Importance of Energy Analysis for Green Building Certification

Energy Analysis is very crucial to whole building performance of a building as it can help in reducing energy consumption to a great extent. Optimizing HVAC systems to enhance efficiency is the key of energy analysis. All green building certifications require a minimum threshold of energy performance of the building depending upon the type. New construction buildings have to show compliance by proving that they have achieved savings through optimizing their design or HVAC system or other internal loads. Whereas, existing buildings have to show their current monthly/yearly energy consumption and calculate their EUI (energy use intensity) i.e total energy consumption divided by the total built-up area.

Following are compliance options provided for three major green building certification bodies i.e LEED, GRIHA & IGBC:

LEED

EA Credit: Minimum Energy Performance

Intent:
To reduce the environmental and economic harms of excessive energy use by achieving a minimum level of energy efficiency for the building and its systems.

Max Pts:
13

Compliance Options:

1. Option 1. Whole-building energy simulation
   Proposed case should show 5% improvement for new buildings, 3% for major renovations and 2% for core and shell projects in comparison to a baseline case which should be according to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2010, Appendix G, with errata, using a building simulation tool.
                                                                         OR

2. Prescriptive compliance: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide
   

   Comply with the mandatory and prescriptive provisions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2010, with errata (or a USGBC-approved equivalent standard for projects outside the U.S.).
   Comply with the HVAC and service water heating requirements, including equipment efficiency, economizers, ventilation, and ducts and dampers, in Chapter 4, Design Strategies and Recommendations by Climate Zone, for the appropriate ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide and climate zone.
                                                                          OR

3. Option 3. Prescriptive compliance: Advanced Buildings^TM Core Performance^TM Guide
   Comply with the mandatory and prescriptive provisions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010, with errata (or USGBC approved equivalent standard for projects outside the U.S.).
   Comply with Section 1: Design Process Strategies, Section 2: Core Performance Requirements, and the following three strategies from Section 3: Enhanced Performance Strategies, as applicable. Where standards conflict, follow the more stringent of the two. For projects outside the U.S., consult ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010, Appendixes B and D, to determine the appropriate climate zone.

        <a href="https://www.usgbc.org/credits/retail-new-construction/v4/ea103" role="button">
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        <h6>Softwares that can prove compliance with LEED</h6>      
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    eQuest
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Design Builder
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    IES VE
                                </li>
                    </ul>
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    DOE-2
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    EnergyPlus
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Trace 700
                                </li>
                    </ul>
        <h2>GRIHA</h2>      
                                    <img width="418" height="440" src="https://dcsgroups.in/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/griha-png.png" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/griha-png.png?w=418&amp;ssl=1 418w, https://i0.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/griha-png.png?resize=300%2C316&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/griha-png.png?resize=209%2C220&amp;ssl=1 209w" sizes="(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px" />                                         
        <h5>Criteria 8: Energy Efficiency</h5>      
    <p><strong>Intent:</strong><br />The intent of this criterion is to ensure the energy efficiency of the project.<br />This is not applicable to non-ac buildings.

Max Pts:
13

Compliance Options:

1. Project has to meet all mandatory requirements of ECBC (Energy Conservation) & all fans must be BEE star rated.
2. Peak heat gain through building envelope (for each AC building individually) should meet the GRIHA Building Envelope Peak Heat Gain Factor thresholds.
3. Luminous efficacy of 100% of external lights and lamps should be at least 75 lumens/watt.
4. Mandatory: Project EPI should be less than GRIHA benchmark.
5. Additional reduction in EPI will be awarded points as 2 pts for 10%, 3 pts for 20%, 5 pts for 30%, 7 pts for 40% and 10 pts for 50% reduction.

        <a href="https://www.grihaindia.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Manuals/GRIHA_V2015_May2016.pdf" role="button">
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        <h6>Softwares that can prove compliance with LEED</h6>      
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    eQuest
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Design Builder
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    IES VE
                                </li>
                    </ul>
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    DOE-2
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    EnergyPlus
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Trace 700
                                </li>
                    </ul>
        <h2>IGBC</h2>       
                                    <img width="303" height="501" src="https://dcsgroups.in/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/igbc-jshfdjdsf.png" alt="" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/igbc-jshfdjdsf.png?w=303&amp;ssl=1 303w, https://i1.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/igbc-jshfdjdsf.png?resize=300%2C496&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i1.wp.com/www.firstgreen.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/igbc-jshfdjdsf.png?resize=151%2C250&amp;ssl=1 151w" sizes="(max-width: 303px) 100vw, 303px" />                                         
        <h5>EE Mandatory Requirement 1: Min Energy Efficiency</h5>      
    <p><strong>Intent:</strong><br />Optimise energy consumption, to reduce negative environmental impacts from excessive energy use.

Mandatory

Compliance Options: Air Conditioned Buildings

1. Option 1 – Performance Based Approach (Whole Building Simulation)
   Show compliance of the building performance by whole building simulation, as per the baselines outlined in ECBC (or) ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 (without amendments),Appendix – G. Simulation is to be carried out at comfort temperatures of 24 + 2 deg C.
2. Option 2 – Prescriptive Approach
   The project should meet the applicable criteria as established in prescriptive measures of ECBC(or) ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 (without amendments)

Compliance Options: Non-Air Conditioned Buildings

Non air-conditioned buildings are those which are not serviced and will not be serviced in thefuture, either through central air-conditioned systems or unitary air-conditioners.

        <a href="https://igbc.in/igbc/html_pdfs/abridged/IGBC%20Green%20New%20Buildings%20Rating%20System%20(Version%203.0).pdf" role="button">
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        <h6>Softwares that can prove compliance with LEED</h6>      
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    eQuest
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Design Builder
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    IES VE
                                </li>
                    </ul>
                <ul>
                        <li >
                                    DOE-2
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    EnergyPlus
                                </li>
                            <li >
                                    Trace 700
                                </li>
                    </ul>