ASHRAE Journal - January 2014 - 34

TECHNICAL FEATURE
processes, and plans for operation and maintenance.
On-site use of renewables and energy recovery systems
are bound to be a needed major contributor to ZNE
standards.
The most significant advance in the standard over
the mid-term could be "system metrics." Future efficiency
requirements for HVAC systems would be set for
total performance of all mechanical equipment within
the boundary of a defined system, instead of just for
the individual components comprising the system.
Tradeoffs between all equipment within the system
boundary could be allowable as long as the system performance
metric is met. This would allow the HVAC
systems metric to move to a higher level of performance
over time to reflect available improvements in systems
design best practices, equipment efficiency and
controls. There is a growing consensus among design
professionals that just improving individual component
requirements will not carry us to ZNE.
Compliance with the Standard will likely take some
new turns. Proposed Addendum bm would establish
the Performance Rating Method found in Appendix G
of Standard 90.1 as a new alternate method of compliance.
With further development, the addendum would
set a common baseline requirement (i.e., Standard 90.12004)
that would stay the same for 2016 and future versions
of Standard 90.1. The improvement target could
be updated with each new edition. A 45% improvement
target has been initially proposed for the 2016 version,
but the improvement target for compliance could
conceivably reach 90% in the 2030 timeframe. Other
concepts for Standard 90.1 performance compliance
include use of building rating systems such as ASHRAE's
Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) program where minimum
"As Designed" rating scores would be required.
Clearly, the future emphasis of building energy codes
will be on performance requirements and compliance
tools as ASHRAE takes on the long-term ZNE challenge.
Harry Misuriello is an energy efficiency advocate in Arlington, Va.
Shaping the Next...Step
BY TIM WENTZ, P.E., MEMBER ASHRAE.
ASHRAE is the world leader in identifying design,
commissioning, construction and operation and
maintenance techniques needed to produce a highperformance
building. The evolution of Standards
62.1, 90.1 and 189.1, and the mass distribution of the
34
A SHR A E J O U RNA L
ashrae.org JAN UARY 2014
Advanced Energy Design Guides are just a few of the
landmark advances ASHRAE has produced in "Shaping
Tomorrow's Built Environment Today."
Then why do so many of our buildings still not perform
as they were designed and constructed? President Bill
Harrison (2008 -09) noted in his presidential theme
that most buildings will lose up to 30% of their energy
efficiency in the first three years of operation. This great
paradox has forced us to look at building performance in
a more holistic and strategic manner.
How can ASHRAE influence our industry to take the
"Next Step" getting buildings to operate as they should,
according to design, and keeping them there? The first
step is to recognize that ASHRAE can't accomplish this
goal alone. To that end, President Bill Bahnfleth has
empowered the Building Performance Alliance presidential
ad hoc committee to develop a high-level, strategic
document that will provide overarching goals and
objectives for all providers of commissioning services.
A broad spectrum of industry representatives are
working on the document, including the National
Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), American
Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC), Building Owners and Managers Association
(BOMA) among many others. Commissioning ensures
that the high-performance design is consistent with
the owner's requirements, properly installed by the
contractor and operated effectively by the owner.
Commissioning, employed at the beginning of the
project concept and design process, is the ideal starting
point and preserves the energy conservation strategies
of the designer and contractor.
There are other ways ASHRAE can influence our
industry to operate and maintain a building to high
performance standards. One example is ASHRAE's new
Building Energy Quotient (bEQ) program, which generates
a straightforward rating based upon potential and/
or measured energy consumption. The overall rating of
A+ to F is easy and intuitive for anyone to understand
and provides an incentive to improve the building's performance.
The rating, backed by ASHRAE's rigorous scientific
expertise, reinforces the adage that "if you can't
measure it, you can't control it."
Focusing on building performance will require a new
paradigm, coupled with a commitment to work collaboratively.
ASHRAE's leadership and technical expertise
will be critical if our industry is to take the "Next Step."
Tim Wentz, P.E., is an associate professor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
ASHRAE Journal - January 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - January 2014
