solution package Building Envelope A guide to building envelope solutions that improve comfort, marketability, and energy efficiency.
The BE-Ex solution packages are a suite of six documents compiled from the Anatomy of an Energy Efficient Building exhibit on view at Building Energy Exchange’s downtown resource center, or virtually at be-exchange.org/anatomy system interaction operations & maintenance
The performance of mechanical building systems is contingent on Investing in operations and maintenance best practices ensures the integrity of the building envelope. Building envelope upgrade that building systems run optimally, enabling proper performance decisions should be made in the context of how they might impact in existing equipment and maximizing return on investment in new the operation and performance of mechanical systems. systems. Best practices for building envelopes include:
• Weatherstrip windows and door frames, replace gaskets, and air seal around air conditioners, vents, shaft openings, piping penetrations, and cracks along walls and joints. heating hot water • Routinely inspect building for air and heat leakage using 2 infrared cameras to identify thermal bridges and smoke blowers to locate air leaks. 1 • Inspect each envelope component from both the exterior and interior of the building. envelope 2 ventilation • Establish a winter maintenance policy for window and through-wall air conditioners.
• Apply reflective, light-colored paint to the building’s roof.
cooling lighting & loads
1 envelope → ventilation
Envelope upgrades must be paired with balanced fresh air ventilation to ensure indoor air quality and health benefits.
2 envelope → heating & cooling Improvements to the building envelope will reduce the need for heating and cooling, saving energy and minimizing operating costs.
be-exchange.org/anatomy Solution Package: Envelope 2 envelope efficiency measures
Stop Drafts and Air Leakage Building envelope improvements include creating an airtight barrier to reduce infiltration through gaps and holes in exterior walls Airseal Window & Door Frames Seasonally Maintain Room ACs and roofs, upgrading doors and windows to higher performance Apply caulk and weather-stripping Remove and store or cover and models, ensuring continuous and sufficient insulation at walls and materials like rubber, foam, or vinyl to weatherize AC units after each roofs, and minimizing thermal bridging. seal frames. cooling season to minimize air leakage.
Key
EASE EASE EASE OF IMPLEMENTATION ADDED BENEFITS IMPACT IMPACT
EASE operations & maintenance Keeps building performing ADDED ADDED not moderately very optimally when completed on a BENEFITS BENEFITS easy easy easy routine basis
Ease of Implementation reflects health & comfort technical and financial feasibility. Enhances indoor environmental quality and Measures marked “not easy” are typically advances occupant wellbeing expensive, complex, highly disruptive, or pay back slowly, while “very easy” marketability measures tend to be in-expensive, quick, Improves aesthetics and Stop Drafts and Air Leakage, cont. and straightforward. upgrades occupant spaces, increasing appeal to potential tenants Identify & Seal Additional Airseal Room ACs Air Leaks PROJECT IMPACT Use a trim kit, weatherstripping, future-ready Use blower door or smoke tests to and caulk to create a snug fit around Puts building on path for long- IMPACT find leaks. Common culprits include window and through-wall ACs. term emissions reduction and piping penetrations, recessed low moderate high legislative compliance lighting, outlets, and laundry vents. impact impact impact
Project Impact reflects potential to RATING SYSTEM METHODOLOGY reduce energy and emissions and to EASE EASE improve system performance. IMPACT IMPACT Ratings and benefits of energy “Low impact” measures typically conservation measures were assigned yield minor savings and incremental based on NYC energy audit data and ADDED ADDED improvements, while “high impact” analysis by industry experts. Actual BENEFITS BENEFITS measures achieve major savings and results will vary by building type, use, comprehensive improvements. and baseline conditions.
be-exchange.org/anatomy Solution Package: Envelope 3 envelope efficiency measures
Stop Drafts and Air Leakage, cont. Control Temperature and Moisture Levels
Air Seal Vertical Shafts Install Continuous Air Barrier Optimize Wall Insulation Optimize Floor Slab insulation Cover elevator and stairwell vents Best started in design phase of new Best started in design phase. Install Best started in design phase. (partially or fully, per NYC code) to construction/gut rehab. Options are insulation to meet code and modeled Optimize floor slab insulation in reduce heat loss, especially in tall also available for retrofits. Ensure building needs. Ensure continuity via conditioned spaces. buildings. continuity via careful detailing. careful detailing.
EASE EASE EASE EASE
IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT
ADDED ADDED ADDED ADDED BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS
Control Temperatures and Moisture Levels, cont. Maximize Thermal Comfort
Optimize Roof Insulation Mitigate Thermal Bridges Consider Interior Window Consider High Performance Treatments Window Coatings Install insulation to meet code and Install thermal break materials modeled building needs. Coordinate to minimize transfer of heat and Install thermal shades or blinds to Apply insulating, reflective with other roof measures, like solar moisture. insulate windows and prevent solar and/or smart coatings to increase and green roofs. heat gain. Add daylight controls to thermal performance of existing maximize benefits. windows.
EASE EASE EASE EASE
IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT
ADDED ADDED ADDED ADDED BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS
be-exchange.org/anatomy Solution Package: Envelope 4 envelope efficiency measures
Maximize Thermal Comfort, cont.
Install High Performance Exterior Consider Exterior Shade Structures Install High Performance Windows Doors Consider adding shade structures Install well insulated, thermally Install well-insulated, thermally that minimize summer heat gain, broken glazing and frames with broken doors and frames with with particularly in new construction robust gasketing. robust gasketing. projects.
EASE EASE EASE
IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT
ADDED ADDED ADDED BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS
Evaluate Sustainable Roof Options
Install Solar Photovolatic (PV) Install Green (Vegetative) Roof Apply Cool Roof Coating Panels Required for many buildings by NYC Required for many buildings Required for many buildings by NYC law. Green roofs improve insulation by NYC law. Apply a light-colored law. Solar PV can offset energy use, while decreasing stormwater runoff. relfective coating to reduce especially during peak sunlight hours unwanted heat gain. or when paired with batteries.
EASE EASE EASE
IMPACT IMPACT IMPACT
ADDED ADDED ADDED BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS
be-exchange.org/anatomy Solution Package: Envelope 5 Further Reading Disclaimer
The BE-Ex solution packages cover the following While every effort has been made to contain building systems: correct information, neither Building Energy Exchange nor the authors or project advisors Heating Domestic Hot Water makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the Cooling Lighting & Plug Loads accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process Ventilation Envelope disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. None of the parties involved in the funding or the creation of To access the suite of solution packages, visit: this study assume any liability or responsibility to the user or any third party for the accuracy, be-exchange.org/anatomy-solutions completeness, or use or reliance on any information contained in the report, or for any injuries, losses or damages, arising from such use or reliance. Acknowledgements Reference herein to any specific commercial The Anatomy exhibit was funded in part by product, process, or service by its trade name, the New York State Energy Research and trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not Development Authority (NYSERDA) through a necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, Cleaner, Greener Communities (CGC) grant, recommendation, or favoring by Building Energy received in partnership with the New York City Exchange. The views and opinions of authors Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Building Energy exchange or Advisory Groups. As a condition of use, the user pledges not to sue and agrees to waive and release Building Energy Exchange, its members, Exhibit Advisory Group its funders, and its contractors from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action for any injuries, losses or damages that the user may Lois Arena, Steven Winter Associates now or hereafter have a right to assert against Stephen Cassell, Architecture Research Office such parties as a result of the use of, or reliance Chris Cayten, CodeGreen Solutions on, the report. Loic Chappoz, NYSERDA John Lee, NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability © Building Energy Exchange Jeffrey Perlman, Bright Power All Rights Reserved Josephine Zurica, Dagher Engineering April 2020 be-exchange.org
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