SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Energy and Carbon

Topic

HVAC Efficiency

Question #

E10.1 — HVAC Efficiency

Question

Is high efficiency, low carbon mechanical equipment installed in the building?

Applicability

Applicable to all buildings (systems or equipment in the owner or landlord’s control)

Answer

Select all that apply:

    • Yes — Connected to a low carbon DES
    • Yes — Condensing boilers
    • Yes — Electric Boilers
    • Yes — Heat Recovery implemented
    • Yes — Heat Pumps
    • Yes — AHUs and FCUs with low temperature hydronic heating coils
    • Yes — Hybrid AHUs and RTUs with air source heat pumps (ASHPs) and gas backup/peak heating
    • Yes – Dual Fuel units
    • Yes – Other (Describe)
    • N/A — Applicant must provide a narrative justifying their position
    • None of the above

Description

Mechanical equipment and HVAC system efficiency offer the most impactful opportunity for active energy and carbon reduction across all fuel types. To achieve decarbonization goals, building management should plan to replace end-of-life, inefficient or high carbon equipment with high efficiency, low carbon options as part of asset renewals.

Heat recovery should be considered for all systems as a strategy for reducing consumption.

Electrification works toward elimination of carbon emissions related to onsite combustion and improves opportunities for reduced electricity-related emissions through energy supply from clean grids (either now or in the future) and the use of renewable energy.

Cooling systems that use high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants can have a significant contribution to a building’s carbon emissions, through fugitive emissions that occur during leaks or recharging. Low GWP systems are recommended.

Requirements

    1. List building systems where heat recovery has been implemented, such as exhaust/ventilation, chilled water or domestic hot water. Describe the type and relative scale of heat recovery for each application
    2. For owner or landlord-controlled primary equipment, provide an equipment list outlining attributes including size, systems served, type of fuel, efficiency and why it can be considered low carbon

Documentation

    • Equipment list with product details

Adapted BB3 Question

Question 01.05.02 – Is 75% or more of the central heating equipment efficient?

Question 01.05.03 – Are 75% of the rooftop package units efficient?

Question 01.05.05 – Is 75% of the domestic water heating equipment efficient?

Question 01.05.06 – Does 75% of the building’s exhaust air pass through a Ventilation Heat/Energy Recovery system?

Suggested Lead

In-house

References

Crosswalk

TBD

Other Notes

Heat pumps may include air-to-water, water-to-water, geothermal or CO2 domestic hot water (DHW) heat pumps

Scoring

1, 2, 3, Points, up to 6 Max Points

Verification