SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Energy and Carbon

Topic

Envelope Performance

Question #

E11.2 – Envelope Upgrade

Question

Have major envelope upgrades been completed or initiated in the past ten years?

Applicability

All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building

Answer & Scoring

  • Yes — work is underway or has been completed = 3 points
  • Yes – an assessment has been completed = 1 point
  • No = 0 points
  • Not applicable – Building was built within the past 3 years with 2 or more of the listed high-performance features listed below = 0/0

Max of 3 points

Requirements

    1. Identify the major envelope upgrades from the assessment, condition or deep retrofit studies that have been implemented
    2. Document extent of implementation

High-performance envelope characteristics may include:

  • Air sealing with whole building air leakage test completed demonstrating superior air tightness
  • Interior/exterior shading, identifying whether there are automated shading controls
  • Double or triple-paned glazing including high-performance window assembly or double or triple-paned windows with low-emissivity coating including high-performance window assembly
  • Electrochromic glazing or other types of dynamic glazing
  • Built-in photovoltaics
  • Green roof covering at least 30% of the available roof space
  • Reduced thermal bridging to minimize heat transfer through strategies such as continuous insulation and thermal breaks
  • Foundation insulation that is 20% better than current code
  • Roof insulation that is 20% better than current code
  • Wall insulation that is 20% better than current code
  • Natural ventilation when outdoor conditions are favorable

For Open-Air Retail, demonstrate that the requirements have been met for 20% of the buildings on-site.

Documentation

  • Describe measure(s) implemented, the benefit and potential savings impact
  • Evidence of implementation through photos, as-built drawings or other proof

Suggested Lead

In-house, with third-party support

Value

  • Building off E1.2 – Envelope Condition Assessment, implement capital expenditure/major envelope improvements identified in the envelope assessment
  • Major envelope improvements are capital intensive upgrades that can lead to significant improvements in envelope performance resulting in big cost and energy savings

Description

A high-performance building envelope aims to enhance occupant comfort, improve controllability and minimize the transfer of thermal energy between the outdoors and indoors.

Strategies, such as air tightness, shading, triple-paned glazing and increased insulation can be implemented to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions while improving thermal comfort and reducing the mechanical system Requirements.

References

None

Adapted BB 3.0 Question

Question 01.01.03 – Does the capital plan include measures to ensure continuous improvement of the energy efficiency of the building envelope?
Question 01.05.07 – Are 75% of the building’s exterior windows considered efficient?