ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING CONTROLS CHARACTERISTICS, ENERGY IMPACTS, AND LESSONS

Transcription

1 ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING CONTROLS CHARACTERISTICS, ENERGY IMPACTS, AND LESSONS INDUSTRY WEBINAR DECEMBER 8, 2015 CATHY HIGGINS, ALEXI MILLER, MARK LYLES NEW BUILDINGS INSTITUTE 2015 Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA). Notice: No material in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of CABA.

2 Sponsors These visionary organizations sponsored this research project: THANK YOU! 2

3 Research Team CABA, NBI, Partners 3

4 4 An overview of CABA

5 About CABA The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is an international not-for profit industry association dedicated to the advancement of connected home and building technologies. The organization is supported by an international membership of over 300 organizations involved in the design, manufacturing, installation and retailing of products relating to the Internet of Things for connected homes and intelligent buildings. 5

6 CABA Board of Directors CABA Vision Statement CABA accelerates growth in the connected home and intelligent buildings sectors. 6

7 Other CABA Research you can still be a part of Cybersecurity and the Connected Home Intelligent Buildings and Cybersecurity Improving Organizational Productivity with Building Automation Systems 7

8 8 An overview of NBI

9 New Buildings Institute: The Virtuous Cycle We are an engine of innovation for the energy efficiency industry. We drive research, uncover solutions, and advance industry practices and policies that deliver positive change in the built environment.

10 Presentation Agenda 1. Research and Market Background 2. Buildings and People 3. Types of Controls 4. Control Design Selection Process 5. User Experience 6. Energy Findings 7. Key Takeaways 8. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations 9. Questions and Answers 10

11 RESEARCH AND MARKET BACKGROUND BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE TYPES OF CONTROLS Alexi Miller, NBI Sr. Project Manager

12 Background Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings A Zero Net Energy (ZNE) building generates as much energy as it consumes annually. Also known as Net Zero Energy.» Zero = nothing» Net = On-site Energy Production (renewable) minus Energy Use, over 1 year» Energy = All energy (electric, gas, steam, liquid fuel etc.) consumed on site 12

13 Background Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings 13

14 Background Getting to Zero Net Energy Buildings 14

15 Case Study Example: VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, BC (BC Hydro) High-Performance Achieved: ZNE+W, Living Building, LEED Platinum» Innovative design & flexible adaptation to actual building needs» Complex systems = complex controls. Training & collaboration required. 15 Image: Perkins + Will

16 Research Review - Overview Investigate Building Energy Monitoring & Controls Systems in Low-Energy and ZNE Buildings Areas of inquiry and participants: 1. The Selection and the System. What did they choose and why. Design Firms 2. The Energy Impact. Savings assumptions in modeling and attribution in use. Design Firms and Operators 3. The Use and User Experience. How is it being used and what is effective and lacking. Operators and Occupants 16

17 Research Review Survey Instruments» Design Team Survey» Operator Survey» Occupant Survey 17

18 Buildings & People: Buildings Buildings» Zero Net Energy buildings from NBI s North America Getting to Zero database» Mainly 10, ,000+ sqft Some smaller buildings represented» Mainly Offices & Higher Ed Also Courthouse, Lab, Library, Museum» Climate: CA has most ZNE buildings Also: Canada, PNW, NE, CO 18

19 Buildings & People: List of Participant Buildings Project Location Size Range Building Type Retrofit Operator Survey Completed 435 Indio Way CA 25k - 50k sf Office X Bullitt Foundation Cascadia Center for Sustainable Design and Construction WA 50k - 100k sf Office X Cornell NYC Tech First Academic Building NY over 100k sf Education David and Lucile Packard Foundation CA 25k - 50k sf Office X DPR Construction's San Francisco Office CA 10k - 25k sf Office X Exploratorium CA over 100k sf Other X Hanover Page Mill Building CA 50k - 100k sf Office IDeAs Z2 Office Building CA 5k - 10k sf Office X Lane Community College, Downtown Academic Center OR 50k - 100k sf Education Leslie Shao-Ming Field Station at Jasper Ridge CA 5k - 10k sf Education Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters MA 25k - 50k sf Office Morphosis Architecture Studio CA 10k - 25k sf Office NREL Research Support Facility CO over 100k sf Office X Rice Fergus Miller Office and Studio WA 25k - 50k sf Office X Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center CO 10k - 25k sf Office Sacred Heart Schools Stevens Family Library CA 5k - 10k sf Education X San Luis National Wildlife Refuge HQ and Visitor Center CA 10k - 25k sf Office UC San Diego J Craig Venter Institute CA 25k - 50k sf Other UniverCity Childcare Centre BC 5k - 10k sf Education VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre BC 10k - 25k sf Assembly X Watsonville Water Resources Center CA 10k - 25k sf Office Wayne Aspinall Courthouse and Federal Building CO 25k - 50k sf Courthouse X West Berkeley Public Library CA 5k - 10k sf Library X 19

20 FINDINGS

21 Design Team Participants People» Design Firm Interviewees have extensive experience In primary building types With ZNE buildings in general Average of four ZNE buildings each!» Designers set energy targets and keep tabs Maintain ongoing performance data tracking and feedback post-occupancy 21

22 Types of Controls Goal: Characterize Controls Technology & Strategies in ZNE Buildings» All participants ranked building control strategies very important or critical to ZNE success» > 90% of buildings use control systems integrated across some or all end-uses» Daylighting is critical to ZNE Get Glare Control & Shading right! Light switches are still most common» Most buildings use combination of manual & automatic controls» ¾ of buildings rely on occupant for some part of controls success» The highest-performing buildings have engaged operators and occupants standing on the shoulders of intelligent and integrated controls systems 22

23 Types of Controls: Controls Integration by End-Use 23

24 Types of Controls: Plug Loads Plug Loads can be 50% or more of total electricity usage in ZNE Buildings!» More devices and occupant-driven misc loads coming online» Regulated loads (Lights, HVAC, Water Heat ) becoming more efficient» Most (64%) buildings surveyed use plug load controls or monitoring 24

25 Types of Controls: HVAC Strategies 25

26 Types of Controls: Shading & Daylighting 26

27 CONTROL DESIGN SELECTION PROCESS USER EXPERIENCE Mark Lyles, NBI Project Manager ENERGY FINDINGS

28 Controls Design Selection Process Designing a successful ZNE Building is a balancing act:» Rigid execution of design intent» Thorough documentation & specs» Detailed sequence of operations» Flexibility in implementation» Flexibility in operation 28

29 Controls Design Selection Process: Selection Criteria» Prior Experience is the #1 selection criteria Indicator of the importance of getting key players involved early in the design process Demonstrates the important role controls play in achieving a ZNE goal Criteria for Selecting a Controls Vendor/Subcontractor 29

30 Controls Design Selection Process: Follow Up Despite the focus on performance and the qualification of the design and construction teams associated with these projects The #1 reason for excessive follow-up: Incorrect installation of controls systems in the field 30

31 Control Design Selection Process: Communication Protocols» A majority of designers indicated that they did not feel like communication protocols limited their options during the design phase There was no correspondence between the designers who did feel limited by conflicting communication protocols and the type of communication protocol implemented» Integration Issues were the second most common reason selected for excessive follow-up» This applied to projects that used both open source and proprietary communication protocols 31

32 User Experience: Operations Survey Summary» All agree: bring Operator into design process early Operator involved in all sequence development efforts Operator involved in commissioning process» Often, operators learn on the job (without formal training) Heavy reliance on Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Manual and Commissioning process and report» Building Operator & Controls Vendor close relationship Frequent communication in Year 1» Maintaining Building Performance: Operator should write & use a System Support Manual or Procedure Manual Building Monitoring Responsibility 32

33 User Experience: Occupant Survey Summary Occupants generally are satisfied with their ZNE building work spaces» Design teams & operators must balance automation vs. occupant interaction» 75% of occupants satisfied with daylighting but often want more glare control Occupant Interest in Interaction with Lighting and Shade Controls» Broad satisfaction with natural ventilation, DOAS» Heating systems are well regarded; desire for more control for cooling» Plug load controls are not problematic or obtrusive for most occupants 33

34 Energy Findings: Participant Buildings 34

35 Energy Findings: Setting Energy Targets Energy Targets are Key» 100% of design teams set an aggressive low-energy EUI target» 100% of design teams considered setting early energy targets as key to the design process & outcomes 35

36 Energy Findings: Whole Building Energy Aspects» Baseline: High-Performance/LEED» Energy modeling: More than one software package used equest remains #1, but this is shifting Radiant systems, natural ventilation modeled with IES/TAS» Keys to ZNE: Building Siting» Keys to ZNE: Envelope Design» Keys to ZNE: HVAC Systems Ground source heat pumps Advanced air source heat pumps Radiant heating & cooling distribution Variable refrigerant volume 36

37 Energy Findings: System Energy Aspects» Lighting Controls: Daylighting first, then other electric lighting controls.» HVAC Controls: Passive first: natural ventilation, night flush, thermal set point controls. Then, optimize mechanical system control and monitoring.» Glare Controls (Shading & Blinds): 33% got thermal savings => Reduced thermal loads & thus HVAC system needs.» Plug Load Controls: up to 50% of usage in some ZNE buildings. Designers are still experimenting with different control approaches. Number of Responses 37

38 10 KEY TAKE-AWAYS CONCLUSIONS Cathy Higgins, NBI Research Affiliate RECOMMENDATIONS

39 The Value of Controls Over three-quarters of the participants (78%) thought that the value of a wider range of control systems is increasing or majorly increasing, even while building energy use is being reduced from other factors such as passive design and improved technology efficiencies.» Are Controls important to get to ZNE? Yes: 100%» Would you select the same controls again? Yes: 77% 39

40 Problems and Some Solutions» 82% of the designers agreed or strongly agreed that control communication platforms and protocols between systems need improvement» 87% of designers agreed that Controls always have some problems Problem: The principal issue with every ZNE building that I have studied carefully has been control systems, measurement and verification. Suggested Solution: It s a matter of writing a detailed sequence of operations, having a great relationship with your vendor and requiring accountability for integration. 40

41 Advice and Occupants» What would you do again & What advice would you offer to designers? 1. Integrate the controls contractor - not just the controls 2. Meter and monitor then track and share actual performance 3. Design the building right first 4. Design for Off 5. Select leading technologies and incorporate system controls for high performance 6. Simple is smart. Keep it simple Alternate point Make it work 7. Optimize settings and strategies Controls are a sub-trade of a sub-trade - they should be a first-tier (separate) contractor.» Occupants how do you ensure they contribute to low-energy goals? Education and training Early involvement Feedback Engagement DPR San Francisco Offices Courtesy Honeywell 41

42 Surprises!» Collecting energy data is rare!» Systems were not interoperable» Contractor resistance and skills are an issue» ZNE goes well beyond the traditional commissioning (Cx) process» Occupants waste energy» Conflicts with complex sequences and system architecture and controls» Lack of accuracy in electrical sub-meters and difficulty in setting them up» Lack of correlation between actual and predicted performance» Staging of various outcomes, including the solar, is hard» Lack of granularity 42

43 Emerging Trends» Integrated and lower cost control systems Integration capabilities and networks with automated control system management are improving Cost of interconnectivity is decreasing Adaptive controls: occupant-based and weather responsive» Monitoring and feedback Building dashboards and simple monitoring systems Fault detection with early warning for energy use or equipment failures» Energy Model-based Control» Utility Demand Response» Other: Robotics DC building systems Energy storage Protocol standardization October 2015 cover of Building Operating Management Magazine 43

44 Conclusions» ZNE is driven by good design, High Performance Systems and Shading» New Roles and Old Relationships» Controls are at the Nexus of Energy Performance» Occupants are a new Operator 44

45 Conclusions: Game Changers Game Changers: Industry Implications: 1. Integration and low cost sensors I o T 2. Feedback / dashboard systems to occupants and operators 3. Utility programs and pricing new two-way transactions and load shifts driven by renewables and ZNE 1. Large new market for new products 2. Complexity and communications issues hinder adoption and outcomes 3. ZNE buildings will remain grid connected and districts and aggregation of bldgs. will increase 4. Getting to zero is both a market and a policy trend 45

46 Five Recommendations 1. Prioritize Passive Strategies then layer in controls to optimize the whole building outcomes 2. Integrate the Controls Contractor controls contractor needs to be a primary team member from design through occupancy 3. Increase Operator Training and Support bring controls training and improved hand-off documentation to operators and ongoing access to the design team and controls contractor 4. Provide Occupants Control but Backup with Default Settings occupants want some engagement and control access but a hybrid system that returns controls to default settings and Off is necessary 5. Build Industry Awareness and Knowledge of Emerging Trends of a) integrated, wireless and adaptive controls, b) feedback and dashboards, c) DC systems and renewable integration, d) utility load management, price and program issues, and e) ZNE policy drivers 46 ZNE

47 Rice Fergus Miller ZNE Retrofit Questions and Answers

48 Contact Us Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) 1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 210 Ottawa, ON K1J 7S6 Toll free: CABA (2222) New Buildings Institute (NBI)