CI-v5 EAc5: Grid Interactive 1-3 points
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To enhance power resilience and position buildings as active partners contributing to grid decarbonization, reliability, and power affordability through peak thermal load reduction and integrated management of building loads in response to variable grid conditions.
Requirements
Comply with any of the following up to a maximum of 3 points. Each requirement may be documented at the building level or for the project only.
Option 1. Peak Thermal Load Reduction (1–3 points)
Comply with any of the following peak thermal load reduction criteria for 1 point each.
PATH 1. VENTILATION ENERGY OR HEAT RECOVERY (1 POINT)
Each fan system supplying outdoor air to the project shall have an energy or heat recovery system with a minimum 70% enthalpy recovery ratio or a minimum 75% sensible heat recovery ratio. Provisions must be made to bypass or control the energy recovery system during moderate outside air conditions.
In aggregate, fan systems supplying less than 15% of the project’s total outdoor air can be excluded.
AND/OR
PATH 2. LOW THERMAL CONDUCTANCE (1 POINT)
For initial build-out, comply prescriptively with the thermal bridging requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 5.5.5. Projects in climate zones 0–3 shall not be excepted.
For projects locating in an existing building, demonstrate one of the following:
- Total envelope UA (the sum of U-factor times assembly area) no more than 125% of the total building envelope UA that meet the ASHRAE 90.1-2022 prescriptive building envelope criteria for new construction.
- Minimum 30% improvement in total envelope UA for the alteration versus historical total envelope UA (no more than three years prior to project registration), AND total envelope UA is no more than 200% of the conductance of a total building envelope UA that meet the ASHRAE 90.1-2022 prescriptive envelope criteria for new construction.
AND/OR
PATH 3. INFILTRATION (1 POINT)
Either at the building level, or for the compartmentalized tenant space, demonstrate one of the following through air leakage testing conducted within five years of project occupancy:
- Measured air leakage of the building envelope less than or equal to Table 1, OR
- For projects locating in existing buildings, a reduction in air leakage of at least 30%, to a measured air leakage less than 1.0 cfm/sq. ft. (5 L/s × sq. m.) at 75 Pascals (0.3 in H2O) documented through air leakage testing before and after alterations are implemented.
Table 1. Caps on Air Leakage Rates
Pressure Test Conditions Across the Building Envelope | Maximum Air Leakage* | |
Initial Build-Out | Renovation of Previously Occupied Space | |
At pressure difference of 50 Pascals (0.2 in H2O) | 0.17 cfm/sq. ft. | 0.26 cfm/sq. ft. |
At pressure difference of 75 Pascals (0.3 in H2O) | 0.24 cfm/sq. ft. | 0.35 cfm/sq. ft. |
*Air leakage per square foot or square meter of building envelope area (including exterior walls, roofs, and base floor/slab).
Path 3 Note: Complete air leakage testing using ASTM E779, ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E3158, ASTM E1827, or equivalent.
AND/OR
Option 2. Energy Storage (1–2 points)
Provide on-site electric storage and/or thermal storage meeting the criteria in Table 2.
Include automatic load management controls capable of storing the electric or thermal energy during off-peak periods or periods with low grid carbon intensity, as well as using stored energy during on-peak periods or periods of high grid carbon intensity.
Table 2. Peak Storage Capacity Relative to Peak Demand
Storage | 1 point | 2 points |
Electric storage capacity | 0.2 kWh/kW | 0.4 kWh/kW |
Thermal storage capacity | 1.0 kWh/kW | 2.0 kWh/kW |
AND/OR
Option 3. Demand Response Program (1 point)
Enroll in a minimum one-year demand response (DR) contract with a qualified DR program provider, with the intention of multiyear renewal.
On-site combustion-based electricity cannot be used to meet the demand-side management criteria.
AND/OR
Option 4. Automated Demand-Side Management (1 point)
On-site combustion-based electricity cannot be used to meet the demand-side management criteria.
PATH 1. SYSTEM-LEVEL CONTROLS (1 POINT)
Provide automated demand response controls for at least two of the following systems installed within the project scope of work:
- HVAC systems (50% of rated capacity)
- Lighting systems (50% of power)
- Automatic receptacle controls (50% of number of receptacles)
- Service water heating (90% of capacity)
- Electric vehicle supply equipment
OR
PATH 2. BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM (1 POINT)
Develop a plan for shedding at least 10% of the project’s peak electricity demand for a minimum of one hour. The plan shall address both winter and summer peaks considering electrified grid projections.
Use a control system that automatically sheds electricity demand in response to triggers denoting strain on the grid or high grid emissions. For example:
- Signal from a DR program provider
- Data obtained through an API indicating high grid emissions
- Peak demand tariff period when the grid is operating in the highest demand window
- Time-of-use rate when pricing is highest
AND/OR
Option 5. Power Resilience (1 point)
Identify critical equipment that requires continuous operation. Design the project to be capable of islanding and operating independently from the grid to power the critical loads with the project’s on-site renewable and energy storage systems for a minimum of three days.
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To enhance power resilience and position buildings as active partners contributing to grid decarbonization, reliability, and power affordability through peak thermal load reduction and integrated management of building loads in response to variable grid conditions.
Requirements
Comply with any of the following up to a maximum of 3 points. Each requirement may be documented at the building level or for the project only.
Option 1. Peak Thermal Load Reduction (1–3 points)
Comply with any of the following peak thermal load reduction criteria for 1 point each.
PATH 1. VENTILATION ENERGY OR HEAT RECOVERY (1 POINT)
Each fan system supplying outdoor air to the project shall have an energy or heat recovery system with a minimum 70% enthalpy recovery ratio or a minimum 75% sensible heat recovery ratio. Provisions must be made to bypass or control the energy recovery system during moderate outside air conditions.
In aggregate, fan systems supplying less than 15% of the project’s total outdoor air can be excluded.
AND/OR
PATH 2. LOW THERMAL CONDUCTANCE (1 POINT)
For initial build-out, comply prescriptively with the thermal bridging requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 5.5.5. Projects in climate zones 0–3 shall not be excepted.
For projects locating in an existing building, demonstrate one of the following:
- Total envelope UA (the sum of U-factor times assembly area) no more than 125% of the total building envelope UA that meet the ASHRAE 90.1-2022 prescriptive building envelope criteria for new construction.
- Minimum 30% improvement in total envelope UA for the alteration versus historical total envelope UA (no more than three years prior to project registration), AND total envelope UA is no more than 200% of the conductance of a total building envelope UA that meet the ASHRAE 90.1-2022 prescriptive envelope criteria for new construction.
AND/OR
PATH 3. INFILTRATION (1 POINT)
Either at the building level, or for the compartmentalized tenant space, demonstrate one of the following through air leakage testing conducted within five years of project occupancy:
- Measured air leakage of the building envelope less than or equal to Table 1, OR
- For projects locating in existing buildings, a reduction in air leakage of at least 30%, to a measured air leakage less than 1.0 cfm/sq. ft. (5 L/s × sq. m.) at 75 Pascals (0.3 in H2O) documented through air leakage testing before and after alterations are implemented.
Table 1. Caps on Air Leakage Rates
Pressure Test Conditions Across the Building Envelope | Maximum Air Leakage* | |
Initial Build-Out | Renovation of Previously Occupied Space | |
At pressure difference of 50 Pascals (0.2 in H2O) | 0.17 cfm/sq. ft. | 0.26 cfm/sq. ft. |
At pressure difference of 75 Pascals (0.3 in H2O) | 0.24 cfm/sq. ft. | 0.35 cfm/sq. ft. |
*Air leakage per square foot or square meter of building envelope area (including exterior walls, roofs, and base floor/slab).
Path 3 Note: Complete air leakage testing using ASTM E779, ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E3158, ASTM E1827, or equivalent.
AND/OR
Option 2. Energy Storage (1–2 points)
Provide on-site electric storage and/or thermal storage meeting the criteria in Table 2.
Include automatic load management controls capable of storing the electric or thermal energy during off-peak periods or periods with low grid carbon intensity, as well as using stored energy during on-peak periods or periods of high grid carbon intensity.
Table 2. Peak Storage Capacity Relative to Peak Demand
Storage | 1 point | 2 points |
Electric storage capacity | 0.2 kWh/kW | 0.4 kWh/kW |
Thermal storage capacity | 1.0 kWh/kW | 2.0 kWh/kW |
AND/OR
Option 3. Demand Response Program (1 point)
Enroll in a minimum one-year demand response (DR) contract with a qualified DR program provider, with the intention of multiyear renewal.
On-site combustion-based electricity cannot be used to meet the demand-side management criteria.
AND/OR
Option 4. Automated Demand-Side Management (1 point)
On-site combustion-based electricity cannot be used to meet the demand-side management criteria.
PATH 1. SYSTEM-LEVEL CONTROLS (1 POINT)
Provide automated demand response controls for at least two of the following systems installed within the project scope of work:
- HVAC systems (50% of rated capacity)
- Lighting systems (50% of power)
- Automatic receptacle controls (50% of number of receptacles)
- Service water heating (90% of capacity)
- Electric vehicle supply equipment
OR
PATH 2. BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM (1 POINT)
Develop a plan for shedding at least 10% of the project’s peak electricity demand for a minimum of one hour. The plan shall address both winter and summer peaks considering electrified grid projections.
Use a control system that automatically sheds electricity demand in response to triggers denoting strain on the grid or high grid emissions. For example:
- Signal from a DR program provider
- Data obtained through an API indicating high grid emissions
- Peak demand tariff period when the grid is operating in the highest demand window
- Time-of-use rate when pricing is highest
AND/OR
Option 5. Power Resilience (1 point)
Identify critical equipment that requires continuous operation. Design the project to be capable of islanding and operating independently from the grid to power the critical loads with the project’s on-site renewable and energy storage systems for a minimum of three days.