1. Get green & save green now as you prepare your buildings for net zero
Presentation by
Dan Mendonsa, P.E., CEM, LEED AP
Energy Program Manager

2. What is Zero Net Energy (ZNE)? Why should I care?
Outline
What is Zero Net Energy (ZNE)?
Why should I care?
How can I implement ZNE on my existing buildings?
WHAT? See the definitions
ZE Definition: notes delivered and exported energy. If all of the energy is produced and consumed on-site without being supported by the grid, it’s also Net Zero.
NIBS - National Institute of Building Sciences
Other Def: Consumed energy (with embedded energy) is less than or equal to the on-site produced renewable energy.
If you consume all of your on-site energy w/o pulling from the grid, it’s Net Zero also.
RECs: Currently near $200/MTCO2e. One MTCO2e = 1400 kWHr = 110 gal gas = 190 Therms

3. What is Zero Net Energy?
“Zero Energy” NIBS Definition: On a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy.
Source Energy: energy plus energy consumed in production and transport of the energy
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): tradable instruments that can be used to meet renewable energy targets.
“REC – ZE” NIBS Definition: On a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy PLUS RECs.
Categories: Building, Campus, Portfolio & Community
WHAT? See the definitions
ZE Definition: notes delivered and exported energy. If all of the energy is produced and consumed on-site without being supported by the grid, it’s also Net Zero.
NIBS - National Institute of Building Sciences
Other Def: Consumed energy (with embedded energy) is less than or equal to the on-site produced renewable energy.
If you consume all of your on-site energy w/o pulling from the grid, it’s Net Zero also.
RECs: Currently near $200/MTCO2e. One MTCO2e = 1400 kWHr = 110 gal gas = 190 Therms

4. Zero Net Energy (ZNE) This is a simplified example of a building.
If you have NO delivered energy and you can supply building needs, you are ZNE. Otherwise you need to balance the source energy of the delivered energy with the exported energy.

5. 50% Zero net energy example
This is a simplified example of a campus/portfolio
100%

6. National Average Source Energy Conversion Factors
Energy Form
Source Energy Conversion Factor
Imported Electricity
3.15
Exported Renewable Electricity
Natural Gas
1.09
Fuel Oil
1.19
Propane
1.15
Steam
1.45
Hot Water
1.35
Chilled Water
1.04
Coal
1.05
This table gives you a sense of the relative GHG values of different energy sources.

7. Legislation AB32 (2006): 40% GHG reduction from 1990 (2005) by 2030
CPUC CA Eff Strategic Plan (2008): 50% of existing commercial bldgs. ZNE by 2030
Executive Order B (2012): 50% of SF of existing CA DGS facilities ZNE by 2025
SB 100 (2018): CPUC 60% Renewable Portfolio Standard for electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2045
WHO? Local Governments
WHERE? Their existing buildings
WHEN? By 2030
WHY? Legislation or Local Board actions
Also, the majority of your existing square footage will still be in service in 2030 with likely only a small percentage being replaced.

8. Benefits of ZNE Reduced GHG emissions Resiliency Grid stabilization?
Regional leadership
Reduced GHG: good for environment
Resiliency: Less reliance on the electric grid
Grid Stabilization: As we transition through more green source we should create a more stable grid (batteries)
Regional Leadership: Showing the community that you walk the talk

9. Challenges Cost Time Inertia
Cost: How do we pay for this?... I’ll cover funding options later in the presentation.
Time: That’s why we’re talking about this now
Inertia: may be fighting against change “we’ve always do it that way” but hopefully that’s not your lot. 

10. Funding Assistance Utility Programs (rebates, on-bill financing)
Grants
CEC Loans
Municipal Leases
Internal Revolving Fund
Bonds
REC Trading / Arbitrage
How can you pay for it?
Utility OBF: PG&E offers 0% for 10 years per account w/ up to $4-million/customer
CEC loans: $3 1% for 20 years
REC Trading: Selling excess credits to other users at potentially more than they cost

11. Approaches Master Planning/Consolidation
Use less energy to provide core services through:
Reducing space needs due to future consolidation and downsizing of operations.
Reusing existing space for future needs, i.e., document storage due to electronic storage, data centers shrinking due to cloud…
Compacting operations with smaller person per square foot requirements.
The greenest square foot is the one we don’t build.
Portfolio and Campus Level
How can we do it?
Not a building level approach since it can cause increase in overall energy consumption due to higher density usage

12. Approaches (2) Submetering, Reduction and Retrofits
Submeter non-building loads (i.e., EV charging stations)
Reduction: Retrocommissioning and Continuous Commissioning
Energy Efficient Retrofits:
LED Lights
Deep Retrofits
Building Level
Combining RCX/CCx & LED Lighting can reduce payback to less than 5 years in some cases.
Deep Retrofits are at least 30% savings

13. Continuous Commissioning (CCx)
Terms:
Continuous Commissioning
Monitoring Based Commissioning
Real-Time Commissioning
Analytics

14. Continuous Commissioning (CCx)

15. Continuous Commissioning (CCx)

16. Approaches (3) Electrification Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
Large scale Heat pumps
Heat-recovery chillers
Heat pumps instead of gas packs
Heat pump water heaters
Electric appliances
Campus/Building level
Electrification: converting a gas consuming process/device to electricity consuming. Typically the device is also more efficient.
If you power these items from site generated electricity, it can provide you a 2:1 credit to offset other energy consumption.

17. Electrification example

18. Example Approach
1. Add green elements to your normal facility TI refresh cycle. Include:
Consolidation and efficient space usage
LED Lighting, High-Efficiency HVAC & Controls
Electrification
Submetering
2. Implement a robust RCx/CCx program
3. Convert remaining interior/exterior lighting to LED
4. Install/purchase Green Power
5. Buy RECs

19. Example Costs Emissions Consumption Approach %SF $ /SF GHG Use_$ RPS
Costs
Emissions
Consumption
Approach
%SF $
/SF
GHG
Use_$
RPS
100% $0
$0.00
-24% 0%
Refresh
10% $8
$0.80
-30%
-3%
RCx
50% $1
$0.50
-15%
-8%
Interior LED Lights $5
$2.50
-10%
-5%
Electrification $2
$0.20
-12%
-1%
Green Power
-76%
RECs 2%
$0.02
-2%
$4.22
-50%
-17%

20. Example (Blank) Costs Emissions Consumption Approach %SF $ /SF GHG
Costs
Emissions
Consumption
Approach
%SF $
/SF
GHG
Use_$
RPS
100% $0
$0.00
-24% 0%
Refresh % $8
-30%
RCx $1
-15%
Interior LED Lights $5
-10%
Electrification $2
-12%
Green Power
-76%
RECs
You try it!

21. References
“A Common Definition for Zero Energy Buildings”, US DOE, September 2015
“Commercial & District Zero Net Energy Framework”, BluePoint Planning, April 2018

22. The End
Questions/Comments
Thank you!