ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) is the measuring and monitoring tool provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish and maintain top-notch conservation of natural resources such as electricity, gas and water. Determined by utility bills, energy usage is documented, and factors such as building type, hours worked, number of employees and computers in the facility are input to fully understand key factors that influence how the facility functions.

Scores are based on periodic surveys of building types and calculates what constitutes a high-performance building. The latest data collection efforts were administered through the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey, which serves as the data source for a majority of building types in ESPM. The survey began in the spring of 2019 and preliminary results will be available to the public this year.

The process

The tracking of utilities is only part of the equation, though. For facilities achieving a score of 75 or higher, to apply for the ENERGY STAR label, the application provides a summary of a facility’s characteristics, which then need to be validated. The validation process must be performed by a licensed professional , usually a professional engineer. The role of the LP is to verify that all energy use is accurately reported, the building characteristics are correctly notated and the facility’s indoor environmental quality has not been compromised in the pursuit of energy conservation.

The LP will also verify that the information submitted in the application, utility bills and building characteristics are correct and that the building meets acceptable indoor quality standards. They also ensure the building meets industry standards for acceptable indoor air quality, thermal environmental conditions and illumination. In this role, the LP is expected to be fully conversant with current standards specified by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers, specifically ASHRAE Standard 55 and ASHRAE Standard 62, as well as the Illuminating Engineers Society (IES) Lighting Handbook.

A typical site visit to a facility takes up to one day. Upon arrival, the LP will measure outside air temperature and humidity, as well as exterior CO2 levels to provide comparison points for indoor air quality. They will review summary building information provided in the application such as building location, operating hours, occupancy, gross square footage and energy consumption over a 12-month period.

They go through the facility with their instruments and gauges: visiting offices, conference rooms, open office areas and labs. They check for thermal comfort, measuring the temperature and relative humidity levels in a representative sample of spaces throughout the facility and compare the results to the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55:Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.

They review IAQ, which may include measuring CO2 levels in a random sample of the occupied interior spaces of the building, per the indoor air quality procedure defined in ASHRAE Standard 62.1: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, for the type of building being visited.

They measure illumination levels in similar representative spaces of the occupied interior spaces of the building. The results are compared with the requirements of the IES Lighting Handbook: Reference & Application to ensure that lighting meets or exceeds acceptable levels.

The LP also should inspect a sampling of air-handling units. Signs of mold, mildew or excessive dust/dirt should not be evident. The units should be well-maintained, with filters and belts clean and operable. If everything falls within the scope of specified requirements, then a Statement of Energy Performance can be signed and submitted for certification.

Recommended actions

Ideally the LP should not experience any problems or issues with this verification process. It is incumbent on facility managers to maintain this type of clean, healthy environment. If the FM has everything in order, no performance audit should deliver any surprises. LPs refer to ASHRAE Standards, so it may be good idea to visit and follow them. These guidelines can assist in recognizing and mitigating adverse conditions in a facility; they are well defined, eminently respected and accessible to all (although they do charge for the formal documents).

ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 62.2 are the recognized standards for ventilation system design and acceptable IAQ. FMs can look for minimum ventilation rates and other measures intended to provide IAQ. The facility must have air quality that is acceptable to human occupants, which ultimately helps minimize adverse health effects. While the standards inform building codes in defining minimum requirements for outside air, they also define requirements for ventilation and air-cleaning-system design, installation, commissioning, and operation and maintenance.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 establishes the range of indoor environmental conditions to achieve acceptable thermal comfort for occupants of buildings. The standard specifies the combinations of personal and indoor thermal environmental factors that will produce conditions acceptable to a majority of the occupants within the space. The environmental factors addressed in this standard are temperature, thermal radiation, humidity and air speed; the personal factors are those of activity and clothing. The criteria in this standard should be applied together because indoor comfort can be complicated and relies on the interaction of several factors.

This standard specifies thermal environmental conditions acceptable for healthy adults at atmospheric pressure equivalent to altitudes up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in indoor spaces designed for human occupancy for periods not less than a quarter hour. There are six primary factors that must be addressed when defining conditions for thermal comfort:

• air temperature

• radiant temperature

• air speed

• humidity

• metabolic rate

• clothing insulation

For instance, if employees are wrapped in winter coats in the office or doing calisthenics in the aisles to keep warm, there may be an opportunity for improvement. The standard does not address such nonthermal environmental factors as air quality, acoustics, illumination or any physical, chemical or biological space contaminants that may affect comfort or health. Other standards may address these issues, as well as OSHA requirements.

Illumination guidelines

Another LP tool is the IES Lighting Handbook, which aids architects and FMs in providing lighting needs of employees, visitors and guests in a facility. Patterns of light and dark affect both their perceptions of the workplace and their emotional and physiological well-being. Optimal lighting techniques can benefit visual performance and interpersonal communication and improve feelings of well-being.

When it comes to lighting, an FM must evaluate and match the needs of employees, utilizing economic and environmental considerations to meet those needs with workable lighting sources and functional installation. Some of the human needs served by lighting are visibility, task performance, visual comfort, social communication, aesthetic judgement, mood and atmosphere, health, safety and well-being. Although they are needs of primary importance, employee’s health, safety and well-being are often unrecognized or simply overlooked.

This is why LPs go to different areas in the building to measure illumination effectiveness. Lighting is not a one-size fits-all solution. In an open-plan office setting, there can be varied types of visual tasks and activities, and different types of furniture. The work-station configurations have an effect on light distribution and illuminance. In a perfect world, recessed downlight could provide general illumination, while task lighting is placed at the work level. Daylighting, when possible, is a pleasant touch, supplied by skylights, clerestories, solar tubes or just through perimeter windows.

Private offices present other challenges. Usually fairly small and fully enclosed, they are not dependent on any light outside their confines, unless they have windows or storefronts facing inward. Some options for effective lighting would include indirect lighting from wall-mounted fixtures or a combination of indirect luminaires and direct lighting.

A third major focus in the workplace would be conference rooms. Visual tasks in these areas range from informal to difficult. Direct glare and modeling of faces or objects are key issues in lighting for meetings. Two or more lighting systems would be recommended to provide flexibility in these rooms.

Corridors, lobbies, restrooms and public areas all need distinct lighting applications to provide appropriate and quality illumination throughout the facility.

Help is out there

Through the aforementioned standards and handbooks, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) can be attained. If ENERGY STAR certification is not yet on the radar, or there is some doubt about the energy efficiency of a facility, FMs can also review ASHRAE 10: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 10-2018 sets criteria to reduce energy consumption through improved efficiency and performance. It applies to existing buildings, portions of buildings and building complexes, including the envelope and all systems. The standard, however, excludes industrial and agricultural processes in buildings for which the energy targets do not include these processes.

Overall, the standard aims to increase the energy efficiency of systems and components and upgrading the thermal performance of the building envelope. It provides procedures and programs critical to energy efficient operations, maintenance, management and monitoring. In any building, energy consumption takes place in different forms, so assuring efficiency as part of the indoor environment confronts numerous facets of the various systems and practices. The standard details guidelines for an FM to fulfill their responsibility in the operation and maintenance and energy use in their facility, as well as outlining an energy management plan, methods of implementation and verification.

IFMA members also have more than 23,000 professionals in the organization who have faced and resolved countless similar issues. IFMA is built on networking, communication and interaction among professionals. Everyone can take advantage of that facet of the organization. Reaching out to other members for advice or counsel is only a question away.

Present or future

Cost-effectiveness is key to FM success while maintaining the health and safety of all personnel. ENERGY STAR certification is a major step that can satisfy both those needs while protecting the environment as an added bonus. Through energy efficiency, cost savings and providing indoor environmental quality, FMs can fulfill the precepts of the triple bottom line, protecting people, profits and the planet. It’s a goal worth pursuing and achieving, and is a valuable and visible testimony to a high-performance building and the FM who manages it.