We’re looking for rigor
Devised by Bruce Coldham, FAIA, these guidelines are based on the article “NESEA’s Methodology: Counting, Measuring, Reporting,” by Chris Benedict, RA, which appeared in the fall 2009 issue of the Northeast Sun.
Download a printable version here
What is a “case study”?
A case study will be a single building project, thoroughly examined in a 90-minute session: design, construction, and early performance/POE. Speakers are ideally drawn from the design team, construction team, and building owner and/or facilities management.
Required info
To qualify as a case study—and to have the phrase as the initial two words of the session title—the presenters must have in hand and be prepared to discuss the following performance metrics regarding background, site energy, water, and cost.
Background
1. State the use(s) of the building, expected number of occupants, and the major energy and water loads in the building.
2. System R values for major components of the building enclosure: walls (above and below grade), roof, windows, glazing systems.
3. Describe the air barrier strategy and how it has been constructed.
4. Measured ACH50 and leakage in CFM50/sf of enclosure, ideally at various stages of construction.
5. State owner’s expectation regarding thermal comfort: Is a particular temperature and RH to be maintained for heating and cooling? Is the owner willing to allow temperatures above 75 degrees and below 68 degrees?
6. Provide dates for C of O, first move-in, and full occupancy.
7. Provide the dates of the 12-month period for the energy use information.
Site energy
1. State the peak site and source energy input of the heating equipment.
2. State the peak site energy input of the air conditioning equipment.
3. State all non-site generated energy sources for the building and how each source is used.
4. State how each non-site generated energy source is quantified, i.e. electricity in metered kWh, oil in #BTU/gal, gas in #BTU/cf, wood or biomass in #BTU/unit, etc.
5. State the floor area of the building in square feet and in square meters for each use and state what is included and not included. Areas may include exterior walls but may not include unconditioned spaces.
6. Non-site generated energy counting: Provide site energy in BTU/sf/yr and KWH/sqm/yr. State unusual characteristics such as very high ceilings that may skew energy calculations.
If possible, break out the energy for the heating season, provide BTU/sf/HDD, site energy.
7. Site-generated energy counting: If wind or sun is used to generate electricity, report these amounts of energy generated for the year. For PV, the meter in a PV control can be used. For solar thermal, a meter that measures flow and temperature difference should be used not a meter on a solar controller that makes an assumption about flow but does not measure it.
8. Show electric peak load of a measured 12-month period.
Water
1. State any issues with availability of water in the area.
2. Are there unusual amounts water used in the building for specific reasons?
3. State how or if the water use is measured.
4. State the amount of water use per year in gallons.
Cost
1. State the construction cost per square foot and state what if anything is not included in this price.
2. State total cost for the building, including what was not included in cost per square foot above.
