DOE FEMP First Thursday Seminar
Rethinking Operations and Maintenance
for High Performance Buildings
Short Description
Rethinking Operations and Maintenance for High Performance Buildings addresses
engagement programs for key stakeholders -- including building owners, operators, and
occupants -- in the operation and maintenance of sustainable facilities. This seminar presents
a cyclical process that involves stewardship, performance, and enabling tools and metrics that
result in refinements and continual improvement.
Core Competency Areas Addressed in the Training
This course is designed to address the Federal Building Personnel Training Act of 2010
(FBPTA) competencies related to demonstrating familiarity with sustainability.
After completing this seminar, the learner will:
1. Operate and maintain existing federal facilities in a manner that is:
• Efficient
• Sustainable
• Collaborative
• Environmentally friendly
• Occupant friendly
2. Identify targets that maximize federal buildings in terms of renewable energy, comfort,
productivity, adaptability, and facility life span.
3. Identify targets that minimize waste, greenhouse gases, occupant complaints,
inefficiencies, complacency, and cost.
4. Develop a process for increasing the performance of existing buildings involving:
• Stakeholders
• Stewardship
• Performance and validation
• Enablement and tools
• Re-visiting and refining
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Sustainability Resources
FEMP Sustainability Crosswalk
ht t p :/ / w w w 1. eer e. ener gy . gov / fem p / p d fs /sus t ainab i l itycr os s w al k .p d f
Federal Agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/sustainability/plans
Sustainability.gov
http://sustainability.performance.gov/
Federal Sustainability Guiding Principles
http://www.epa.gov/oaintrnt/projects/buildings_mou.htm
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research Support Facility
http://www.nrel.gov/sustainable_nrel/rsf.html
Glossary
Absolute Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Total greenhouse gas emissions without normalization
for activity levels (see Energy Intensity) but including any allowable consideration for
sequestration.
Acquisition Guidance and Efficiency Requirements (aka, Product Overview): Define FEMP
purchasing specifications.
Advanced Metering: A system that collects time differentiated energy usage from advanced
meters via a network system on either an on-request or defined schedule basis. the system is
capable of providing usage information on at least a daily basis and can support desired
features and functionality related to energy-use management, procurement, and operations.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Vehicles defined by Section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 as
emended (42 USC 13211) and otherwise including electric-fueled and/or hybrid electric
vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, dedicated alternative fueled vehicles, dual-fueled
alternative fueled vehicles, qualified
Biobased product: Biobased products, as defined by section 9002 of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA or the 2002 Farm Bill), are commercial or industrial
products (other than food or feed) that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of
biological products, renewable agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine
materials), or forestry materials
Biomass energy: energy produced by the conversion of biomass directly to heat or to a liquid
or gas that can be converted to energy.
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Biomass: as defined by the Energy Security Act (PL 96-294) of 1980, "any organic matter
which is available on a renewable basis, including agricultural crops and agricultural wastes
and residues, wood and wood wastes and residues, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and
aquatic plants."
Carbon Intensity: The amount of carbon by weight emitted per unit of energy consumed. A
common measure of carbon intensity is weight of carbon per British thermal unit (Btu) of
energy. When there is only one fossil fuel under consideration, the carbon intensity and the
emissions coefficient are identical. When there are several fuels, carbon intensity is based on
their combined emissions coefficients weighted by their energy consumption levels.
Section 433 of EISA 2007: Federal Building Energy Efficiency Performance Standards directs
DOE to issue revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards within one year
of enactment of Act. The revised standards specify that"...the buildings shall be designed so
that the fossil fuel-generated energy consumption of the buildings is reduced, as compared
with such energy consumption by a similar building in fiscal year 2003. Section 433 also
requires that sustainable design principles shall be applied to the siting, design, and
construction of buildings subject to the standards. A certification system and level for green
buildings is to be identified by DOE in consultation with DOD and GSA, based on Director of
Federal High-Performance Green Buildings (GSA) findings. The section provides specific
guidance for developing certification program.
Emerging technologies (ET): Contemporary advances and innovation in various fields of
technology. Various converging technologies have emerged in the technological convergence
of different systems evolving towards similar goals.
Energy audit: a survey that shows how much energy you use in your facility and help to
identify energy efficiency measures.
Energy conservation: any behavior that results in the use of less energy. Turning the lights off
when you leave the room or buying more energy efficient products are both ways of conserving
energy.
Energy Conservation Measure (ECM): A building material or component whose use will affect
the energy consumed for space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water or refrigeration.
Energy efficiency: the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same
function. A compact fluorescent light bulb that uses less energy than an incandescent bulb to
produce the same amount of light is an example of energy efficiency. However, the decision to
replace an incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent is an act of energy conservation.
Energy intensity: the relative extent that energy is required for a process.
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Energy management: the sum of measures planned and carried out to achieve the objective
of using the minimum possible energy while the comfort levels (in offices or dwellings) and the
production rates (in factories) are maintained. To make an efficient use of the energy and, as a
consequence, to save it, the actions are focused on: energy conservation, energy recovery,
and energy substitution.
Energy management control system (EMCS): The Energy Management Control System
(EMCS) is a computer-based means for controlling and monitoring heating, ventilation, airconditioning (HVAC), energy use, and lighting systems.
Energy savings performance contract (ESPC): A contracting method in which the contractor
provides capital to facilitate energy savings projects and maintains them in exchange for a
portion of the energy savings generated.
ENERGY STAR®: A United States government program jointly managed by the US
Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in an attempt to reduce
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission by power plants. What began originally as
a voluntary labeling program has grown in to one of the largest efforts worldwide to promote
energy efficient consumer products.
Energy Use Intensity: Energy consumption per square foot of building space, including
industrial or laboratory facilities. The relative extent that energy is required for a process.
Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP): EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
(EPP) Program is helping agencies across the federal government comply with green
purchasing requirements, and, in doing so is using the federal government's enormous buying
power to stimulate market demand for green products and services. Federal agencies are
directed by Federal laws, regulations and executive orders to make purchasing decisions with
the environment in mind. EPA created the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program in
1993 to help federal officials meet these requirements
EPEAT: A system that helps purchasers evaluate, compare and select electronic products
based on their environmental attributes. The system currently covers desktop and laptop
computers, thin clients, workstations and computer monitors. Desktops, laptops and monitors
that meet 23 required environmental performance criteria may be registered in EPEAT by their
manufacturers in 40 countries worldwide. Registered products are rated Gold, Silver or Bronze
depending on the percentage of 28 optional criteria they meet above the baseline criteria.
EPEAT operates an ongoing verification program to assure the credibility of the registry.
ESCO: Commercial business providing a broad range of comprehensive energy solutions
including designs and implementation of energy savings projects, energy conservation, energy
infrastructure outsourcing, power generation and energy supply, and risk management.
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Executive Order 13221: Energy Efficient Standby Power Devices: Executive Order (E.O.)
13221, Energy Efficient Standby Power Devices, calls for Federal agencies to purchase
products that use minimal standby power when possible.
Executive Order 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation:
Calls for Federal agencies sets goals in the areas of energy efficiency, acquisition, renewable
energy, toxics reductions, recycling, sustainable buildings, electronics stewardship, fleets, and
water conservation.
Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic
Performance: Was signed on October 5, 2009. It expanded upon the energy reduction and
environmental performance requirements of E.O. 13423.
FEMP Designated Product Categories (aka Covered Product Categories): FEMP-Designated
product categories define energy efficiency requirements that are in the upper 25% of their
class in energy efficiency. FEMP-Designated products are not specific products. FEMP does
not purchase, recognize, endorse, or otherwise identify specific products for Federal
procurement. Instead, FEMP identifies required energy efficiency performance requirements for
a category of products, which is typically an energy consumption level within the upper 25% of
the product category.
FEMP Product Energy Efficiency Requirements (aka, Efficiency Requirements)
Geothermal energy - Energy produced by the internal heat of the earth; geothermal heat
sources include: hydrothermal convective systems; pressurized water reservoirs; hot dry rocks;
manual gradients; and magma. Geothermal energy can be used directly for heating or to
produce electric power.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that produce the greenhouse
effect. Changes in the concentration of certain greenhouse gases, due to human activity such
as fossil fuel burning, increase the risk of global climate change. Greenhouse gases include
water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halogenated fluorocarbons, ozone,
perfluorinated carbons, and hydro fluorocarbons.
Integrated project team: The integrated project team consists of multidisciplinary (e.g.
Engineers, Health and Safety, Social and Environmental, Operations, Maintenance) personnel
from both the Agency and contractor or contractors. This integrated team is required for both
design and constructability reviews among other responsibilities. Integrated project teams are
used for whole building systems approaches.
Investment-grade audit (IGA): a procedure which may include, but is not limited to, a detailed
analysis of energy cost savings and energy unit savings potential, building conditions, energy
consuming equipment, and hours of use or occupancy for the purpose of confirming or
revising technical and price proposals based on the preliminary energy survey.
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Life cycle costs: For the purposes of energy efficiency product procurement, life cycle costs
include both purchase price and operating costs.
Measurement and verification (M&V): A process of using measurement to reliably determine
actual savings created within an individual facility by an energy management, energy
conservation or energy efficiency project or program. As savings cannot be directly measured,
the savings can be determined by comparing measured use before and after implementation of
a project, making appropriate adjustments for changes in conditions.
Net-Zero Site Energy: A site NZEB produces at least as much Renewable as it uses in a year,
when accounted for at the site.
Net-Zero Source Energy: A source NZEB produces (or purchases) at least as much
Renewable Energy as it uses in a year, when accounted for at the source. Source energy refers
to the primary energy used to extract, process, generate, and deliver the energy to the site. To
calculate a building’s total source energy, imported and exported energy is multiplied by the
appropriate site-to-source conversion multipliers based on the utility’s source energy type.
Net-Zero Energy Costs: In a cost NZEB, the amount of money the utility pays the building
owner for the RE the building exports to the grid is at least equal to the amount the owner pays
the utility for the energy services and energy used over the year.
Net-Zero Emissions: A net-zero emissions building produces (or purchases) enough
emissions-free Renewable Energy to offset emissions from all energy used in the building
annually. Carbon, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides are common emissions that NZEBs offset.
To calculate a building’s total emissions, imported and exported energy is multiplied by the
appropriate emission multipliers based on the utility’s emissions and on-site generation
emissions (if there are any).
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Under a PPA, a renewable energy developer purchases,
installs, and maintains renewable power equipment on land owned by a Federal site. The
developer owns, operates, and maintains the renewable equipment for the life of the contract,
and the site purchases the electricity generated by the project under the contract terms
established in the PPA.
Re-commissioning is another type of commissioning that occurs when a building that has
already been commissioned undergoes another commissioning process. Commissioning is a
quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of
facilities, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria. Commissioning is an
all-inclusive process for all the planning, delivery, verification, and managing risks to critical
functions performed in, or by, facilities.
Recycled content product: Recycled content refers to the portion of materials used in a
product that have been diverted from the solid waste stream. If those materials are diverted
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during the manufacturing process, they are being referred to as pre-consumer recycled
content (sometimes referred to as post-industrial). If they are diverted after consumer use, they
are post-consumer. Post-consumer content is generally viewed as offering greater
environmental benefit than pre-consumer content.
Renewable Energy: Energy produced by solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including
tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric
generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an
existing hydroelectric project.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): tradable, non-tangible energy commodities in the
United States that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated
from an eligible renewable energy resource (renewable electricity).
Scope 1 Emissions: Includes direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that are owned or
controlled by a Federal agency.
Scope 2 Emissions: Includes direct greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the generation of
electricity, heat, or steam purchased by a Federal agency.
Scope 3 Emissions: Includes greenhouse gas emissions from sources not owned or directly
controlled by a Federal agency but related to agency activities, such as vendor supply chains,
delivery services, and employee travel and commuting.
Solar energy: Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount
that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy generated, or the equivalent
of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Sustainability: To create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in
productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of
present and future generations.
Sustainable acquisition: refers to Federal requirements to purchase products with
environmental and energy saving attributes. Also referred to as "green purchasing" or
"sustainable purchasing."
Thermal energy: The energy developed through the use of heat energy.
Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs): Utility energy service contracts offer Federal
agencies an effective means to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water
efficiency projects. In a UESC, a utility arranges financing to cover the capital costs of the
project, which are repaid over the contract term from cost savings generated by the energy
efficiency measures. With this arrangement, agencies can implement energy improvements
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with no initial capital investment. The net cost to the Federal agency is minimal, and the agency
saves time and resources by using the one-stop shopping provided by the utility.
Water efficiency: the protection, development, and efficient management of water resources
for beneficial purposes
Whole Building Design: The integration of a building's systems to maximize environmental and
financial functioning by considering energy systems, building materials, design methods, site
preservation, and indoor air quality so that a structure can run at its maximum efficiency. An
integrated project team is used to consider all aspects of the whole building design.
Wind energy: energy available from the movement of the wind across a landscape caused by
the heating of the atmosphere, earth, and oceans by the sun.
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