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Energy Efficiency

in

Request for Proposals


for

New Buildings

Arctic Energy Alliance


December 2012

Contents
1.

Introduction ......................................................................................... 2
o Who is this guide for? ...................................................................... 2
o Why demand energy efficient terms? ........................................... 2
o How do you use this guide? ........................................................... 2

2.

Required Energy Efficiency Terms .................................................. 3


o Contractor Requirements ................................................................ 3
Architects ............................................................................................... 3
Building Contractors .............................................................................. 3
Sub-Contractors ..................................................................................... 4
Inspections ............................................................................................. 4
Commissioning Agent ............................................................................ 4
o Building Performance Requirements ............................................ 5
Overall Building Rating ..................................................................... 5
Design Requirements Report ................................................................ 6
Building Envelope .................................................................................. 6
Electrical Efficiency ................................................................................ 7
Mechanical Systems .............................................................................. 9
Water Efficiency .................................................................................. 11
Building Operation & Maintenance .................................................... 11
Fuel Preferences .................................................................................. 12

3.

Criteria to Evaluate Proposals ........................................................ 14


o Comparing General Contractors Qualifications ....................... 14
o Support Local Business.................................................................. 14
o Comparing Whats Efficient and Whats Not ............................ 15

4.

Response Guidelines ........................................................................ 16


o Declaration of Terms ...................................................................... 16
o More Word Definitions & Acronyms .......................................... 20

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

1.

Introduction

Who is this guide for?

This has been written for people in the North who are going to ask architects,
engineers, builders and building systems contractors to submit proposals for
new buildings. It will help you write your Request for Proposals (RFP), evaluate
the proposals and ensure you are getting what you asked for. Use this guide with
the Arctic Energy Alliances (AEAs) Model National Energy Code for Buildings +
40 Toolkit (MNECB +40 Toolkit), when you are ready to write your RFP.
This guide is not meant to replace the Good Building Practice for Northern
Facilities prepared by the Department of Public Works and Services, GNWT. Your
architects and engineers should still be using the Good Building Practice for
Northern Facilities for all aspects of the building and should use their best
judgment to create a building that is as efficient as possible for your particular
application. Most of the recommendations in this guide apply to all building
types. Please contact AEA for additional recommendations for special building
types at 867-920-3333 or 1 877-755-5855.

Why demand energy efficient terms?

Demanding energy efficiency terms in your RFP will ensure that you are provided
with quotes for high efficiency buildings. This means that your building will cost a
lot less to operate (heat, light, etc) and will produce less greenhouse gas
emissions. Although the building may have a slightly higher initial cost, the
reduced operating cost will more than compensate for that if the building is well
designed.

How do you use this guide?

You will find a set of tables throughout the Required Energy Efficiency Terms
(Section 1) that will help you to determine what to ask for in your RFP for an
energy efficient building (a building that AEA would consider energy efficient),
and for an excellent energy efficient building (a building that goes beyond just
being energy efficient). Include the sections of the tables that apply to your
building. You will also find text in blue boxes that you should include in your RFP
to ensure you are receiving the highest quality.
The Criteria to Evaluate Proposals in Section 2 outlines what you need to look
for when comparing how proposed energy efficient buildings are constructed.
When writing your proposal, ensure that you include the appropriate Response
Guidelines outlined in Section 4.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

2.

Required Energy Efficiency Terms

Contractor Requirements

You need to take great care when selecting the people who will be designing and
constructing your new building. Choose people with proven experience in
northern building. It is also important that they are available for you to talk to
and that you get along with them well. If you have problems communicating
with them before you award the contract, you should solve those problems
immediately or hire someone else. You do not want to get halfway through the
building project and realize that the people working for you are doing whatever
they want and ignoring you and your requests.
Architects
The architect is responsible for the initial building design.
You should request the highest standards that your budget can afford.
Look for a firm that specialises in efficient northern buildings or has
LEED certified architects and talk to their previous clients. LEED
certified architects may be more expensive so more suited to large
projects, but they still need to have experience with northern buildings.
See the link below to get a list of architects certified to design in the
NWT. You will still need to check to see if they are LEED certified (if
thats the route you want to go) and check their energy efficiency design
experience. www.nwtaa.ca/
Building Contractors
The building contractor is responsible for carrying out the construction of
new buildings.
It is important that high standards are followed during construction so
that the building matches the quality of the design.
Be sure the contractor is aware of your demand for a high efficiency
building, and look for a contractor that has previous experience or
specialised training in energy efficient buildings. Attention to detail is
essential!
Many contractors are listed on the NWT Construction Association
website. www.nwtca.ca/

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Sub-Contractors
Sub-contractors may include mechanical system installers, electricians,
plumbers or any other specialists.
Your building contractor will probably contract these people to do some
of the work on your building.
Make sure you find out who they are. They should have the best energy
efficiency qualifications for their area of expertise. If you are not sure, ask
them about their energy efficiency experience.
Correct installation of building systems is essential for efficient operation!
Inspections
Make sure there is a strict commissioning process, and third party
inspections, when the building is getting built and after it is finished.
An inspector will not be able to see all of the detail once the building has
been completed, and it is much easier to fix a missing piece of insulation,
or improve air tightness before the finishing touches have been done.
If having third party inspections is not realistic for this project in your
community, the AEA can help; call us at 867-920-3333 or 1-877-755-5855.
Commissioning Agent
The commissioning agent (CA) is responsible for coordinating and
carrying out the commissioning process.
For complex projects, the CA should be brought on as part of the design
phase. However, for most projects, commissioning may not be needed
until construction begins, and knowledgeable in-house personnel may fill
the role of the CA.
Commissioning should continue after the building is occupied, and be
integrated into the operations and maintenance plan.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Building Performance Requirements

Your RFP needs to be clear about exactly what all of your requirements are so
that everyone understands. This makes awarding the contract easier because it
allows you to see clearly which proposals meet your requirements and which
dont. Not all buildings are the same some have special requirements. If you
are told that the requirements you have put in your RFP are impossible, contact
the AEA or another third party consultant to verify that.
Overall Building Rating
Your RFP should require an overall building rating so that the architect
and contractors will ensure that the building meets the overall design
requirement.
Using a recognised rating system will also enable third party review of
building designs.
Use the following table as a guide to choosing a building rating. A building
is over 600 m2 when the total area of all the floors is more than 600m2 or
6458 sq. ft.
Requiring that the building be certified to LEED standards may add
significantly to the cost of the building.
If it is important to your community, you should also specify that the
building be designed to reflect your culture: for example building shape,
height, colour, materials, etc.
Table 1: Some Possible Building Ratings
Building Rating
EnerGuide for
Homes (EGH)
National Energy
Code (NECB) 2011
Leadership in
Energy and
Environmental
Design (LEED)

Building Size
Minimum
2
Smaller than 300 m EGH80
(3,229 sq ft)
Larger than 300 m2 NECB 2011 + 20%
(3,229 sq ft)
Bigger than 600 m2
Silver
(6,458 sq ft)

Excellent
EGH85
NECB 2011 + 30%
Platinum

You should include the following statement in your RFP:


1. Final payment is contingent on meeting these requirements and
receiving verification that the completed building has met them.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Design Requirements Report


Detailing specific building requirements in a Design Requirements Report
will help to ensure that all parts of the building design are at a high
standard, and can be easily identified in the proposal submissions.
It is up to you to decide what the requirements should be.
As the building owner, you should prepare and attach to the RFP a list of
all the requirements for the building, including energy efficiency targets.
Specify that you, as the building owner, will retain the services of a
Commissioning Agent (CA). The CA will review design submissions,
regularly inspect installations throughout the construction phase, and,
prior to the Substantial Completion Inspection, carry out Performance
Verification Testing of all systems to confirm that the final building meets
all your requirements as stated in the Design Requirements Report.
Building Envelope
The building envelope is the buildings parka and just like a parka, the
envelope determines in part how much energy the building needs to stay
warm.
The higher the quality of every component of the building envelope, the
lower energy and operating costs will be every year.
Proper installation of all building components is essential to achieve good
building performance. The money spent on high quality building
materials will be wasted if they are not installed correctly with a high
level of attention to detail.
The building components in the table below should all be easy to identify
in the details of the building plans.
Your RFP should require that all building envelope components meet the
minimum requirements outlined below.
You may want to request that some building envelope components meet
the excellent requirement for improved efficiency.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Table 2: Suggested Structural Requirements


Building Envelope
Component
Ceiling Insulation
Wall Insulation
Floor Insulation
Doors
South Wall Window %
East/West Wall Window %
North Wall Window %
Window Structure
Natural Lighting

Air Tightness
(Buildings Smaller Than
600m2)
Air Tightness
(Buildings Larger Than
600m2)

Minimum
R60 (RSI 10)
R40 (RSI 7)
R60 (RSI 7)
ENERGY STAR Climate
Zone D
30% or less of wall area
is window
20% or less of wall area
is window
10% or less of wall area
is window
ENERGY STAR Climate
Zone D
20% average over year
(as demonstrated by
engineering calculations)
1.5ACH @50Pa
0.15 litre/sec/m2 @75 Pa

Excellent
R80 (RSI 14)
R60 (RSI 10)
R80 (RSI 10)

20% or less of wall area


is window
15% or less of wall area
is window
5% or less of wall area
is window
Quadruple Glazed
ENERGY STAR Zone D
50% average over year
(as demonstrated by
engineering
calculations)
1.0 ACH @50Pa
0.05 litre/sec/m2 @75
Pa

Electrical Efficiency
Electricity is very expensive in the Northwest Territories, which is a good
reason to install efficient electrical systems and appliances.
Some communities have hydro-electricity, with very low greenhouse gas
emissions mostly from when the backup diesel generators turn on - but
other communities have diesel or natural gas generators which have a
high level of greenhouse gas emissions, so there is even more reason to
reduce electrical loads.
You should request that all relevant documentation be provided with the
proposals. All appliances should be ENERGY STAR
(http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-appliances.cfm?attr=4)
approved.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Table 3: Suggestions for Electrical Efficiency Requirements


Electrical System or
Appliance
Interior Lighting

Interior Lighting
Controls

Exterior Lighting

Exit Signs
Pumps, Motors,
Machines Under
7.5kW (10 HP)
Pumps, Motors,
Machines over 7.5kW
(10 HP)
Refrigerators, Cooking
and Other Appliances
Clothes Dryers

Office/Entertainment
Equipment
Parking Receptacle

Minimum

Excellent

Less than 10 W/m2


(fixtures provide at
least 60 lumens/watt)
Well placed manual
switches AND controls
such as timers and
occupancy sensors
At least 70 lm/watt
(with automatic
daylight sensor)
LED lighting; 5 watts
ENERGY STAR
85% efficiency

Less than 7 W/m2


(fixtures provide at least 60
lumens/watt) & be dimmable
Manual switches AND
automatic controls such as
timers, daylight sensors and
occupancy sensors
At least 90 lm/watt (with
daylight, motion sensors and
timers where applicable)
0 watts - photo luminescent
(glow-in-the-dark) if practical
ENERGY STAR
90% efficiency

ENERGY STAR
90% efficiency

ENERGY STAR
95% efficiency

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR
Lowest kWh/year available in
the size that you require
EnerGuide rating
EnerGuide rating
425 kWh/year or less
400 kWh/year or less with
sensor to turn it off when
clothes are dry
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR automated
hibernation and shutdown
Timer and temperature With automatic timer and
controlled
temperature control

You should include the following statements in your RFP:


Lighting
1. All lighting systems shall be carefully designed to have small areas with
individual controls in accessible places.
2. Daylight and occupancy sensors and timers should be used where
possible, and lighting level must be adjustable (not just on/off) in areas
where natural lighting is present.
3. Manual controls should override automatic controls for a period of no
more than 2 hours at a time.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Appliances
1. All electrical appliances must be ENERGY STAR rated, if available.
Motors and Pumps
2. All motors and pumps must be ENERGY STAR rated and must be no
larger than the required peak capacity.
Mechanical Systems
Furnaces, boilers, ventilation systems, water heaters and other
mechanical systems all have detailed specifications that outline their
efficiency.
Appliances, where applicable, should be, at a minimum, ENERGY STAR
approved, if available for the size/type of appliance.
For even more efficient appliances you can request specific efficiency
ratings.
You should request that the proposals document and highlight
mechanical system efficiency ratings.
Table 4: Suggested Mechanical System Efficiencies
Mechanical
System
Boiler Wood Pellet

Boiler Oil
Boiler Gas
Furnace Oil
Furnace Gas
Wood Stove

Pellet Stove
Ventilation Fans
Heat Recovery
Ventilation Units
for Building Less
Than 600m2

Minimum
ULC/CSA certified

ENERGY STAR
AFUE 85%
ENERGY STAR
AFUE 90%
ENERGY STAR
AFUE 85 %
ENERGY STAR AFUE 92%
EPA 40 CFR Part 60 or CSA
B415.1M92 approved

Less than 2g/hour of


smoke (EPA test method)
ENERGY STAR low sone
(low noise)
Required everywhere
HVI Certified,
Recovery Efficiency 45% @
-40C

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Excellent
ULC/CSA certified and less
than 4.5g/hr of smoke (EPA
test method)
ENERGY STAR
AFUE 90%
ENERGY STAR
AFUE 96%
ENERGY STAR AFUE 90%
ENERGY STAR AFUE 98%
EPA 40 CFR Part 60 or CSA
B415.1M92 approved and
less than 4.5g/hr of smoke
(EPA test method)
Less than 1g/hour of smoke
(EPA test method)
ENERGY STAR low sone (low
noise)
Required everywhere
HVI Certified,
Recovery Efficiency 50% @ 40C

Mechanical
System
Heat Recovery
Ventilation Units
for Building Larger
Than 600m2
Oil Hot Water Tank
Gas Hot Water
Tank
Electric Hot Water
Tank (Hydro
Communities Only)
Oil Instantaneous
Hot Water Heater
Gas Instantaneous
Hot Water Heater
Electric
Instantaneous Hot
Water Heater
(Hydro
Communities Only)
Hot Water From
Boiler
Room Air
Conditioning
Central Air
Conditioning

Control Systems

Minimum

Excellent

Required everywhere 100% outdoor air units


with heat recovery

Required everywhere -100%


outdoor air units with heat
recovery

ENERGY STAR EF .60


ENERGY STAR EF .80

ENERGY STAR EF .68


ENERGY STAR EF .98

ENERGY STAR EF .90

ENERGY STAREF .98

ENERGY STAR EF .85


ENERGY STAR EF .90

ENERGY STAR
EF .90
ENERGY STAREF .96

ENERGY STAR EF .96

ENERGY STAREF .98

See boiler efficiencies

See boiler efficiencies

ENERGY STAR
EER 10.8 or higher
None, except where
absolutely needed (such as
computer rooms). Design
using shading and natural
ventilation. ENERGY STAR
ceiling fans or economisers
using outdoor air cooling.
Programmable control
systems for heating and
ventilation are required
(for example
programmable
thermostats). Outdoor
reset required on
furnace/boilers.

None, ENERGY STAR


ceiling fans
None, except where
absolutely needed (such as
computer rooms). Design
using shading and natural
ventilation. Economisers
using outdoor air cooling.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Direct digital controls. In


addition to the minimum,
sensors such as CO2 and
occupancy sensors must be
integrated.
Outdoor reset required on
furnace/boilers.

10

You should include the following statements in your RFP:


1. All Mechanical systems must be designed by a Professional Engineer
licensed to practice in the NWT.
2. Documentation of heat loss/gain calculations must be provided.
3. Energy efficiency ratings for mechanical systems must meet those
specified based on minimum and excellent ratings in the table above.
Water Efficiency
Reducing water use cuts your water bills, reduces your heating bills
because less water needs to be heated, and reduces the amount of waste
water to be managed.
Table 5: Suggested water efficiencies
Water System

Minimum

Excellent

Faucets
Toilets
Urinals
Showers
Dishwashers

5.6 L/min
Dual flush (4.8 L/ flush max)
Low flush (0.9L/ flush max)
6.6 L/min
ENERGY STAR

Washing Machines

ENERGY STAR front


loading

3.5 L/min
0L composting toilet
Low flow (0.5 L/flush max)
5 L/min
ENERGY STAR
Lowest kWh/year available
in the size that you require.
ENERGY STAR and less than
38 litres per load.

Building Operation & Maintenance


Once the building has been built and commissioned, it is important to
operate it as it was designed to be operated.
To enable this contractors must provide a complete and detailed
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Manual and As-Built Drawings.
These are used to train the people who will operate the building, provide
them with instructions on what to do, and when to do it; and how to
monitor the systems to see how the building is performing.
The most important documentation is the Controls System As Built
drawings and literature, which governs how all mechanical systems
operate. These should be thoroughly covered in training, and it is vital
that your maintainers understand them.
It is essential that copies of all instruction manuals for installed systems
be kept with the documentation that the building maintainer/operator
has access to.
If equipment requires spare parts that are difficult to obtain in your
community, it is a good idea to specify the number of replacement parts
that are to be left in the building for future use.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

11

Table 6: Suggested operations and maintenance practices


O&M
Training

Documentation

Monitoring

Minimum

Excellent

Building operators/maintainers
must be trained to maintain
and operate the building.
Specify in writing how much
on-site training provided by the
contractors/engineers is
required. A guideline to start
with is 1 day per 400 m2 of floor
area. Written directions must
also be provided.
All documentation pertaining
to the building and its systems
must be kept. Set points and
operating instructions must be
recorded.
Design philosophy and As
Built drawings should also be
required in writing, including
Sequences of Operation.
The building and systems are
monitored; results are
recorded and are reviewed
periodically to find
improvements.

In addition to the minimum,


building
operators/maintainers
attend formal O&M training
sessions.

Same as the minimum.

In addition to the minimum,


the building undergoes a recommissioning process
every two years.

Fuel Preferences
In additional to reducing energy use, it is important to choose sustainable
energy sources. Not only will the energy that you use create less pollution
and greenhouse gasses, cleaner or renewable energy sources are usually
safer to store and transport, and might make better use of local
resources.
You should check AEAs Renewable Yardstick
(http://www.aea.nt.ca/communities) for your community as a starting
point to see what alternative energy sources might be good to use in
your community.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

12

Table 7: Suggested fuel substitutions


Energy Use
Building Heating

Replace
Heating oil
(as much as possible)

Water Heating

Electricity
(in diesel generator
communities)

Electricity

Diesel generator

Building Cooling

Electric
(refrigerated air
conditioner)

Commercial
Refrigeration
Lighting

Electric
Electric (using
incandescent or
halogen fixtures)

With
Wood pellets, wood chips, recovered
waste heat, solar wall and design for
solar gain where possible.
Fuel-fired on-demand heater or
boiler loop (conduct analysis first
since best option depends on factors
such as hot water consumption) or
solar hot water.
Co-generation (to produce building
heat at the same time), solar panels,
wind turbine, micro hydro.
Window shading,
electric fans, natural window cross
ventilation (design for wind), solar air
conditioner, electric (evaporative air
conditioner)
Systems that use outdoor air to cool
when possible
Sunlight, electric (using fluorescent,
LED or ceramic metal halide fixtures)

You should include the following statements in your RFP:


Solar
1. The building should be oriented to take full advantage of passive solar
heat and designed to be solar-ready to facilitate the addition of solar
energy systems in the future.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

13

3.

Criteria to Evaluate Proposals

Comparing General Contractors Qualifications

Table 8: Contractor Qualifications


Qualification
Experience

Why Its Required


You want to know that
your contractor can
complete the project as
designed, on time and
budget.
Certified to perform design
calculations and/or
equipment installation.

HRAI (Heating,
Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning
Institute of Canada)
WETT (Wood Energy Certified to ensure safe
Technology Transfer installations and provide
Inc.)
standards for inspections
and insurability of wood
burning appliances, such as
wood stoves and open
fireplaces.
LEED (Leadership in Indicates they have
Energy and
knowledge of energy
Environmental
efficient building
Design)
techniques, but may not
have knowledge essential
to building in the North.

Verification
At least two references
from similar completed
projects. Call these before
deciding on the contractor.
http://www.hrai.ca/contrac
torlocator.html

http://www.wettinc.ca/sear
ch.html

Support Local Business

Another requirement stated in the RFP could be to employ and train local people
for certain tasks. If it is necessary to bring in people who have the experience to
build the facility properly, it is an excellent practice to have local people involved
so they understand the building better and are able to perform as much of the
routine maintenance as possible. It will also help them develop their skills so
they will be able to do more on the next building or may be able to get work in
neighbouring communities. Buying from local suppliers when possible can help
keep money in the community and helps build local businesses.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

14

Comparing Whats Efficient and Whats Not

You are saying that all of the minimum energy efficient recommendations MUST
be met in the building design, above any other minimum building code
requirements. All of the recommended minimum values in this guide are
commercially feasible, and there is no reason why they should not be used in
your building regardless of which community you live in. When you evaluate the
proposals, you should check each proposal against the requirements you have
set out in your RFP. Your final selection should be narrowed down to only those
who meet ALL of the requirements you have listed in your RFP.
You should include the following statement in your RFP:
1. All Energy Efficiency Terms outlined in this request for proposals MUST
be met for a design to be approved.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

15

4.

Response Guidelines

Declaration of Terms

Once you receive proposals to design and build your new building, you will have
to compare them to see which one best meets your needs. Because the
proposals can be complicated, AEA is available to help you understand them.
Understanding the proposals that you receive to do the work outlined in the RFP
is important; you will need to be able to identify that all your requests have been
met, and be sure that it can be tested or proved throughout design, approval
and commissioning. Asking for the right details will ensure that you have all the
information to get more advice if you are not sure about a building component.
Table 9: Guide to documentation requirements
Terms

Required
Accountability
Documentation
Method
Planning Phase of Project
NECB 2011 Report
Third Party
Ratings
Screening

LEED
Ratings

Report

Third Party
Detailed
Assessment
Stated in Building
Plans

Insulation
Levels

Building Plans

Windows
and Doors

Building Plans,
Window
Specifications

Window and
Door
Specifications

Lighting

Building Plans

Stated in
Electrical Plans
and fixture
specifications

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Ask For:

Can-Quest, EE4 results or


NECB 2011 Screening
Results in a report from the
architect or a third party
Assessment of plans
procedures, etc., by a
LEED qualified consultant
A clear and easy-to-read
table of insulation values
for each structural
component in the Building
Plans
A copy of the specifications,
clearly stating that the
model number is ENERGY
STAR rated to Climate
Zone D
Lighting Power Density (LPD
W/m2) to be stated in the
Electrical Plans, and fixture
specifications showing
lumens per watt

16

Terms
Heating
and
Ventilation
Systems

Required
Accountability
Documentation
Method
Heat Loss
Equipment
Calculations
Specifications
and Equipment
Specifications

Hot Water
Systems

Volume
Requirement
Calculations
and Equipment
Specifications

Equipment
Specifications

Appliances

Appliance
Specifications

Specifications

During Building Phase


Insulation
Inspection
Levels
Report

Third Party
Inspector

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Ask For:
Request that a report
outlining the heat loss and
ventilation calculations be
supplied by an HVAC
consultant or professional
engineer. Also request a
copy of the equipment
specifications clearly stating
the capacity of the system,
showing an ENERGY STAR
rating and the operating
efficiency.
A report outlining the
calculations determining
the capacity of the hot
water system. Also request
the system specifications
clearly stating the capacity
of the system, showing an
ENERGY STAR rating and
the operating efficiency.
Ask for the specifications of
all appliances to be
provided clearly stating the
capacity of the system,
showing an ENERGY STAR
rating and the operating
efficiency.
Have a building inspector
check the building against
the agreed plans before
interior or exterior cladding
has been fitted and provide
you with a compliance
report.*

17

Terms
Windows
and Doors

Air
Tightness

Required
Accountability
Documentation
Method
Inspection
Third Party
Report
Inspector

Test Results

Third Party
Testing

Commissioning of the Building


Air
Test Results
Third Party
Tightness
Testing by
Commissioning
Agent (CA)

LEED
Ratings

Certification

Third Party
Detailed
Assessment (CA)

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

Ask For:
Have a building inspector
check the building against
the agreed plans before
interior or exterior cladding
has been fitted and provide
you with a compliance
report. The building
contractor will need to keep
proof of window and door
model numbers.*
Have a Blower Door Test
performed on the building
before air and vapour
barriers are covered with
internal and external
cladding, to make sure the
minimum required levels
have been met. If they have
not, more air sealing is
easier to perform at this
phase of the building
project.* A thermographic
scan of the building
envelope may be
performed in combination
with the blower door test.
Have a Blower Door Test
performed upon
completion of the building
in addition to during
construction, to make sure
the minimum required
levels have been met.
Upon completion of your
building you should receive
your final LEED
assessment and receive
your certification.

18

Terms
Lighting

Required
Accountability
Documentation
Method
Inspection
Third Party
Report
Inspector (CA)

Heating
and
Ventilation
Systems

Installation
Report/
Checklist

Third Party
Inspector (CA)

Hot Water
Systems

Installation
Report/
Checklist

Third Party
Inspector (CA)

Training

Manual and
Certification

Design Team and


CA

On-Going
Monitoring

Log Book

Design Team and


CA

Documentation

Manual

Design Team and


CA

Ask For:
Have a building inspector
check the building against
the agreed plans and
provide you with a
compliance report.*
Have a building inspector
check the building against
the agreed plans and
provide you with a
compliance report.*
Have a building inspector
check the building against
the agreed plans and
provide you with a
compliance report.*
Have a building inspector
check training certification
against the manual and
provide you with a report.*
Have a building inspector
check the log against the
manual and provide you
with a report.*
Have a building inspector
check the manual against
the agreed plans and
provide you with a report.*

* If you are unable to get a building inspector, please contact AEA for support.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

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More Word Definitions & Acronyms

ACH (Air Changes per Hour)


This is a way of measuring the air tightness of a building. ACH is often expressed
as ACH50, which is the air changes per hour when the house is depressurized to 50 pascals during a blower door test.
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilisation Efficiency)
The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a furnace or boiler. It takes into
account the cyclic on/off operation and associated energy losses of the heating
unit as it responds to changes in the load. This is the efficiency you should always
use to compare whole building heating appliances.
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Engineers)
International organization dedicated to the advancement of heating, ventilation,
air conditioning, and refrigeration through research, standards writing,
publishing, and continuing education.
Blower Door Test
Test used to determine a homes airtightness: a powerful fan is mounted in an
exterior door opening and used to pressurize or depressurize the house. By
measuring the force needed to maintain a certain pressure difference, the
homes airtightness can be determined. Operating the blower door also
exaggerates air leakage and permits a weatherization contractor to find and seal
leakage areas.
Btu (British Thermal Unit)
The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water (about a pint) one
degree Fahrenheit in temperatureabout the heat content of one wooden
kitchen match. One Btu is equivalent to 0.293 watt-hours or 1,055 joules.
CAN-QUEST
CAN-QUEST is a computer program developed by Natural Resources Canada to
automate energy use assessments and compare proposed buildings to the new
NECB 2011 building design rules.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp)
CFLs are typically three to four times as efficient as incandescent light bulbs, and
last eight to ten times as long. They contain a small amount of mercury.

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CSA (Canadian Standards Association)


CSA is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, a crown corporation
mandated with promoting efficient and effective standardisation in Canada, as a
standards development organisation and as a certification body.
Daylighting
Use of sunlight for daytime lighting needs. Daylighting strategies include solar
orientation of windows as well as the use of skylights, clerestory windows, solar
tubes, reflective surfaces, and interior glazing to allow light to move through a
structure.
EE4
EE4 version 1.7 is a computer program that automates energy use assessments
and applies all of Natural Resources Canadas (NRCans) validation of new
building designs rules to verify that a design is at least 25% more energy efficient
than if constructed to meet Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB)
1997 requirements.
EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)
Energy-efficiency rating or energy-efficiency ratio. As most commonly used, EER
is the operating efficiency of a room air conditioner, measured in Btus of cooling
output divided by the power consumption in watt-hours; the higher the EER, the
greater the efficiency.
EF (Energy Factor)
Efficiency measure for rating the energy performance of dishwashers, clothes
washers, water heaters, and certain other appliances that heat water. The higher
the energy factor, the greater the efficiency. In some appliances EF reflects the
percentage of energy going into the appliance that is turned into useful energy.
EGH (EnerGuide for Houses) Natural Resources Canada program
An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of your home's energy
performance. It shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy efficient your
home is. The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions so
that you can compare the energy performance of one house against another.
The home's energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0
represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high
energy consumption.
ENERGY STAR
Labeling system sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US
Department of Energy for labeling the most energy-efficient products on the
market; applies to a wide range of products, from computers and office
equipment to refrigerators and air conditioners.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

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ENERGY STAR Zone D (refers to windows)


Windows required for a colder climate.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with
protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing
regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The agency conducts
environmental assessment, research, and education. It has the responsibility of
maintaining and enforcing national standards under a variety of environmental
laws, in consultation with state, tribal, and local governments.
HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada)
A national association that represents more than 1,300 heating, ventilation, air
conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) manufacturers, wholesalers and
contractors, and which provides Canadians with the tools and information
necessary to ensure their total indoor environment comfort.
HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator)
Balanced ventilation system in which most of the heat from outgoing exhaust air
is transferred to incoming fresh air via an air-to-air heat exchanger; a similar
device, an energy-recovery ventilator, also transfers heat from water vapour.
HRVs recover 50% to 80% of the heat in exhausted air. In hot climates, the
function is reversed so that the cooler inside air reduces the temperature of the
incoming hot air.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
Collectively, the mechanical systems that heat, ventilate, and cool a building.
HVI (Home Ventilating Institute)
HVI today represents a wide range of home ventilating products manufactured
by companies in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe, producing the
majority of the residential ventilation products sold in North America. The
Certified Rating Programs of HVI were created to provide a fair and credible
method of comparing ventilation performance of similar products.
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
A type of light bulb that produces light by running electrical current through a
semiconductor diode. LED lamps are much longer lasting and much more energy
efficient than incandescent lamps; unlike fluorescent lamps, LED lamps do not
contain mercury and can be dimmed.

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LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)


An internationally recognized green building certification system, providing
third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built
using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy
savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor
environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their
impacts.
LPD W/m2 (Lighting Power Density Watts per square metre)
A measure of electrical power used to provide lighting to a space - expressed in
watts per square foot (or watts per square metre).
Lumens per Watt (lm/W)
A measure of light produced to the amount of power providing the light. A 60
watt incandescent bulb provides as much light (lumens) as a 13 watt CFL
(compact fluorescent light) which means that the CFL provides about 4 times
more lumens (light) per watt than the incandescent bulb. The CFL uses about 4
times less power than the incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of
lumens (light).
MNECB (Model National Energy Code for Buildings) 1997
This document includes detailed information on building envelope, lighting,
electrical power, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,
which can offer major energy savings. It is not a requirement in the NWT and has
been replaced by NECB 2011. In the Northwest Territories NECB 2011 buildings
require about 30% less energy than MNECB 1997 buildings.
NECB (National Energy Code for Buildings) 2011
This document includes detailed information on building envelope, lighting,
electrical power, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,
which can offer major energy savings. Builders in the NWT may choose to but are
not required to meet these requirements (as of December 2012).
Pa (Pascal)
The pascal (Pa) or kilopascal (kPa) as a unit of pressure measurement is widely
used throughout the world and largely replaces the pounds per square inch (psi)
unit, except in some countries still using the Imperial measurement system.
Passive Solar Heating
Heating of space or water that uses heat from the sun and does not require
electricity or fuel consumption. The most common type of passive solar heating
system is space heating which depends on solar gain through windows, thermal
mass, and insulation. Unlike an active solar heating system, a passive system has
no pumps or blowers.

Energy Efficiency in RFPs for New Buildings

23

R-Value
Measure of resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the lower the heat
loss. The inverse of U-factor. RSI is the metric measurement equivalent (multiply
RSI by 6 to get approximate R-Value).
ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada)
An independent product safety testing, certification and inspection organization.
U-Value
Measure of the heat conducted through a given product or materialthe
number of British thermal units (Btus) of heat that move through a square foot
of the material in one hour for every 1 degree Fahrenheit difference in
temperature across the material (Btu/ft2F hr). U-factor is the inverse of R-value.
Watt (W)
Defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.
Watts per meter squared (W/m2)
Power required to light an area one meter by one meter. In RFPs, give ranges or
a maximum. A higher W/m2 means more energy is used on lighting.
WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer)
A non-profit training and education association managed by a volunteer Board of
Directors elected by holders of valid WETT certificates. Through its
administrative designate, WETT Inc. functions as the national registrar of the
WETT program. Through professional training and public education, WETT Inc.
promotes the safe and effective use of wood burning systems in Canada.

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