooling, is required in NECB-2011
 Exception: free cooling not required for small
systems, defined as systems with design supply
air of less than 1,500 L/s or cooling capacity of
less than 25 kW
 Can be either:
 air side free cooling economizer
 water side free cooling economizer
 See NECB-2011 5.2.2.7 to 5.2.2.9
 65

Prescriptive requirements -
distribution pumps
 HVAC pumping systems with a total pump system power
> 7.5 kW (10 hp) require variable flow pumping systems
capable of reducing systems flow to 50% or less
 Flow may be varied by one of several methods, such as
variable-speed-pumps, staged multiple pumps, pumps
riding their characteristic performance curves, etc.
 Exceptions:
1. systems that require a minimum flow of greater than
50% for proper operation
2. systems with a single control valve
3. systems with controls to reset fluid supply
temperature based on outdoor temperature or
system loads
 See NECB-2011 5.2.6.2
 66

Prescriptive requirements - hot/cold

water loop temperature control
 Systems over 88 kW (300 MBH) require loop
temperature reset based on either outdoor
temperature or system loads
 Exceptions:
 5.1.11.5(2), where such controls would cause the
improper operation of equipment or systems
 5.2.11.5(3), unless equipped with variable flow
pumps as required by 5.2.6.2(1)
 See NECB-2011 5.2.11.5
 67

Prescriptive requirement -
maximum fan power allowance

 There is a fan
power allowance
for fans systems
> 10 kW (13.4 hp)
 See NECB-2011
5.2.3

Source: Unknown
 68

Prescriptive requirement - exhaust

air heat recovery Equivalent exhaust air flow having
150 kW sensible heat energy

Exhaust flow
 If total HVAC exhausts 2.5% Heating above which
have 150 kW or more of Design Day HRV is
City/Town (°C) Required (L/s)
sensible heat energy, Yellowknife -41 1,967
heat recovery is required Whitehorse -41 1,967
 Bathroom exhausts are Winnipeg -33 2,258
included Edmonton -30 2,391
Calgary -30 2,391
 Exceptions for “dirty” Quebec -25 2,651
exhausts (e.g. kitchens) Ottawa -25 2,651
 Heat recovery to have Fredericton -24 2,710
50% or greater Montreal -24 2,710
Toronto -20 2,974
effectiveness Halifax -16 3,296
 See NECB-2011 5.2.10.1 St. John’s -15 3,388
Vancouver -8 4,205
Victoria -5 4,690
 69

Prescriptive requirements -
service water heating
 Minimum water heating equipment
performance (see NECB-2011 6.2.2.1) Maximum flow rates for fixtures
 ≥77% to 80% efficiency, depending on fuel
and size Max Flow
 ≥0.55 to 2.1 energy factor (EF), depending Rate
on fuel and size
 Maximum tank U-value of Showers 9.5 L/min
0.45 W/m²-K (R12.6 / RSI-2.22) (see
NECB-2011 6.2.2.2(1)) Lavatories 8.3 L/min
 Piping systems require insulation (see
NECB-2011 6.2.3.1) and heat traps for
non-circulating systems (see NECB-
2011 6.2.3.1(5)
 Outdoor pools and hot tubs require
covers (see NECB-2011 6.2.7.2)
 70

NECB-2011 prescriptive
compliance
 Checklists help designers to perform a
broad check of whether their buildings
meet or exceed the minimum
performance of each requirement for
 envelope
 lighting
 HVAC
 service water heating
 power systems
 Sample checklists will be available in
the NECB User’s Guide
 Local authorities having jurisdiction
(AHJ) will have their own checklists
for compliance certification
 71

TRADE-OFF PATH DETAILS

 72

Trade-off path options - parts 3-6 only

 Part 3: Envelope
 simple path (see NECB-2011 3.3.3)
 detailed path (see NECB-2011 3.3.4)
 Part 4: Lighting (see NECB-2011 4.3)
 Part 5: Heating, ventilation and Spreadsheet
air-conditioning (HVAC) tools available
from NRCan
(see NECB-2011 5.3)
 Part 6: Service water heating
(see NECB-2011 6.3)
 73

Simple trade-off path

requirements - envelope
 Vertical can only be traded off against vertical
 Horizontal can only be traded off against
horizontal
 See NECB-2011 3.3.3

 Cannot trade off below grade envelope

 74

Envelope simple trade-off

sample calculation
 Parameters
 Climate Zone 6
 2,000 m² gross floor area building
 square floor plate

 Three calculations:
 reference building: defines maximum UA value
 case 1: 50% FDWR with code windows
 No amount of insulation can compensate
 case 2: use super windows (triple glazed)
 With code walls, building is compliant with 70% FDWR
 75

Envelope simple trade-off sample

calculation (cont’d)

No matter how
good your
envelope, you
can never meet
this requirement
 76

Detailed trade-off path

requirements - envelope
 Requires an hourly simulation
 Energy model is used to calculate energy consumption
due to envelope
 model without HVAC, lighting or other internal heat gains
 use CAN-QUEST with SUM system type
 manually create reference envelope (not automatic with “SUM”
system type)
 SUM system: calculates heating
and cooling loads only
 Energy consumption of
reference building (NECB-2011)
is modelled
 Energy consumption of
proposed design is modelled
 Design is compliant when proposed
energy consumption is less
than or equal to reference model
 77

Trade-off requirements - lighting

 Use trade-off to
calculate annual
interior lighting energy
consumption
 Includes impact of
daylighting and
occupancy controls
 78

Lighting trade-off
sample calculation
 Small 1,400 m² office with:
 792 m² of open office
 11 x 16 m² enclosed offices
 1 x 24 m² enclosed office
 1 x 88 m² meeting room
 1 x 100 m² storage room
 2 x 20 m² washrooms
 30 m² of corridor
 1 x 100 m² boardroom
 1 x 50 m2 kitchen/break room
 79
Lighting trade-off sample calculation
(cont’d) Space Fixtures

Daylight area: 0 m² (each)

Kitchen / break room
Enc. office 16 m² 2 fixtures @
4 x 32 W (4 ft T8)

daylight area: 54 m²
DL area: 18 m²

daylight area: 0 m²
124 watts each

area: 20 m² (each)
Boardroom Storage room

area: 50 m²

Meeting room
area: 100 m²’ area: 100 m² Enc. office 24 m² 2 fixtures @

area: 30 m²

area: 88 m²
daylight area: 58 m² daylight area: 0 m ² 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8)

Corridor
187 watts each

W. room
Meeting room 5 fixtures @
DS OS OS 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
DS
187 watts each
OS
Legend Storage room 4 fixtures @
DS 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
OS occupancy sensor 187 watts each
OS Washrooms 1 fixture @
DS daylight sensor 4 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
DS
Open office 124 watts each
area: 792 m² OS Corridor 3 fixtures @
daylight area: 87.5
DS 2 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
63 watts each
OS Kitchen/break room 6 fixtures @
DS 2 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
Enclosed offices (11 of them) 63 watts each
area: 16 m² (each)
Enc. Office
daylight area: 14 m² (each) OS Boardroom 7 fixtures @
area: 24 m²
daylight area: 21 m² DS 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
187 watts each
OS DS OS DS OS DS OS DS OS DS OS DS OS Open office 50 fixtures @
DS 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8)
187 watts each
 80

Lighting trade-off sample calculation

(cont’d) – simple LPD hand calculation
Sample lighting power allowance calculation
Space LPD Area [m²] Lighting Light installed Lighting power Compliant
[W/m²] allowance installed [W] [yes/no]
[W]

2 fixtures @
Enclosed office
11.9 16 190 4 x 32 W (4 ft T8) 248 No
(16 m²)
124 watts each

5 fixtures @
Meeting room 13.2 88 1,162 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8) 935 Yes
187 watts each

7 fixtures @
Boardroom 13.2 100 1,320 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8) 1,309 Yes
187 watts each

50 fixtures @
Open office 11.0 792 8,712 6 x 32 W (4 ft T8) 9,350 No
187 watts each
 81

Lighting trade-off sample

calculation (cont’d)
 Additional information required for trade-
off tool to calculate daylighting energy
savings
 Luminous transmittance of glazing: 0.72
 Framing factor: 0.80
 Space height: 4.0 m
 Design illuminances are:
 storage: 50 lux
 washrooms: 250 lux
 everywhere else: 350 lux
 82

Lighting trade-off sample calculation

(cont’d) – results from trade-off tool
Energy efficiency IILE IILA Compliant
upgrade (from trade-off (from trade-off [yes/no]
tool) tool)
kWh/a kWh/a
Baseline (no
30,133 29,367 No
automatic controls)
Occupancy sensors
29,478 29,367 No
in enclosed offices
Occupancy sensors
in storage and break 28,951 29,367 Yes
rooms
Daylight controls
(dimming) in
27,816 29,367 Yes
enclosed offices and
meeting rooms
 83

Trade-off requirements - HVAC

and SWH
 Use trade-off tool to
calculate HVAC or SWH
trade-off index
 Proposed ≤ Reference
 HVACTOI ≥ 0
 SWHTOI ≥ 0
 Trade-off tool is available
from NRCan
 84

Service water heating trade-off

sample calculation
 Service water heating system:
 30 kW heating system with 160 litre tank
 75% efficient natural gas heater
 0.2 RSI tank insulation value
 0.2 RSI piping insulation value
 85% efficient pump motor
 55% efficient pump
 9.5 litres/min for all fixtures
 90% flow to faucets, 10% to showers
 System is non-compliant. Our task is to make
it compliant…
 85

Service water heating trade-off

example calculation
Compliance of the service water heating (SWH) systems
Building Compliance: The SHW system does not comply with Section 6.3

Add a System/Ajouter un système Save to csv File/Sauvergader en format csv

Delete a System/Effacer un système Load from csv File/Lire d'un fichier csv

SWHTOI -0.13
Compliance: System is not NECB Compliant
System #1
System Type: Tank
Equipment Type: Gas-fired 22 - 117 kW
Tank Volume: L 160
Component Units Component Efficiency
Service water heating equipment efficiency % 75.0%
Tank insulation value RSI Value 0.2
Piping insulation value RSI Value 0.2
Pump motor efficiency % 85.0%
Pump efficiency % 55.0%
Heat recovery ratio kW/kW 0.0
Average flow of all faucets L/min 9.5
Average flow of all showers L/min 9.5
Average flow of other uses L/min 9.5
Faucet flow ratio % 90.0%
Shower flow ratio % 10.0%
 86

PERFORMANCE PATH
DETAILS
 87

Performance path requirements

 Use energy model to show that the

proposed design uses less site energy than
the reference design (see NECB-2011 Part 8)
 Reference model designed to NECB-2011
prescriptive requirements defines the
“Building Energy Target”
 CAN-QUEST can automatically create an
NECB-2011 reference model for the “Building
Energy Target”
 88

Building energy target is:

 Annual energy use of the reference building
where:
 the reference building is designed to NECB-2011
prescriptive requirements and other rules defined
in Section 8 of NECB-2011
 the model includes all energy uses in the building
that affect heating and cooling systems
 Where they are compliant with prescriptive
requirements, you can exclude:
 lighting of unconditioned spaces
 exterior lighting
 ventilation of unconditioned spaces
 89

Performance path good practices

“mandatory elements”
 NECB-2011 has no “explicit” mandatory elements
 The energy model must account for all NECB-2011
prescriptive requirements (see NECB-2011 8.4.1.1(1))
 Since some measures cannot be easily modelled in CAN-
QUEST and benefit efficiency, we recommend that these best
practices be treated as “prescriptive requirements.” These
include:
 vestibules (model envelope and heating system, ignore
infiltration due to door operation)
 ductwork and piping insulation (meet prescriptively, do not
model)
 heat traps for non-circulating service hot water (meet
prescriptively, do not model)
 90

Why use the performance path?

 It offers the greatest flexibility for
demonstrating compliance
 It is often the only alternative when the
design is non-compliant due to:
 high FWDR values
 predominantly curtain-wall or window-wall
envelope
 lighting requirements
 HVAC limitations
 service water heating requirements
 91

Advantages of energy modelling

 Allows you to:

 Analyze “what-ifs”
 Find the most cost
effective solution
 Demonstrate higher
than code
performance to
access grants or
for performance
certification
Source: Unknown
 92

Energy modelling may be required

by other project goals
 LEED 2009
 minimum performance is defined as 23% lower
energy cost than MNECB-1997
 Example of local codes energy use requirements
 Toronto Green Standard: 25% over MNECB
 Ontario SB-10, 25% over MNECB
 Saskatchewan, 25% over MNECB for projects
receiving more than 30% funding from province
 British Columbia, Vancouver, Nova Scotia
 Incentive programs offered by utilities
 93

Market has experience delivering NECB-2011

performance levels using energy modelling

Average % better
Year of # of
than MNECB-
Submission Projects
1997
 NRC data indicates that,
1997/2007 983 35% on average, NECB 2011
2007/2008 129 40% performs 25% better than
MNECB-1997
2008/2009 52 38%
 NRCan Commercial
2009/2010 57 39% Building Incentive
2010/2011 148 45% Program and Validation
2011/2012 157 40%
of new building designs
service (no longer
Cumulative 1526 41% available) for buildings
exceeding MNECB-1997
by 25%
 94

Introduction to

CAN-QUEST
 95

Why use CAN-QUEST software

 To demonstrate NECB-2011 compliance
 CAN-QUEST evaluates proposed building design
 against a reference building that is designed strictly to
NECB-2011 and its appendices
 rule set is in Division B Part 8 of NECB-2011
 Simple to use Schematic and Detailed Design
Wizards to support the energy modelling process
 Powerful and customizable, with approximately
10,000 data entry points
 Downloadable from NRCan FTP site
 Contact info.services@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca for details
 96

Comparison:
eQUEST and CAN-QUEST
eQUEST CAN-QUEST
 Widely used  Based on eQUEST v3.62
 IP units only  SI and IP units
 Compliance reference  Compliance reference
building building
 Title 24  BETA MNECB-1997 (not
 ASHRAE 90.1-2007 applicable to LEED)
Appendix G (LEED only—  BETA NECB-2011
beta)  French and English
 English only  DOE 2.2 engine
 DOE 2.2 engine
 97

CAN-QUEST improvements over EE4

 Has design wizards
 Models humidity control
 Supports ERV – latent and
sensible heat recovery
 Has 3-D envelope model capability
 draw spaces, walls, etc., directly
into CAN-QUEST
 because building is drawn in software, there is
reduced “take-off” effort
 can import AutoCAD files for tracing spaces/zones
 Can model more complex systems
 Can create parametric runs
 Supports DOE 2.2 engine
 98

Understanding and using the

CAN-QUEST report
 See HARD COPY handout
 Inspectors and other professionals can
assess the files by reviewing all or part of the
report
 Page 1 identifies whether results show
compliance with NECB-2011
 Pages 2-3 require professionals’ signature
and stamp
 Page 4 presents a summary report and
energy cost summary
 99

Analyzing the CAN-QUEST

summary report 1
Conditioned space area
 verify against drawings
 should be within 5% of drawings
 confirms that the whole building was modelled
 100

Analyzing the CAN-QUEST

summary report 2
Energy Savings
 modelled energy consumption for proposed and
reference building
 reported in MJ by energy source
 confirms energy data for compliance

If negative savings
here, design is not
compliant
 101

CAN-QUEST summary report

Energy intensity
compares against benchmarks such as:
 other buildings owned/operated in portfolio
 “Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use – Buildings 2009”
by NRCan
(http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/data_e/publications
.cfm?attr=0)
 modelled results should be less than the above benchmarks
 but generally within 30%, due to modelling rules for schedules and
receptacles
 102

CAN-QUEST summary report

Annual Costs
care should be taken when interpreting modelled energy costs
compliance modelling is not intended to forecast operating costs
 modelling assumptions typically do not reflect actual operations
(e.g. schedules, receptacle loads, process energy, user/occupant
impact)
 103

Energy summary by end use -

breakdown report Energy Summary by End Use Breakdown – Proposed Building

 Energy (MJ) end uses End use

Space heating
Electricity (MJ/yr)
1
Fossil fuels (MJ/yr)
1
Total (MJ/yr)
1 End use contribution (%)

reported for both Space cooling

proposed and Heat rejection

Interior lighting

reference buildings, Service water

heating

including: Fans

Pumps and

 space heating humidificatio

n/dehumidific
ation/plant


losses
space cooling Supplemental
heat pump

 heat rejection energy

Refrigeration


equipment

interior lighting Plug loads


Process loads

service water heating

 fans Total building
annual energy
consumption

 pumps (MJ)
1

Total building

 plug loads annual energy

consumption
(ekWh)

Page 7-Note 1: NECB 2.2.2.8 requires reporting in MJ. IGJ = 1,000 MJ.
 104

Energy summary by end use -

breakdown report (cont’d)
 Modellers, project managers and compliance
professionals can use this report to verify that
savings are occurring where expected. For
example:
 proposed building has heat recovery when
reference does not
 significant space heating savings should be reported
 lower installed lighting power and lighting controls
(occupancy and daylighting) in proposed building
 lighting energy savings should be reported
 low-flow hot water fixtures in proposed building
 service water savings should be reported
 105

Building envelope summary report

 Summary envelope Building Envelope Summary

parameters reported for both 1 2

Proposed building Reference building

proposed and reference Gross wall area (m )

Wall area in contact with the

2

buildings, including: ground (m )

Total window area (m )

2

 gross wall area Total exterior door area (m )

2


Ratio total vertical fenestration
total window area & door area to gross wall area
(%)

 total door area 2

Gross roof area (m )
2


Total skylight area (m )
gross roof area Ratio total skylight area to


gross roof area (%)
total skylight area Total exposed floor areas
3
2


(m )
overall thermal transmittance Total overall thermal
o

(W/°C) transmittance(W- C)

Average heat loss coefficient

 average heat loss coefficient

2 o
(W/m - C)

(W/m²-°C)
 106

Building envelope summary report

(cont’d)
 Modellers, project managers and compliance
professionals can use this report to
understand results and check modelling
inputs. For example:
 Where proposed envelope has higher overall
thermal transmittance, proposed building should
have more efficient lighting, service hot water
and/or HVAC to compensate
 Reported proposed building areas should be
verified against drawings, especially for windows
 proposed buildings with high percentage of windows
will need either super performance windows or
significant HVAC upgrades to achieve compliance
 107

Additional building envelope

reports
 More detailed reports are available for:
 Opaque walls (above ground)
 Roofs (above and below ground)
 Floors (exposed floors and floors in contact
with the ground)
 Fenestration
 Doors
 Skylights
 108

Additional building envelope

reports (cont’d)
 Modellers, project managers and compliance
professionals can use these reports to
understand results and check modelling
inputs. For example:
 review proposed building envelope U-values; has
thermal bridging been accounted for?
 review proposed building window U-values; do
they appear to be centre-of-glass values only?
 spot check modelled areas against drawings
 109

Lighting systems summary report

 Summary of lighting
parameters reported for both Lighting Systems Summary

proposed and reference Basis for space use classification ■ Building type ■ Space function

buildings, including: Summary Lighting Power

 Space use classification Installed interior lighting

(building type or space function)
power in conditioned
Interior lighting power
allowance used for
spaces proposed
building (kW)
reference building (kW)

 total installed lighting power in Average installed Average lighting power

conditioned space lighting power density

proposed building
(W/m
2)
allowance density used
for reference building
(W/m
2)

 building average installed

lighting power density Installed Interior Lighting Power in Conditioned Spaces (Including Controls)

 By building block/zone: Building block/zone

ID
Building
type/Spa
ce type
Lightin
g
power
Space
floor
area
Installed
lighting
power
Lighting
power
allowan
Propo
sed
control
Propo
sed
control
Refere
nce
control
Referen
ce
control


2)

lighting power density (Table

4.2.1.5.)
densit
y
(LPD)
(m ((LPD x
Area)/1000)
(kW)
ce
((LPD x
Area)/1
type factor type factor


2
(W/m 000)
floor area ) (kW)

 installed lighting power

 proposed controls
 reference controls
 110

Lighting systems summary report

(cont’d)
 Modellers, project managers and compliance
professionals can use this report to understand
results and check modelling inputs. For example:
 verify reported proposed building lighting power
areas against drawings
 spot check significant or repeating spaces (e.g. offices or
large spaces)
 where proposed lighting has higher overall lighting
power, it should have higher performance envelope,
service hot water and/or HVAC to compensate
 lower lighting power and controls should translate into
lower annual lighting energy consumption in end-use
report
 111

HVAC system features report

 Detailed information System Features

reported by mechanical System name

Mechanical systems

system (i.e. air handler) System type

Heating coil

such as: control

Heating output
(kW)
 system type Auxiliary heat
pump electric

 heating output (kW)

Hot deck
o
temperature ( C)
 cooling output Heating
efficiency (%)

 outdoor air flow Cooling coil

control
Cooling output
 exhaust air heat (kW)
Cold deck
recovery
o
temperature ( C)
Cooling efficiency

 supply fan schedule

(%)
1
Outdoor air (l/s)
Min. outdoor air

 supply fan air flow ratio

Economiser type

 design supply fan power

Outdoor limit
o
temperature ( C)
 112

HVAC system features report

(cont’d)
 Modellers, project managers and compliance
professionals can use this report understand
results and check modelling inputs. For
example:
 verify reported proposed building outdoor air flow
against drawings
 spot check for significant air handlers
 where proposed HVAC system is generally lower
performing than reference, better performing
lighting power and controls, envelope, etc.
required to compensate
 113

Demonstration

 Trainer to prepare a simple working file

 Show examples identifying sources of data
from plans/specs and adding data to build a
model
 Explain software modules
 Show one module in depth
 Run file
 Review reports just shown –explain reports,
their use, ref vs proposed data etc.
 114

Modelling resources
 CAN-QUEST resources
 Training course “NECB-2011 and CAN-QUEST”
 Training course “Building Energy Modelling in
CAN-QUEST 1.0”
 Modellers Guide to Building Energy Modelling in
CAN-QUEST
 Include workaround rules
 Available Summer 2014
 Contact info.services@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca for details

 eQuest resources
 eQuest website: doe2.com/eQuest
 Tutorial: www.energydesignresources.com
 Mailing list: lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/equest-users-
onebuilding.org
 Online Discussion: onebuilding.org
 115

COMPLIANCE MODELLING
PROCESS
 116

Compliance modelling
 Owner, engineer, architect and project manager must sign off
on the energy compliance of the building
 Process to ensure compliance through energy modelling:
 Engage energy modeller
 3rd party, or member of design team
 Provide a coordinated set of building drawings and specifications
(typically “for permit” set)
 Model the proposed building
 If non-compliant, identify deficiencies and remodel
 Review modelling report, verify results are realistic
 Document compliance and update design changes in “for
construction” drawings
 Construct building to modelled specifications
 review contractor submittals for compliance with modelled design
 boilers, fans, windows, etc.
 117

Modelling effort
 Three stages in effort:
1. gathering information from drawings, specifications, equipment
shop drawings and cut-sheets, designers, etc.
2. input information into CAN-QUEST
3. review and debug results
 Effort typically driven by HVAC system complexity and
building size
 small healthcare facility involves more effort than a large
apartment building
 healthcare: large number of air handlers, multiple hydronic systems,
many space types
 apartment building: single air handler, local fan coils, 3-4 space types
 Simple model: 2-3 days
 Complex model: 2-3 weeks
 118

Modelling expertise required

 Modellers need to understand
 Building drawings and specifications (architectural, electrical,
mechanical etc.)
 Heat transfer
 must consider envelope, windows, solar gains
 must account for structural thermal bridging (e.g. balconies) when these
make up more than 2% of projected area of envelope
 Lighting technologies
 must understand how interactions between lamp and ballast/driver
determine lighting power
 Mechanical systems
 must understand the energy flows in HVAC systems
 Problem solving
 must be able to debug the model; model rarely works on the first attempt
 Contact info.services@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca for general
CAN-QUEST help
 119

Document and communicate key modelling

assumptions to designers-of-record
 “For-permit” drawings and specifications are often
incomplete
 Energy modeller may need to make assumptions
such as:
 window CSA/NFRC U-values and solar heat gain
coefficient
 HVAC equipment performance
 HVAC controls
 Modeller must review assumptions with
appropriate designer-of-record
 Modeller must document and communicate
assumptions to designers-of-record
 120

Sample modelling assumption -

window performance
 “for-permit” drawings and specifications rarely include
CSA/NFRC U-values and SHGC
 modeller must estimate CSA/NFRC window
performance from descriptive specifications such as:
 aluminum curtain-wall frame, model ACME (or equivalent)
with thermal break
 IGU to be double glazed unit, with grey tint,
low-e on surface #4
 estimate U-value and SHGC using ASHRAE Fundamentals
or FramePlus Online Tool
(http://tools.enermodal.com/webframeplus/)
 121

Construct building in accordance

to energy model assumptions
 Initial model is often based on “for permit”
drawings and specifications
 Design changes often happen post permit and
during construction
 Designers-of-record must review contractor
submittals for compliance with:
 “as-modelled” drawings and specifications
 modelling assumptions not included in drawings and
specifications
 Model should be updated based on:
 material changes that affect performance
 proximity of design to minimum performance
 122

Energy model
“Garbage in = garbage out”
 Accuracy reflects quality of data entered
into model
 Review results: are they “realistic”?
 compare building energy use intensity against
baseline information
 review energy end-uses
 are energy savings in areas expected?
 example: high efficiency boilers
 save on space heating, not on space cooling
 123

MODELLING THE PROPOSED

BUILDING IN CAN-QUEST
 124

Modelling the proposed building

 Interpret building design drawings and specifications for use in
CAN-QUEST
 Goal is to “model” how the building design will consume energy
over the course of a year

 There are 5 major components to a building energy model

 Envelope
 walls, windows, etc.
 Lighting
 installed lighting power, controls
 HVAC
 air flows, water flows, equipment efficiency, controls
 Service Water Heating
 water flows, equipment efficiency, controls
 Central Plant
 pumps, boiler and chiller efficiencies, controls, cooling towers
 125

Information typically found in

drawings
 Location of building (defines weather file to be used in model)
 Building dimensions
 Wall areas
 Wall/roof/slab construction details (thermal bridging)
 modeller to determine effective conductance (U-value)
 Window/skylight/door areas
 modeller to determine effective conductance and solar gains
(U-value and SHGC)
 Space use
 interpreted by the modeller
 example: office, meeting room, hallway, etc.
 determines default schedules and reference building
performance
 Lighting plans and number/type of fixtures
 location of lighting control sensors, lighting circuits
 126

Information typically found in

drawings (cont’d)
 Location of thermostats (aids with zoning of energy model)
 Assignment of zones to air handlers
 Air flows in HVAC systems (total O/A, supply air to zones)
 Output of zone heating/cooling systems (e.g. radiant panels,
radiators)
 HVAC equipment schedules
 pumps, air handlers, coils, etc.
 details on heating/cooling output, air flows, etc.
 Service hot water
 number of fixtures, heating system assignment
 Plant line drawings
 boiler and chiller arrangement
 pumps associated with heating or cooling equipment
 127

Information typically found in

specifications, shop drawings or cut sheets
 Envelope
 window/skylight descriptions
 door descriptions
 Lighting
 lamp/ballast descriptions
 control sequences
 HVAC equipment
 boiler/chiller descriptions
 variable speed pump and fan
 controls
 Service hot water
 equipment descriptions
 128

The role of the

REFERENCE BUILDING IN
CAN-QUEST
 129

The reference building

 Same size, shape,
zoning, orientation, and
occupancy schedules
as proposed design

 Created automatically
by CAN-QUEST from
the proposed design
data for NECB 2011
 130

The reference building (cont.)

 Identical for proposed and reference:
 Gross wall areas, orientation, tilt
 Gross roof/ceiling areas, orientation, tilt
 SHGC of windows and skylights
 Gross raised floor and slab-on-grade areas
 Interior partitions (including air walls)
 Receptacle loads
 Unconditioned spaces and plenums
 Infiltration rates (0.25 L/s-m²) of above-ground wall and roof
area (NECB-2011 8.4.3.4 & 8.4.4.4)
 Process sensible and latent gains
 Ventilation rates (set to ventilation standard minimums,
regardless of design as per NECB-2011 8.4.3.7 & 8.4.4.16)
 131

Role of reference building

 Defines the “building energy target” or maximum

energy use for the building
 metric is site (not source) energy
 Reference building is designed to automatically
meet all NECB-2011 prescriptive requirements
 For example:
 NECB-2011 minimum LPD requirements based on building
type or space type (depending the option selected)
 by improving on these prescriptive values in your proposed
building, you decrease your energy consumption
 132

The seven reference HVAC system types

 The reference building will use one of seven HVAC
system types (NECB-2011 Table 8.4.4.8B)
 133

Example: System-6

 Multi-zone system
 Variable air volume
 Ventilation and cooling air
 Baseboard hot water heating
 Electric or fuel-fired boiler
 Water cooled chiller
 Will have exhaust air heat recovery when sensible exhaust heat >150kW
 134

Reference building HVAC system type

 Reference HVAC system type is selected

based on the proposed:
 building or space type
 number of storeys
 As per NECB-2011 Table 8.4.4.8A
 135

Reference building HVAC system type

(cont’d) – NECB-2011 Table 8.4.4.8A
 136

Reference building HVAC system type

(cont’d) – NECB-2011 Table 8.4.4.8A
 137

Reference building HVAC system type

 Special cases:
 If proposed building uses electric boiler
 reference building will also use electric boiler
 If proposed building uses ground, water or air -
source heat pumps
 reference building will use air source heat pumps
 If proposed building uses water loop heat pumps
 reference HVAC as per default system type table
(prior slide)
 138

Envelope considerations
 Credit or penalty (depending on proposed
design)
 Glazed areas in walls/roofs where percentage
differs from Code maximum FWDR (40% for
walls and 5% for skylights in Zone 5)
 Fenestration U-values, overhangs and side-fins
 Slab edge and perimeter insulation placement
 Exterior wall, roof or exposed floor insulation
 Placement of insulation in heavy mass
assemblies
 Thermal mass of construction
 139

Lighting considerations
 NECB-2011 rules allow credit for efficient interior
lighting design and controls
 lighting power density (LPD)
 credit for occupancy sensors beyond those already
required in NECB-2011 prescriptive path
 LPD credit for daylighting controls
 reference building will not have daylighting controls
(NECB-2011 8.4.4.6)

 LPD excludes museum/gallery display lighting,

theatrical/surgical lighting, and more
 see details in NECB-2011, clause 4.2.1.4.(4)
 140

HVAC considerations
 Credit or penalty (depending on proposed design)
 HVAC system type
 reference will use one of 7 system types
 Rated heating/cooling efficiencies of equipment
 reference will meet prescriptive requirements
 Oversizing heating capacities
 Reference will oversize:
 heating system by 30%
 cooling system by 10%
 Exhaust air heat recovery
 reference, when heat recovery is required, will be 50% effective HRV
(sensible only)
 Supply air temperature reset strategies
 minimizing reheat will reduce energy consumption in proposed design
 Pumps
 control, flow rate, minimum operating ratio of pumps
 reference building temperature drop of hydronic systems (Δ16°C and Δ6°C for heating
and cooling in reference)
 141

HVAC considerations (cont.)

 Credit or penalty (depending on proposed design)
 Fans
 system pressure drop and efficiency of fans
 reference building will use prescriptive fan power value
 motor placement relative to air stream of fans
 flow rate control of fans (VFDs, inlet vanes, etc.)
 Modulating equipment
 reference will use staged or modulating, depending on plant size
 Sequencing of best performing boilers/chillers
 reference will not sequence boiler/chillers
 Chiller heat recovery
 under some circumstances, reference will have chiller heat recovery
(NECB-2011 5.2.10.2 & 5.2.10.3) for swimming pools and ice pads
 Cooling tower sizing, approach, capacity control
 Air- and water-side economizers
 Evaporative cooling
 Ab/ad-sorption cooling (when heat comes from waste heat
source)
 142

Other credits or penalties

 Grey water heat recovery

 calculations external to CAN-QUEST
 Solar service hot water
 calculations external to CAN-QUEST
 Low-flow faucets
and shower heads
 calculations external
to CAN-QUEST
 143

Exclusions

 Excluded from NECB-2011 performance

path
 vertical transportation, such as elevators and
escalators
 process equipment (refrigeration,
cooking, production equipment)
 modeller should include process equipment if
process affects building heating/cooling systems
(NECB-2011 8.4.2.2(1) )
 144

NECB-2011 enforcement
 We have the tools
 checklists from authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
 CAN-QUEST software
 trade-off tools

 education on NECB-2011 requirements and

their impacts on building design in local
jurisdictions
 AHJ has authority to enforce and interpret the
code
 145

Closing Remarks

 NECB-2011 represents a significant

improvement in building energy
consumption levels over MNECB-1997
 NECB-2011 outperforms ASHRAE 90.1-
2010
 NECB-2011 is a Canadian-made code that
focuses on Canada’s heating-dominant
climate.
 146

Performance Path

FACTORS FOR SUCCESS

 147

1. Set design goals

 Decide energy efficiency and
environmental goals for the project
 Capital cost driven (0%): requires no increase
in first cost
 Financially driven (10 to 25%): must be cost
effective with a payback of less than six years
 Environmentally driven (25%+): shows
leadership position
 Communicate these goals to all design
team members
 148

2. Hire the right team

 Team members, notably architects and
mechanical engineers, should be committed
to the goal of achieving energy efficiency
 At least one team member should have
experience with green buildings
 wide range of knowledge
 act as project “green” champion
 Energy efficiency expert on team should be
familiar with model analysis and act as the
modeller for the project
 149

3. Hire energy/NECB modeller

 Need to have someone familiar with

energy/green technologies
 Modeller can be within existing team or a
separate consultant
 Modeller’s role includes:
 providing ideas for saving energy
 performing the CAN-QUEST simulations
 acting as “green” advocate for the project
 150

4. Avoid percentage-based fees

 Paying consultant/designer on percentage

of construction cost gives no incentive for
energy-efficient design
 Does not reward long-term energy savings
or equipment downsizing
 Good design can cost more but saves in
the long run (payback in 4 to 10 years is
the rule of thumb)
 151

5. Start early in the design

 Cost of adding energy efficiency measures
increases as design becomes firmer
 Consider energy as soon as functional
plan is complete
 Develop a simple energy model based on
floor plans
 Assume initial envelope and mechanical
and electrical details, and revise as design
develops
 152

6. Integrated design process

(IDP) workshops
 During concept design phase, design team should
participate in a series of half-day workshops to
facilitate integrated design thinking
 Typically two to five workshops are held,
depending on size and complexity of building
 Each workshop should focus on one part of the
building design: siting, envelope, mechanical,
lighting, interior design/materials
 Energy modeller integrates results of each session
 Similar to value engineering sessions
 153

6. IDP (Cont.)
 All team members should participate:
notably owner, architect, mechanical and
electrical engineers, energy modeller, cost
consultant (but consider also structural
engineer, interior designer, facility
manager, tenant/occupant)
 IDP is an open dialogue between
disciplines to determine the most cost-
effective means of meeting energy goals
 154

7. Apply cost trade-offs

 Many energy efficiency decisions affect

the overall building design and operation,
and therefore cannot be studied in
isolation
 Perform full-cost accounting to determine
savings from equipment downsizing or
cost eliminations resulting from energy
efficiency decisions
 155

7. Apply cost trade-offs (cont.)

 Example: Super Performance Windows
 Reduced window heat loss permits reduction
in size of heating system and/or requirements
for perimeter heating
 Solar control low-e windows reduce the
cooling load and thereby affect capital costs
by reducing the size of chillers, piping, cooling
tower, ducting, etc.
 Designing to optimize daylighting reduces
lighting needs and cooling loads
 156

8. Be open to new ideas

 “That’s not the way we normally do it”
 The old way is not necessarily the best way
 Lots of tried-and-tested “new” technologies and
concepts: be open-minded about them
 Consider taking the opportunity to build
experience and credibility in a new business line
for energy-efficient and “green” buildings
 Research and learn from other projects
 Green Buildings That Work
(www.greenbuildingsthatwork.ca)
 Canada Green Building Council (www.cagbc.org)
 ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides
 157

9. Save energy in all areas

 NECB-2011 performance compliance requires that a
building meets or exceeds minimum energy
consumption target
 Save gas for energy, save electricity for cost
effectiveness
University Campus Building University Campus Building
Energy Usage (ekWh/m2) Energy Cost ($/m2)
$1.50 S
46 Space Heating
$4.93 S
67 Space Cooling $8.77
L
Lights
R
Receptacles
14 P
271 Pumps $1.05
15 F
57 Fans $1.11
$4.21 $1.12
15 D
Domestic Hot Water
 158

10. Include commissioning

 Commissioning is an important part of your
energy efficiency package
 ensures that systems are operating the way they
were intended
 ensures that savings are realized from day one
 enhances occupant and operating staff
satisfaction
 reduces call-backs
 Commissioning professionals should be
independent from design team
 159

Thank You

 Training on CAN-QUEST
 Will be available in January 2014
 Speak to NRCan (info@nrcan.gc.ca) for
details

 Questions?