Energy Efficiency in Jamaica’s Building Code: The Building Envelope

1. Background to Jamaica’s Energy Efficiency Building Code Buildings should all have Net-Zero Energy Consumption in 33 years time to avoid irreversible detrimental consequencies of Climatic Change, however Jamaica is yet to have a mandatory Energy-Efficiency Building code after 34 years. The current Energy Code is voluntary and was developed in 1995 (22 years ago).

1. Background of the Energy Efficiency Building Code West-Facing Elevation of the PCJ Headquarters

1. Background of the Energy Efficiency Building Code South-facing Elevation of the PCJ Headquarters

2. Assessing the Code To evaluate the effectiveness of the code, the actual energy consumption was determined for existing office buildings: The average consumption for 17 large buildings was 23.8 kWhr/sq.ft. The average consumption for 82 small office buildings was 20 kWhr.sq.ft.

2. Assessing the Code Comparable computer models were created; Annual and peak electrical consumptions were divided into system loads; System loads from highest to lowest were: Cooling Plant, Lighting, Fans, and Equipment; and Peak cooling loads were also broken-down into components but there were differences between the large and small offices.

2.Assessment of the Code Peak cooling loads for large office buildings from highest to lowest were: ventilation, solar, conduction, lighting, occupants, and equipment.

2.Assessment of the Code Peak cooling loads for small office buildings from highest to lowest were: ventilation, solar, lighting, conduction, occupants, and equipment.

2.Assessing the Code Changes were made to the buildings to comply with the code and the results were: The energy consumption of the large office building was reduced by 30%; while The energy consumption of the small office reduced by 36%.

2. Assessing the Code Changes were made to the base buildings to exceed code requirements, and the results were: The energy consumption of the large building was reduced by 62%; while The energy consumption of the small building reduced by 57%.

3. The Building Envelope The envelope comprises the external walls and roof of a building with any associated openings: It cannot influence consumption of the equipment, but this is approximately 7% of annual consumption, and 9% of peak electrical consumption.

3. The Building Envelope With regard to the cooling plant, it cannot affect occupant and equipment loads which are 12% for small buildings and 15% for large buildings; and It can only influence lighting (whether directly or as a cooling load) by using daylight.

3. The Building Envelope To comply with the building code, the following changes were made to the envelope of the base building: Insulation was added to the roof; Special glasses and/or shading were used for windows; and Walls were light-coloured so that they were very reflective

4. Conclusion The Bureau of Standard’s deadline for comments on the mandatory energy-efficiency building code ended last month; That code is based on the 2009 International Building Code, which gets revised every 3 years and now has a green building component; and A regional building code is presently being developed.