Glasgow-based software development company Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) recently released a new component of its Virtual Environment software: the Climate Energy Index, a design tool for gauging building energy needs based on current and future climate data.

The tool measures the potential energy required to keep occupants comfortable in a particular climate with heating, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification, and can be customized for specific occupancy patterns. The software interface operates on a three-tabbed system with separate overview, sustainability, and LEED screens that provide users with detailed feedback.

The Climate Energy Index relies on climate data—not building design—and includes various data analysis tools, such as climate projections, carbon load calculations, low-carbon technology evaluations, and analysis for the latest versions of the LEED for New Construction, Schools, and Core & Shell rating systems. Additionally, the feedback can be compared to building simulation results to explore how climate influences design performance and potential.

Changes to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) proposed by the New Buildings Institute (NBI), The American Institute of Architects, and the U.S. Department of Energy have cleared the first hurdle on their way to adoption.

The proposals, modeled on NBI’s Core Performance prescriptive building guidelines, would result in 20%–25% energy savings over current codes. The changes would affect insulation levels, HVAC equipment efficiency, lighting levels and control systems, and other energy-efficiency measures, and would require commissioning and offer alternative compliance through the use of renewable energy.

Already approved by committee, the proposals will move on to the next step in the adoption process, the IECC final action hearings of 2010. If passed, they will become part of the 2012 version of IECC. More information is available at www.newbuildings.org/iecc.htm.

 

On December 8, 2009, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) launched a pilot of its new “Building EQ” labeling program (see

EBN Aug. 2009), with commitments to participate from the U.S. General Services Administration and several major developers and designers.

In rolling out the pilot, Building EQ committee chair Ron Jarnagin noted that ASHRAE’s recently renovated headquarters, which earned a LEED Platinum certification in October, scored an A-minus in Building EQ’s “As Designed” rating, which reserves the A-plus score for net-zero-energy buildings. Jarnagin also connected the roll-out of the Building EQ program to ASHRAE’s new certification program for energy modelers (see

EBN Nov. 2009) and a yet-to-be-developed certification program for the assessors who will determine a building’s “In Performance” rating in Building EQ.

ASHRAE anticipates that Building EQ will generate several levels of documentation, including a simple label for public distribution, a certificate for the owner or operator, and a detailed report for architects and engineers. More information is available at www.BuildingEQ.com.

Standard 189, the code-enforceable high-performance green building standard that has been in development since 2006, will soon be available to the public.

According to committee chair Kent Peterson, P.E., the final document will look much like the draft that was used for the fourth public comment period, which ended in November 2009. That draft represented approximately 23%–25% energy savings over ASHRAE 90.1-2007 (see EBN July 2009).

Once approved by the committee, the standard will pass to the three sponsoring organizations—the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America—for final approval. Peterson says the chances for approval are quite good. “We’ve reached consensus on what the minimum requirements should be,” he said, noting that once approved, the standard will go into a continual maintenance process that will allow for constant improvements.

The document should be available for purchase at ASHRAE’s winter meeting in January 2010 as well as through the organization’s website, www.ashrae.org.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a study in November 2009 that confirms a link between Chinese-manufactured drywall and high levels of hydrogen sulfide in homes; the study also links the drywall to metal corrosion.

The study, performed by the Massachusetts-based testing firm Environmental Health & Engineering (EH&E), compared ten control homes with 41 homes in CPSC’s complaint database and found higher levels of hydrogen sulfide in the complaint homes. Significantly more corrosion was found on silver and copper test strips placed in these homes as well.

Finally, EH&E discovered that x-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared instruments could detect identifying marks on Chinese drywall, leading CPSC to conclude that it will be possible to develop a method for finding and eliminating the drywall from homes.

Sandia National Laboratories and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are working on similar studies; preliminary reports show similar results. For more information, see www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html.

California-based Harpiris Energy recently completed the first large multi-unit installation of its SunCache low-cost, plastic solar water heaters at a senior housing complex in Sacramento, California. (SunCache was named a top-10 product by BuildingGreen in 2008; see

EBN Dec. 2008.)

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency placed 65 of the SunCache units on 37 buildings it was renovating on two sites. The passive pre-heating units draw city water into a collector and move it through a copper heat exchanger; heat is extracted from water sitting in a 50-gallon (190 l) tank that is part of the collector. The water then enters an existing water heater.

According to the company, the SunCache system may achieve annual savings of $1,000 compared to electric water heaters. Developed in part with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the system costs roughly $2,000, with installation running about $3,500. It comes with a ten-year warranty, and is appropriate for warmer climates. More information is available at www.harpiris.com.

The carpet manufacturer InterfaceFLOR announced at the 2009 Greenbuild conference that it will be oil-free by 2020. (InterfaceFLOR is the commercial modular carpet division of Interface, the international carpet company.)

InterfaceFLOR has led the way in the past with moves like replacing petrochemicals with cornstarch-based polylactic acid, recycling old nylon carpet fiber into new nylon fiber through re-melting, and certifying all its commercial products as carbon-neutral.

The carpet manufacturer InterfaceFLOR announced at the 2009 Greenbuild conference that it will be oil-free by 2020. (InterfaceFLOR is the commercial modular carpet division of Interface, the international carpet company.)

InterfaceFLOR has led the way in the past with moves like replacing petrochemicals with cornstarch-based polylactic acid, recycling old nylon carpet fiber into new nylon fiber through re-melting, and certifying all its commercial products as carbon-neutral.

In order to get “off oil” (the campaign is called “Off Oil by 2020”), the company will rely on such measures as increasing post-consumer recycled content; increasing the use of non-virgin petroleum to 100%; shifting transport from ground freight to rail; using more renewable energy (the company already offsets all non-renewable energy use through the purchase of renewable energy credits); and working with suppliers to shrink their carbon footprints.

For more information, visit www.interfaceflor.com.

 

In late 2009 the city council of Evanston, Illinois, an inner-ring suburban community just north of Chicago, passed an ordinance requiring that all new construction projects larger than 10,000 ft2(930 m2) be certified to a LEED Silver level.

While some alderpersons were reportedly disappointed that the law would not apply to renovations or projects that were approved by the city before the law passed, Evanston’s green building ordinance is notable in that many other cities requiring LEED certification or other green building measures for projects of a certain size (including New York City) set the threshold for commercial buildings much higher, at 50,000 ft2 (4,600 m2). The green building law is one element of Evanston’s 200-point Climate Action Plan, which includes even more ambitious plans for an offshore wind farm in Lake Michigan that could supply power to at least 14,000 homes. For more information visit the City of Evanston on the web.

In late 2009 the city council of Evanston, Illinois, an inner-ring suburban community just north of Chicago, passed an ordinance requiring that all new construction projects larger than 10,000 ft²(930 m²) be certified to a LEED Silver level.

While some alderpersons were reportedly disappointed that the law would not apply to renovations or projects that were approved by the city before the law passed, Evanston’s green building ordinance is notable in that many other cities requiring LEED certification or other green building measures for projects of a certain size (including New York City) set the threshold for commercial buildings much higher, at 50,000 ft² (4,600 m²).

The green building law is one element of Evanston’s 200-point Climate Action Plan, which includes even more ambitious plans for an offshore wind farm in Lake Michigan that could supply power to at least 14,000 homes. For more information visit the City of Evanston on the web.

 

In November 2009, the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) voted to move forward with code changes designed to make homes in the state more energy efficient.

The package of changes includes requirements for lighting and HVAC control systems, better metering, greater use of commissioning and inspection, and increased energy efficiency standards. According to SBCC, the changes represent a 30% improvement over the 2006 energy code, and bring the state in line with the International Energy Conservation Code. The code changes will go into effect in July 2010. More information is available at www.sbcc.wa.gov/.

In November 2009, the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) voted to move forward with code changes designed to make homes in the state more energy efficient.

The package of changes includes requirements for lighting and HVAC control systems, better metering, greater use of commissioning and inspection, and increased energy efficiency standards. According to SBCC, the changes represent a 30% improvement over the 2006 energy code, and bring the state in line with the International Energy Conservation Code. The code changes will go into effect in July 2010.

More information is available at www.sbcc.wa.gov/.

 

With $127.5 million in funding from the federal stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the State of California will partner with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to connect state buildings in the capital city to a district heating and cooling system equipped with “smart grid” technology.

The program is designed to explore the possibilities of smart grid technology and serve as a model for other municipalities interested in implementing a smart-grid utility system on an urban scale. The state will contribute matching funds for building automation systems, “smart meters,” and software for monitoring and managing building energy use. The centerpiece of the program is Sacramento’s Central Plant, a new, LEED Gold facility that provides heating and cooling to 23 state buildings, including the Capitol. Scheduled to be completed in 2012, the smart grid will include more than 600,000 smart meters, 100 electric vehicle charging stations, and 50,000 residential energy control systems.

With $127.5 million in funding from the federal stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the State of California will partner with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to connect state buildings in the capital city to a district heating and cooling system equipped with “smart grid” technology.

The program is designed to explore the possibilities of smart grid technology and serve as a model for other municipalities interested in implementing a smart-grid utility system on an urban scale. The state will contribute matching funds for building automation systems, “smart meters,” and software for monitoring and managing building energy use. The centerpiece of the program is Sacramento’s Central Plant, a new, LEED Gold facility that provides heating and cooling to 23 state buildings, including the Capitol.

Scheduled to be completed in 2012, the smart grid will include more than 600,000 smart meters, 100 electric vehicle charging stations, and 50,000 residential energy control systems.