[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 10, Volume 3] [Revised as of January 1, 2001] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 10CFR435.102] [Page 409-410] TITLE 10--ENERGY CHAPTER II--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PART 435--ENERGY CONSERVATION VOLUNTARY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR NEW BUILDINGS; MANDATORY FOR FEDERAL BUILDINGS--Table of Contents Subpart A--Voluntary Performance Standards for New Commercial and Multi- Family High Rise Residential Buildings; Mandatory for Federal Buildings Sec. 435.102 Principles of effective energy building design. 2.1 General 2.1.1 This section complements the other sections of the standards by providing general principles of effective building design. The intention of this section is to provide ideas on how to improve the integration of the building's major energy using subsystems in a cost- effective manner without compromising the building's intended functional use or internal environmental conditions. In addition, more narrowly focused principles are included in sections 3.0 through 10.0. 2.1.2 To comply with the principles of effective design, designers shall use their professional judgment to identify the building's most significant energy requirements and select appropriate solutions from the general strategies found in this section and the more specific strategies found in sections 3.0 through 10.0. 2.2 Identification of Significant Energy Requirements 2.2.1 Before energy design strategies can be developed for a commercial or multi-family high rise residential building, a clear picture of its most significant energy requirements must be developed. The basic approach to achieving an energy conscious design is to improve the energy efficiency of the building by shifting or reducing loads, improving transport systems, and providing efficient environmental systems and controls. This is accomplished by first determining which aspects of the building's energy requirements are the most significant, those that would result in the largest annual energy costs to the building owner if energy conserving strategies were otherwise not applied. For example, for a given building, the largest annual energy cost component may be lighting, followed by cooling, heating, and ventilation, respectively. In this example electricity would be the major energy source. Therefore, peak time-rates of energy use (i.e., peak power demands), as well as direct energy use, would have to be included in any energy analysis. Consideration of peak demands will reduce the requirement for oversizing of energy systems in the building and will also have the added impact of helping to reduce the need for additional, low utilization peak capacity on utility grids. 2.2.2 Once the most significant cost components of the building's energy requirements have been determined, apply the strategies and design solutions listed below and those that appear in each of the following sections of the standards. ln the example noted above, lighting solutions would be addressed first, followed by cooling, heating, and then ventilation. 2.2.3 Research results indicate that the most significant energy uses for any given commercial or multi-family high rise residential building are generally not accurately identifiable by professional intuition. Therefore, use shall be made of one of the several available analysis tools, some of which are microcomputer-based. 2.3 General Solution Strategies 2.3.1 Consider energy efficiency from the initiation of the building design process, since design improvements are most easily and effectively made at that time. Seek the active participation of members of the design team early in the design process, including the owner, architect, engineer, and builder, if possible. Consider building attributes such as building function, form, orientation, window/wall ratio, and HVAC system types early in the design process. Each has major energy implications. These considerations most likely will result in solutions that minimize both construction and operation costs, including energy demand charges. 2.3.2 Address the building's energy requirements in the following sequence: minimize impact of the building functional requirements; minimize loads; improve the efficiency of distribution and conversion systems; and integrate building subsystems into an efficient whole. Each of these is discussed below. 2.3.2.1 Minimize impact of functional requirements by identifying major areas that offer energy efficiency opportunities based on the [[Page 410]] building's functional use, human occupancy requirements, and site characteristics. These areas will vary considerably from building to building depending upon function and service requirements, and shall be considered when applying the criteria of these standards. 2.3.2.2 Minimize loads by analyzing the external and internal loads to be imposed on building energy-using subsystems, both for peak-load and part-load conditions. Include a determination of how the building relates to its external environment in the analysis, either adaptively or defensively. Consider changes in building form, aspect ratio, and other attributes that reduce, redistribute, or delay (shift) loads. 2.3.2.3 Improve subsystems by analyzing the diversified energy and demand (power) requirements of each energy-using subsystem serving the functional requirements of the building. Consider static and dynamic efficiency of energy conversion and energy transport subsystems and include consideration of opportunities to reclaim, redistribute and store energy for later use. 2.3.2.4 Alternative ways to integrate systems into the building will be accomplished by considering both power and time components of energy use. Identify, evaluate, and design each of these components to control the overall design energy consumption. The following shall be considered when integrating major building subsystems: 2.3.2.4.1 Address more than one problem when developing design solutions, and make maximum use of building components already present for non-energy reasons (e.g., windows, structural mass); 2.3.2.4.2 Examine design solutions that consider time since sufficient energy may already be present from the environment (e.g., solar heat, night cooling) or from internal equipment (e.g., lights, computers) but available at different times than needed. Thus, active (heat pumps with water tanks) and passive (building mass) storage techniques may be considered; 2.3.2.4.3 Examine design solutions that consider anticipated space utilization. For example, in large but relatively unoccupied spaces, task or zone heating may be considered. Transporting energy (light and heat) from locations of production and availability to locations of need shall be considered instead of the purchase of additional energy; 2.3.2.4.4 Never reject waste energy at temperatures usable for space conditioning or other practical purposes, without calculating the economic benefit of energy recovery; 2.3.2.4.5 Consider design solutions that provide more comfortable surface temperatures or increase availability of controlled daylight in buildings in which human occupancy is a primary function; 2.3.2.4.6 Use design solutions that are easily understood as they have a greater probability of use by building occupants; and 2.3.2.4.7 Where the functional requirements of the building may change, the installed environmental system should be designed to be adaptable to meet functional changes that can be anticipated as well as providing flexibility to meet indeterminate future changes in use, occupancy or other functions.