NC-v5 EAp1: Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan Required
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To enable building stakeholders to visualize how their current design decisions will impact their project’s long-term operational carbon emissions and to ensure that stakeholders are planning for low-carbon outcomes from the project’s inception.
Requirements
Comply with the following requirements.
Design Analysis
Analyze efficiency, peak load reduction, and decarbonization measures during the early stages of the design process and account for the results in design decision-making using at least one of the following methodologies:
- Simplified energy modeling
- Analysis from similar projects
- Analysis from published data
AND
Site Energy Estimate
Estimate the amount of each type of energy the project will use annually in terms of site energy and submit the data to USGBC.
AND
Review Carbon Projection
Using the annual energy use data submitted, the project’s current grid data, and the project’s location, USGBC will generate a business as usual (BAU) projection of the project’s carbon emissions from energy use from the present through a 25-year period.
Projects subject to a carbon-based building performance standard (BPS) must create an ordinance-specific BAU with a carbon projection based on the electrical coefficients as defined in the ordinance and with an overlay showing the caps applicable to the project. If applicable, calculate the assessed annual fines or fees that will apply for exceeding the caps and the cumulative fines or fees over a 25-year period.
The building owner or owner’s representative shall attest that they have reviewed the BAU carbon projections and fee projection.
AND
Decarbonization Plan
PATH 1. DESIGN FOR ELECTRIFICATION
Earn 4 or 5 points in EAc1: Electrification.
OR
PATH 2. PLAN FOR DECARBONIZATION
Create a plan detailing how decarbonization could be achieved through a 25-year period. The building owner or owner’s representative shall attest that they have reviewed the decarbonization plan.
- The plan shall be a narrative no more than two pages in length.
- The narrative shall describe the retrofits to be made, with the approximate timeline and cost of each of the retrofit measures.
- Equipment and/or building materials that will be discarded as a result of the required retrofits should be described along with new equipment to be purchased.
- Electrification readiness strategies incorporated into the initial design should be described along with a rough estimate of the avoided cost, avoided disruption, and avoided materials waste afforded by each readiness measure. Core and Shell projects should incorporate strategies to support tenant build-out and address future retrofits after tenant build-out. Some common readiness strategies include oversizing electrical panels and/or service or installing conduit for future loads, enhanced envelope, or heating distribution systems that can accommodate the lower temperatures of future heat pumps.
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To enable building stakeholders to visualize how their current design decisions will impact their project’s long-term operational carbon emissions and to ensure that stakeholders are planning for low-carbon outcomes from the project’s inception.
Requirements
Comply with the following requirements.
Design Analysis
Analyze efficiency, peak load reduction, and decarbonization measures during the early stages of the design process and account for the results in design decision-making using at least one of the following methodologies:
- Simplified energy modeling
- Analysis from similar projects
- Analysis from published data
AND
Site Energy Estimate
Estimate the amount of each type of energy the project will use annually in terms of site energy and submit the data to USGBC.
AND
Review Carbon Projection
Using the annual energy use data submitted, the project’s current grid data, and the project’s location, USGBC will generate a business as usual (BAU) projection of the project’s carbon emissions from energy use from the present through a 25-year period.
Projects subject to a carbon-based building performance standard (BPS) must create an ordinance-specific BAU with a carbon projection based on the electrical coefficients as defined in the ordinance and with an overlay showing the caps applicable to the project. If applicable, calculate the assessed annual fines or fees that will apply for exceeding the caps and the cumulative fines or fees over a 25-year period.
The building owner or owner’s representative shall attest that they have reviewed the BAU carbon projections and fee projection.
AND
Decarbonization Plan
PATH 1. DESIGN FOR ELECTRIFICATION
Earn 4 or 5 points in EAc1: Electrification.
OR
PATH 2. PLAN FOR DECARBONIZATION
Create a plan detailing how decarbonization could be achieved through a 25-year period. The building owner or owner’s representative shall attest that they have reviewed the decarbonization plan.
- The plan shall be a narrative no more than two pages in length.
- The narrative shall describe the retrofits to be made, with the approximate timeline and cost of each of the retrofit measures.
- Equipment and/or building materials that will be discarded as a result of the required retrofits should be described along with new equipment to be purchased.
- Electrification readiness strategies incorporated into the initial design should be described along with a rough estimate of the avoided cost, avoided disruption, and avoided materials waste afforded by each readiness measure. Core and Shell projects should incorporate strategies to support tenant build-out and address future retrofits after tenant build-out. Some common readiness strategies include oversizing electrical panels and/or service or installing conduit for future loads, enhanced envelope, or heating distribution systems that can accommodate the lower temperatures of future heat pumps.