Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Energy Star Appliances (This inquiry is a resubmission of Inquiry # 0260-IDc11-062102) For a 78-unit multi-family residential building, we propose an Innovation Credit for Energy Star Residential Appliances as follows: INTENT: Increase plug load efficiency to further reduce total energy consumption beyond base building efficiency measures and Energy Credit 1 "Optimize Energy Performance". REQUIREMENT: Of the three major residential appliances that can be U.S. EPA Energy Star labeled (refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers), provide a minimum of two that are Energy Star labeled. SUBMITTALS: Provide cut sheets, energy usage data, and calculations demonstrating that, on average, at least two major appliances per dwelling unit are Energy Star labeled. DESIGN APPROACH: The following appliances are all Energy Star labeled: - All 78 unit clothes washers, of which 31 are front-loading for maximized energy and water efficiency - All 78 unit dishwashers Note that a decision has been made to use Energy Star clothes washers rather than refrigerators because: - Since the new National Appliance Standards have taken effect, Energy Star refrigerators are now typically only 10% more efficient than required by law. - By contrast, Energy Star clothes washers are 50% more energy efficient that required by law. The previous USGBC Ruling stated "If you could demonstrate the significance of your strategy in terms of energy savings, AND demonstrate that the program had longevity comparable to the building, rather than the service life of the first set of appliances, the proposal would be stronger." The following addresses the first part of the above statement: Clothes washers: Based on the following: - 78 Energy Star clothes washers (one per unit) as follows: - 31 front-loading units with Modified Energy Factor (MEF) of 1.59 - 47 top-loading units with Modified Energy Factor (MEF) of 1.30 - Each clothes washer used once per day (based on national average cited by Energy Star website) - 15 year clothes washer life expectancy Calculated savings of 78 Energy Star clothes washers (31 front-loading; 47 top-loading) compared with conventional (top loading) new clothes washers are as follows: - 29,753 kWh per year or 446,295 kWh over 15 years from washer operation and heating the water Dishwashers: Based on the following: - 78 Energy Star dishwashers (one per unit) which are 28% more efficient, with an Energy Factor of .59 compared with .46, than conventional dishwashers - Each dishwasher used 322 cycles per year (per "Energy Data Sourcebook for the Residential Sector" LBNL-40297) - 15 year dishwasher life expectancy Calculated savings of 78 Energy Star dishwashers compared with conventional new dishwashers are as follows: - 12,031 kWh per year or 180,465 kWh over 15 years from dishwasher operation and heating the water - Approximate equivalence in carbon emissions of removing cars from the road for a year: 27.01 (based on calculations from Energy Star website) TOTAL ENERGY SAVINGS from the above strategies: - 41,784 kWh per year or 626,760 kWh over 15 years above and beyond the base building energy efficiency recognized under Energy Credit 1. Finally, to address the second part of the previous ruling statement, the building Owner has committed to replace the specified Energy Star appliances with new Energy Star appliances (which will be at least as efficient, if not more efficient than the original models) for the lifetime of the building for ongoing energy savings.