There is a wide range of viable energy efficiency measures for buildings. These measures target different types of equipment, but they all reduce the cost of ownership of buildings. It is important to highlight that energy efficiency requires a customized approach for each property: a measure that is effective in one building may be of little use in another. Therefore, the starting point of any energy efficiency project should be analyzing the feasibility of different measures with an energy audit.
Energy efficiency can be implemented effectively in both new construction and existing buildings. However, if you are planning a new project, you can reap greater benefits. Energy efficiency measures become less expensive and easier to implement when planned along with the construction process of a new building.
Updates are simpler before starting construction
Suppose you are considering high-efficiency LED lighting as a measure to reduce your energy bills. The approach is very different for new buildings and existing properties – consider the steps required in each case:
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EXISTING CONSTRUCTION |
NEW BUILDING |
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1)Planning for necessary downtime, which may involve a temporary relocation of personnel. |
1) Include the efficient lighting system as part of the project design. |
Much less work is required to use efficient lighting in new construction, and there are three important details:
- You must approve the project, even if you use less efficient lighting.
- You have to buy lamps anyway.
- There is an installation cost in both cases.
In new construction, the true “upgrade cost” is just the price difference between the base lighting system and the proposed upgrade. Installation costs may actually be lower since many LED fixtures are simpler to install compared to older equivalent fixtures. For example, linear fluorescent lighting involves wiring ballasts and installing up to four bulbs per fixture, while modern LED equivalents have all the necessary components built-in.
If you wait until the building is operational, the upgrade becomes more complex, requiring its own design, approval and installation process. Keep in mind that you will also disrupt operations as areas of the buildings will be temporarily unlit. Installing medium efficiency lighting in a new building with the idea of improving it later is a very inefficient use of resources.
Get a high-performance MEP design for your project.
We discussed lighting as an example, but the same principle applies to any construction system. Making facilities efficient from the start is simpler and costs less compared to installing medium-efficiency equipment first and upgrading it a few years later. Also consider that lighting is a relatively simple building system – upgrades to HVAC systems and the building envelope become much more difficult after initial construction!
Complying with future energy codes before they are published
New York City has demanding building codes and standards, and the New York Energy Conservation Code is no exception. Although new construction is subject to energy code, exceeding the requirements can work in your favor in the long run. The New York Energy Code is updated every few years and some requirements are made retroactive through local laws.
- If you meet the minimum performance established by the current energy code, you may be forced to upgrade in the future.
- On the other hand, if you equip your building with the most efficient equipment available, your property will be ahead of energy codes. It can be decades before code requirements catch up with your building's performance.
Local Law 88 of 2009 is an example of this: All existing buildings covered by LL88 must update their lighting systems to comply with the New York Energy Code, even if the fixtures were installed before the code was first published. . Typically, energy code requirements only apply to new construction and major renovations.
New York buildings will also have energy degrees from 2020, and public disclosure will be mandatory. Grades are based on the ENERGY STAR scoring system: you get a “B” for above-median energy performance for your building type and an “A” for performance in the top 10% of buildings. Considering how high energy expenses are in New York, getting an “A” energy rating makes your property very attractive to tenants.
