Houston Green Building Roadmap

Richard Morgan

Austin Energy

Green Building in Austin

Started in 1991 as single family homes rating system.

Evolved from Austin Energy Star Homes program-alternate path to energy code compliance

Municipal and commercial buildings in 1995 Multi-family rating system in 1999 June 2000 Council requires LEED Silver for

Municipal bond projects Manage it Green consulting group begun in 2002

Current State

In the beginning all private sector compliance was voluntary

1999 MOU with City’s Affordable Housing Dept. to require compliance for housing receiving incentives from COA

2003 requirement for buildings zoned DMU or CBD

2004 use of GB as trade off for PUDs or variances

Energy Code

GB brings new energy codes to council for adoption Review new IECC versions for efficiency

improvements and local needs Develop local amendments to meet Austin’s needs Review with stakeholders before taking to council IECC 2006 w/local amendments 19% more efficient

than 2000 IECC w/local amendments– Based on 2270 sq. ft. typical home-2462 kWh per year

reduction

Single Family GB

Locally developed rating tool Currently using v.8.0 of SF rating tool 1 to 5 star rating- 1 star = basic GB, 5 star

highest possible, 7,000+ homes, 35 at 5 star Custom and volume builders, high end to

affordable

SF basic requirements

14 SEER HVAC efficiency Submittal of Manual J for HVAC sizing Duct leakage testing Air barriers as per Energy Star Minimum of 5 fluorescent lights 2 H.E. Toilets 40 points from optional menu

SF Process

Builder submits rating spreadsheet and Manual J

Staff review for obvious discrepancies Staff inspection at rough mechanical Duct testing performed by third party Staff final inspection Certification

Multi Family GB

Locally developed rating tool Applies to projects with 3 floors of residential

or less Apartments to high end condos 50 projects completed-6,365 units, 5.5 million

sq. ft. 44 projects currently under review, 4,270+

units

MF requirements

Energy Star labeled windows or exceed COA Energy Code envelope performance by 15%

Testing/commissioning of HVAC units All showerheads 1.8gpm or exceed EPAct

indoor baseline by 15% Divert 50% by weight construction debris and

waste

Commercial GB

Locally developed rating tool or LEED Separate/similar tool developed for AISD

bond projects MF projects permitted as commercial, rated

as commercial 46 projects complete, 1.32 million sq. ft. 100 projects under review, 8.6 million sq. ft.

Commercial Requirements

Commissioning Plan, Verification, Report submitted

Energy Star Qualified Roof Exceed COA lighting and envelope energy

requirements by 15% Divert minimum 50% construction waste and

debris from landfill No “grandfathered” water quality compliance

Commercial Process

Owner’s rep. submits Request for Participation Staff assigned to project and participate as

sustainability consultants– Goal setting– Plan and spec review and recommendations– Building energy simulation review

Construction monitoring Documentation reviews Certification

Key Strategies

Professional education– Monthly seminars– Conferences and trade shows– Web based resources

Marketing– Create demand for GB from the public– Acknowledge exceptional buildings and teams– Promote program as “go to” source for GB issues

Key Strategies

Stakeholder involvement– Participation in trade associations– Education on “their turf”– Participate in other groups events

Market Transformation

Work with the leaders, if everyone does it-it is not GB

When measures become accepted, raise the bar

Use the code to bring the rest of the industry up to the level of the leaders

Results

Single Family– FY ’06 1049 ratings-21% of new SF homes in

service area– 874 kW of demand eliminated- 0.7 kW per

(demand is power plant capacity not needed)– 1,469,000 kWh savings to consumers 1400 kWh

per– 936.83 Tons CO2 not emitted– 72,913,892 gallons water saved, 69,508 per

Results Commercial

Medical Office Building- 3 Star AE GB– 129,691 Sq. Ft.– Demand Savings 462 kW– Energy savings 1,370,719 kWh– CO2 reduction 874.2 tons– Building water 770,975 gallons- 28%– Irrigation water (July) 103,954 gallons- 75%– Construction waste 303.9 tons diverted 50%

Results Commercial

Grocery – 4 Star AE GB– 93,000 sq. ft.– Demand savings 172.5 kW– Electric energy 1,141,179 kWh– Gas energy 730,000 CCF– 989.4 Tons CO2 (gas & electric)– Building Water 535,308 gallons 36%– Irrigation water 67%– Construction waste 127 tons 81%

Results Multifamily

Apartment building, 240 units, 196,000 sq. ft.– 2 star AE GB rating– 157 kW demand reduction

Live/Work Condos, 29 units, 29,467 sq. ft.– 3 star AE GB rating– 57.3 kW demand reduction

Total Results FY 2006

Demand Reduction- 14,755 kW Energy Saved 24,974 mWh $ value of energy $2,222,686 CO2 reduction 15,926.8 tons SOx reduction 3.04 tons NOx reduction 15.36 tons

Austin Climate Protection Plan

Upgrade energy code to make all single family homes built in Austin by 2015 ZECH

Upgrade energy code to make all other construction 75% more efficient than existing code

Develop policy/program to require energy use disclosure and upgrades at resale

Develop evaluation and recognition program for carbon neutral buildings

Continue to upgrade GB standards for projects required to meet program requirements

Lessons Learned

Be inclusive, all your stakeholders bring something valuable

Avoid the bandwagon, no one knows your climate and your buildings better than the people working in your area

Be bold, no one will care what you do if you take half measures